1S J u s t M
' tebruary 20.2004
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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
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A M essage from the Anaw im C o m m u n ity
A C om m unity o f Qay Men Seeking to Follow Jesus
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