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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 20, 2004)
1S J u s t M ' tebruary 20.2004 F7TTTTiT7!T1 news £3 egon Camera Everything Photographic We have a know ledgeable, friendly staff helping you find the rioht cam era, binoculars, or ph otograph ic accessories. A ‘fam ily’ owned and operated business since 1997. en viron m en t-frien dly p ro du cts u sed SUSW /U u b Arene Carrailh.M M fttt (S4II7S3 2C U vw irc tu c ia c ttc tM WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME? There was a time when fear drove people to religious belief. Hell packs considerably less clout than it did several decades ago and, if people at the beginning of the third millennium search for faith, it has less to do with apprehension over the future than with a troubling ennui over the emptiness of the present. As a culture we want more and we want it now. Hence, we fall easy prey to the vacuous promises of our material society. Eventually, some of us decide to look elsewhere for meaning and purpose. But to traditional religion? Hot if we can help itl - at least not many of us. We are skeptical that the faith of our fathers offers anything more than superstition, bigotry and a defense of the status quo. Such a judgment is not entirely off base. Much of American Christianity proffers a set of iron clad doctrines rather than a deep, transform ative spirituality. Such religion easily misses the point and lapses into legalistic belief systems that lend considerable security to those wanting to belong to a club of the like minded. Jesus had real problems with people who thought that way. He promised, 'The truth will set you free,' knowing that truth is much deeper than the doctrines that attempt to contain it. Failure to recognize this leads to bondage rather than to freedom. There is a tradition of profound spirituality in Christianity. It survives in spite of the stubborn resistance of many to grasp it. Inevitably this spirituality is rooted in a relationship to God based on prayer. Prayer is as diverse as the people who pray and has no formula. While it is possible to pray with and without words, the only constant is that true prayer comes from the heart and leads to God. You begin wherever you are and over years your prayer life grows. At first prayer feels like work and seems like an exercise in futility. With practice a prayerful habit takes root and prayer becomes as natural as breathing. Indeed, prayer is the breath of the spiritual life. Give it a try! It might just be the kick start you need for awakening to the true meaning of your life. S an F rancisco T reat City makes history by granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples by B ob R oeh r T his has been a his torically exhilarat ing time for same- sex marriage. The Massachusetts Leg islature deadlocked over a state constitutional amendment to ban it, while the floodgates opened, albeit perhaps tem porarily, for thousands to wed in San Francisco’s City Hall. Demonstrators on both sides of the issue rallied outside the Massachusetts Statehouse as a joint session of the Legislature . met Feb. 11 to consider amending the state constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. In a surprise move at the start of the constitu tional convention, House Speak er Thomas M. Finneran, a Demo crat, offered an amendment to ban same-sex marriage but allow Phyllis Lyon (left) and Del Martin became the first same-sex the Legislature to create civil couple officially married in the United States on Feb. 12, just unions at some later date. two days before their 51st anniversary The proposal had the sup port of Republican Gov. Mitt Romney. But the together enough votes to alter the constitution. tactic was seen as a power grab by Finneran and Thus, through its inability to change the situation, perhaps contributed to its failing by the narrow the legislators have conceded to the Massachusetts est of margins, 100-98. Supreme Judicial Court, which found that the That led to a version by the Senates leaders, constitution requires all citizens of the Bay State to be treated equally when it comes to marriage. Democrat Robert E. Travaglini and Republican Brian P. Lees, that would still ban same-sex marriage The Boston Globe editorialized, “There is a plain but authorize civil unions. When it failed by a vote and powerful reason that legislators at the consti tutional convention had such difficulty reaching of 104-94, the legislators adjourned for the night. Back the next day, openly gay Democratic compromise on an amendment that would ban gay state Sen. Jarrctt T. Barrios told the convention marriage: Civil rights cannot be compromised.” of the difficulty he had when taking his sick Arline Isaacson, co-chairwoman of the 7-year-old adopted son to the hospital emer Massachusetts Lesbian and Gay Political C au gency rtxim. He said, “If this were to pass, I cus, said: “We have managed so far to dodge sev would be denied basic human rights that most of eral bullets. We’ve made it through one more you don’t even know that you have.” day." The legislators return to again consider A motion to adjourn by pro-gay Republican amending the constitution March 11. state Rep. Shaun P. Kelly failed 153-44. When it “Regardless of what comes out of the process, looked like a compromise amendment was being the fact that we have a process that involves the pulled together that might pass, a filibuster by elected representatives of the people is a very pro-gay forces for the last hour and a half of the laudable thing," Romney told the Globe. It is session prevented a vote, and the convention possible that this represents a softening of the adjourned at midnight. charge by him and others that “activist judges” A healthy majority of the legislators clearly are imposing same-sex marriage upon the state. remain uncomfortable with the prospect of allow ing gay men and lesbians to marry, but no one has eanwhile, a plan was quietly being put been able to take that sentiment and cobble together in San Francisco. Newly elected M We cover both sides of the fence. W ell find you a home and get you the loan. 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