The Town Hall Archives Ahh, the nostalgia.     Search   Memberlist   Log in  Marriage Amendments-Praise Report!      The Town Hall Forum Index -> Christian Fellowship Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next View previous topic :: View next topic   Author Message Jonathan Dungeon Master Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 2254 Location: Minnesota and/or North Dakota Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 2:58 pm    Post subject: Marriage Amendments-Praise Report! In my state (er, one of my states) there is a little something on the ballot called 'Measure No. 1'. It will put an official ban on gay marriage in the state's constitution. I don't know what public opinion is, but on my campus the opinion is pretty divided. I'm asking for prayer that the measure will pass and marriage will remain the sacred union of one man/one woman. -Jonathan Last edited by Jonathan on Wed Nov 03, 2004 2:16 am; edited 4 times in total Bearliz Somewhat Aging Member Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 468 Location: Walkin' hyperly along the narrow road Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 4:09 pm    Post subject: I'll be praying Jonathan. happysmiler Llama Lover Joined: 26 Nov 2003 Posts: 2221 Location: Over the ocean... Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 4:17 pm    Post subject: Ditto! Monday Wants an Interesting Status Joined: 03 Oct 2003 Posts: 1627 Location: USA Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 4:35 pm    Post subject: Re: North Dakota Marriage Jonathan S. wrote: In my state (er, one of my states) there is a little something on the ballot called 'Measure No. 1'. It will put an official ban on gay marriage in the state's constitution. I don't know what public opinion is, but on my campus the opinion is pretty divided. I'm asking for prayer that the measure will pass and marriage will remain the sacred union of one man/one woman. -Jonathan You know I'll be praying. Last edited by Monday on Sun Oct 24, 2004 9:54 pm; edited 1 time in total joyunspeakable13 Junior Member Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 218 Location: North Dakota Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 6:57 pm    Post subject: Re: North Dakota Marriage I'll be praying too...UND does have some problems...lol E87M2 Senior Member Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 1106 Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 9:41 pm    Post subject: Ditto, Jonathan, I'll be praying for ND. I didn't know that state constitutions could be changed due to popular vote on a ballot. I thought it was always something that the legislature had to deal with. I don't know which is harder: getting the population to agree, or getting the politicians to agree. Interesting, though, and it will definitely be in my prayers. (...a U.S. Constitutional Amendment would be welcomed as well. ) Jared Cute and Cuddly Joined: 23 Nov 2002 Posts: 4672 Location: Pennsylvania Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 10:08 pm    Post subject: Similar amendments are on the ballot in ten other states: Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Utah. A measure passed in Louisiana, was overturned by an appellate court on a technicality and will probably be back on the ballot in revised form next year, where it will be virtually assured passage. E87M2 wrote: I didn't know that state constitutions could be changed due to popular vote on a ballot. I thought it was always something that the legislature had to deal with. I don't know which is harder: getting the population to agree, or getting the politicians to agree. While it varies from state to state, most states require a simple majority vote (some states require 3/5ths or 2/3rds, I think) in their legislative branches, followed by ratification by 2/3rds of the vote when placed before the people. These ballot measures are in fact the ratification step of the amendment process. This differs from amendments to the federal constitution in that amending that document requires the vote of 2/3rds of the Congress followed by ratification in 3/4ths of the several states, this ratification process being the duty of state legislators, not the voting public. E87M2 wrote: (...a U.S. Constitutional Amendment would be welcomed as well. ) At this point, that's nigh impossible, as too many in Congress oppose it and too few voters identify it as a compelling issue. As long as states can choose to define marriage without federal intervention, those people are probably right. If, however, the Supreme Court would decide at some point that these powers are not granted under Amendment X either by finding the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional or ruling that the amendments passed in the states are invalid, then I believe popular support for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution would begin to grow. As long as the questionable Defense of Marriage Act is permitted to stand (something probably in the best interests of the courts, which don't seem eager to take on the issue, the politicians, who don't want to have to take a stand on a constitutional amendment and the people, who want to keep the status quo), it will be hard for the arduous process of passing and ratifying a Constitutional Amendment to go forward. But if the states can invoke federalism and individually define marriage as between one man and one woman, perhaps it won't be needed. E87M2 Senior Member Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 1106 Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 10:12 pm    Post subject: Thanks for the clarification, Jared! Wow, much to pray about. Jonathan Dungeon Master Joined: 21 Oct 2004 Posts: 2254 Location: Minnesota and/or North Dakota Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 10:20 pm    Post subject: Jared, Thanks for bringing that up, we need to pray for the other states as well. I had overlooked that, as my attention is being focused here. Some people brought up UND, which is where I'm at in Grand Forks, and that reminded me of something else. I won't go into too much detail, but there is a walk-out to be staged at Nov. 1st 11am CT in protest of Measure No. 1. I would like prayer for that day too, as this event and the people behind it will likely bring the debate face to face with everyone on campus. The Lousiana decision was overturned!? I didn't know that. -Jonathan Neo3DGfx Somewhat Aging Member Joined: 22 Oct 2003 Posts: 469 Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 10:23 pm    Post subject: I'll be praying. Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First     The Town Hall Forum Index -> Christian Fellowship All times are GMT - 5 Hours Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next Page 1 of 3 Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group