Iowa gives gay union green light
Local pols reactBy BILL SHEA, Messenger staff writer
Fact Box
FD's Cady wrote opinion
Iowa Supreme Court Justice Mark Cady, of Fort Dodge, wrote the opinion that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa.
He authored a 69-page document, which was approved by all seven justices.
Cady did not return phone calls seeking comment Friday.
Steve Davis, a spokesman for the Iowa Supreme Court, said justices and court employees do not comment on opinions.
''We have to be really careful to preserve the authority of the opinion,'' Davis said.
Cady was named to the high court in 1998 by former Gov. Terry Branstad.
The Iowa Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling is wrong, in the opinion of three lawmakers serving Webster County.
''My position is that marriage is between a man and a woman,'' said state Rep. David Tjepkes, R-Gowrie.
State Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg, and state Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City, share his opinion. But none of them expect the Legislature to address the issue this year.
State Sen. Daryl Beall, D-Fort Dodge, supports the court ruling.
''Iowa's had a long tradition of ensuring the basic rights and protections of citizens,'' he said. ''I guess I'm not surprised.''
State Sen. Rich Olive, D-Story City; state Rep. Dolores Mertz, D-Ottosen; and state Rep. Helen Miller, D-Fort Dodge; did not return calls seeking comment on the ruling.
Amending Iowa's constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage is apparently the only way to overrule the Supreme Court decision. But doing that requires a long process. Any proposed amendment must be approved by the Legislature in two consecutive years, and then it must be approved by the voters.
Early this year, a proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage was introduced in the House of Representatives. Tjepkes said the Democratic leadership of the House won't bring that up for a vote.
''I know there are some of us that want something to be done,'' Bailey said.
Kibbie said he'd vote for a constitutional amendment.
Beall said he's opposed to such an amendment. He predicted that eventually same-sex marriage will be accepted in Iowa.
''I think 10 years from now we'll wonder what all this fuss was about,'' he said.
The senator said that in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, he may try to revive a marriage-related bill he introduced earlier this year. That bill would give retired judges the authority to perform weddings. He said many retired judges perform weddings even though Iowa law doesn't clearly give them the power to do so.
After Beall introduced that measure, state Sen. Merlin Bartz, R-Grafton, attached an amendment to it that would outlaw same-sex marriage. Beall said he'll argue that the amendment is now unconstitutional and should be deleted. He added that without the Bartz amendment, his bill is a noncontroversial item.
Contact Bill Shea at (515) 573-2141 or bshea@messengernews.net
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aarchc
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04-13-09 11:40 PM
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Also, boatassembler: You said you're out of here due to the ignorance of non-believers. I don't know who exactly you're referring to, but most people are believers. Maybe not what you believe in, but they're believers. And that doesn't make them ignorant. It makes you IGNORANT for failing to accept anything that deviates from your idea of the norm. Maybe you should look up ignorant...and ironic too, if you choose to use the word "ignorant" in such manner. You're no better than me, and I'm no better than you. We all hold opinions and faiths, and often they differ. But that doesn't mean anyone, you or I, is better than the next. You don't have to agree, but you should at a very minimum be respectful. The statements you make indicate that you feel superior based on your beliefs, and it is beyond disrespectful. Oh, and also...GOOD JOB IOWA, on making gay marriage legal! Everyone in this country is required to pay taxes, and everyone deserves equal rights!
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aarchc
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04-13-09 11:26 PM
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boatassembler:You couldn't embarrass yourself more if you tried. I never said Bill Maher was an expert. I said he was "well versed" on the subject of religion. I don't agree with some of what he says, even if in theory I agree with where he's going.Even though I agree with his view, he crosses the line in terms of how he deals with other people and their views. I guess you and Bill share that. Agree or not with someone's faith, they're still entitled to hold it, and your beliefs, or my beliefs are no better. And of course a documentary is film. I never said they're not films. What I did say is that Religulous is not a "Hollywood movie" as you described it. Your words, not mine. Yet I'm immature? Perhaps. But I'm smart enough to get my facts straight, to respect other people's beliefs (yes even yours), and I choose not to spew garbage that degrade other people and their right to believe what they want and to consistently maintain that somehow Im superior
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EternalSolutions
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04-13-09 6:37 PM
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Alot. I'm out of discussion. It comes down to faith!
