Iowa churches protest ruling on gay marriage

Iowa churches protest ruling on gay marriage

Iowa churches protest ruling on gay marriage The Associated Press - 10/29/2007
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - About 1,200 people from local churches held a prayer rally to protest a judge's ruling overturning the state's ban on gay marriage and urged the Iowa Supreme Court to overturn the ruling.
The rally was held Sunday at the Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church, where people joined hands and sang in unison to the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome."
"This is more than a political battle," said the Rev. Keith A. Ratliff Sr. of the Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church. "This is a spiritual battle."
Polk County District Judge Robert Hanson ruled on Aug. 31 that the state's law that reads that marriage is only between a man and woman was unconstitutional and ordered the Polk County recorder to allow same-sex couples to marry.
The next day, Hanson stayed his ruling while the case is appealed to the state Supreme Court. Only one couple was able to marry before Hanson suspended his ruling.
A final ruling could take up to two years.
The case is expected to spur debate over whether the Legislature should begin drafting a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
Republicans have renewed their call for a marriage amendment. Gov. Chet Culver and other Democrats say the state should wait for the Iowa Supreme Court to rule.
Monsignor Frank Bognanno of Christ the King Catholic Church in Des Moines said Iowa could become a haven for same-sex couples to marry if strong measures aren't' taken to oppose gay marriage.
"This is not going to be a mecca for same-sex marriages," Bognanno said.