Groups express different views on proposed amendment
President Bush's proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages sparks debate
Robert McGill
Issue date: 3/24/04 Section: News
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President George W. Bush's call for a new constitutional amendment has had a mixed reaction on campus.
The college's Christian club, "will not and cannot comment on the political aspect of the current homosexual marriage debate," Francis Kyle, club founder and facilitator, said.
Although the club will not comment on the political aspects of the issue, they do not support gay marriages.
"Our club rejects the legal proposal for homosexual marital unions, and for homosexual civil unions, for three reasons: (1) theological, (2) biological and (3) historical," according to an email from Kyle.
Theologically the club believes that marriage, "is to be defined by as a spiritual and legal relationship/commitment between one man and one woman," he said. "A human marriage is to be a representation of Jesus' love for His spiritual bride, the Church."
Biologically, "we are also against homosexual unions for the simple reason that it is impossible for a homosexual couple to pro-create," Kyle said.
Lastly, "from a historical perspective, there is no historical precedence for homosexual marital or civil unions in the 225-plus years of the United States of America," he said.
Kyle added, that although they do not approve of gay marriages they follow the non-discrimination policy on campus.
"We may strongly disagree with others and they with us, but this does not mean that we do not respect and love our fellow human beings who are made in the image of God," he said.
The Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, and Transgendered group, on campus has a very different view of Bush's proposed amendment.
"The gay community feels very strongly about marriage," said Michelle Malkasian, GBLT group president. "Maybe more seriously then the heterosexual community."
She said, that marriage is treated flippantly by much of society and has become somewhat of a fad in Hollywood.
"The amendment is ridiculous and should not be that large of an issue," she said. "It is more of a personal subject."
Malkasian said, that this has the chance to become an election issue that could overshadow more important issues, such as, the economy and the continued involvement in Iraq.
Bush proposed a new constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and woman excluding homosexual marriages Tuesday, Feb. 24.
"If we're to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America," said Bush. "Today, I call upon the Congress to promptly pass and to send to the states for ratification an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife."
The Constitution has been amended 17 times in the past 215 years.
For the new amendment to be added to the Constitution it must pass with a two-thirds majority in the National House and Senate and then be ratified by three-fourths of the fifty states.
The college's Christian club, "will not and cannot comment on the political aspect of the current homosexual marriage debate," Francis Kyle, club founder and facilitator, said.
Although the club will not comment on the political aspects of the issue, they do not support gay marriages.
"Our club rejects the legal proposal for homosexual marital unions, and for homosexual civil unions, for three reasons: (1) theological, (2) biological and (3) historical," according to an email from Kyle.
Theologically the club believes that marriage, "is to be defined by as a spiritual and legal relationship/commitment between one man and one woman," he said. "A human marriage is to be a representation of Jesus' love for His spiritual bride, the Church."
Biologically, "we are also against homosexual unions for the simple reason that it is impossible for a homosexual couple to pro-create," Kyle said.
Lastly, "from a historical perspective, there is no historical precedence for homosexual marital or civil unions in the 225-plus years of the United States of America," he said.
Kyle added, that although they do not approve of gay marriages they follow the non-discrimination policy on campus.
"We may strongly disagree with others and they with us, but this does not mean that we do not respect and love our fellow human beings who are made in the image of God," he said.
The Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, and Transgendered group, on campus has a very different view of Bush's proposed amendment.
"The gay community feels very strongly about marriage," said Michelle Malkasian, GBLT group president. "Maybe more seriously then the heterosexual community."
She said, that marriage is treated flippantly by much of society and has become somewhat of a fad in Hollywood.
"The amendment is ridiculous and should not be that large of an issue," she said. "It is more of a personal subject."
Malkasian said, that this has the chance to become an election issue that could overshadow more important issues, such as, the economy and the continued involvement in Iraq.
Bush proposed a new constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and woman excluding homosexual marriages Tuesday, Feb. 24.
"If we're to prevent the meaning of marriage from being changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to protect marriage in America," said Bush. "Today, I call upon the Congress to promptly pass and to send to the states for ratification an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and woman as husband and wife."
The Constitution has been amended 17 times in the past 215 years.
For the new amendment to be added to the Constitution it must pass with a two-thirds majority in the National House and Senate and then be ratified by three-fourths of the fifty states.