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EternalSolutions
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04-13-09 5:31 PM
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Redwood dark matter greatest question of science right now? God made it. It is as simple as that. Intelligent Design over Big Bang Theory. Just face it redwood and Joe, I'm not arguing with you it just makes more since that there is a loving god that made everything not just some an assumption as Joe says I asume it has been here all the time. That is an asumption. Alright of truths that can be proven history from the bible not just assumptions.
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aarchc
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04-13-09 8:49 AM
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boatassembler: Should I be shocked that you're passing judgment or making assumptions before you know what you're talking about? I'm not. Religulous is a DOCUMENTARY, not a Hollywood movie. It's filmed in "holy lands" around the world, and is hardly a fabrication by any stretch. And if you'd watch it, before making ignorant assumptions, you'd see that Bill Maher actually IS pretty well-versed in most religions. Like him or not, he knows what he's talking about. But because it isn't 100% inline with what you believe, I wouldn't expect you to understand. Sad. Pathetic. I respect your religion, but I don't respect you. Your lack of seeing beyond yourself and your own views is truly ignorant and damaging in every sense.
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aarchc
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04-13-09 12:00 AM
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boatassembler: Only one God? Only one god to you, maybe. But we live in a world in which many different people worship different gods. Do you not get that? Very sad, if that's true, but frankly I'm not surprised. Go rent Bill Maher's "Religulous" and see where you stand. I'm guessing you'll find it completely offensive, but if you have half of a brain, it might provoke some REAL thought...
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EternalSolutions
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04-10-09 5:24 PM
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I'll i'm tryining to say is with such different ways of thinking on how the world began, just shows how people view if there is a maker of this world to follow or some awsome dust ball and gases. As for me an my house, we will serve the lord!
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EternalSolutions
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04-10-09 5:18 PM
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Redwood, Joseph answer the big questions, gas and dust just magically appear ? No one created anything it was just there? No God=No Faith= No morals= Godless universe
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aarchc
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04-09-09 11:39 PM
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I give redwood973 a LOT of credit for being the only individual that's added anything of substance. So many people are making comments about their faith, and in doing so are implying that their faith is the only one that exists. You love your god. He has blessed you with life and you are thankful. Without any sarcasm attached: good for you. You are entitled to your faith and the beliefs that go along with it. But in appreciating your faith/beliefs, I'd like to think you're smart enough to A.) realize that YOUR faith is not the only one, and B.) extend others the same courtesy of respecting their faith. Don't pity people because they don't agree with you or your religion. Embrace diversity and appreciate people for what they believe in, even if it differes from you. Without this, the world is a SCARY place, and no self-righteous ignorant comment or view will EVER change that.
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prisrn
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04-09-09 10:23 PM
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You on the other hand sound like a ticking time bomb read to blow at any time (remember, it's the "religious" folk going around blowing themselves up--not us evolved folks). Yes, indeed I feel sorry for you boatassembler. I have to say one more thing- redwood 973, if you think you have evolved, why are there still monkeys? Did some of them just decide they didn't want to evolve into humans? You are misguided- I suppose you believe in the big bang theory and that creation just happened? And once again, just one more time, it is not about religion- YOU CAN BE RELIGIOUS ABOUT BRUSHING YOUR TEETH! It is about God, whether you recognize and believe in him or not-religion itself has nothing to do with our morals- peace
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EternalSolutions
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04-09-09 8:46 PM
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Redwood if god does not exist how was this earth along with living creatures made. What do you believe made us. A comet? Or oh yeah human beings just magicaly appeared. God is real, homosexuality is wrong period. I love the person just hate the act, like it says in the bible.
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Dejavue
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04-08-09 8:19 AM
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boatassembler: Where is your proof that god is real? It is easy to say you believe in something and convince yourself it is fact. Where is the hardcore evidence? Paranoid people are convinced that someone is following them. Children are convinced that Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are real. The klan is convinced they are a supreme race. Saddam was convinced that it was alright to kill people. The only reason that adults believe in god is because human nature will not accept the fact that death is final. When your die, you become wormfood.
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prisrn
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04-07-09 10:40 PM
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so pathetic redwood- you know nothing- if you did, you wouldn't write what you do. I still love you.God does too. AND, just because you can't understand or relate to anything about God, doesn't make it untrue. You poor thing, being a Christian makes me know who I am in GOD- peace.
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Anderson
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04-07-09 7:41 PM
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Not like THAT, JoeM! Believe me, and I was on shore patrol in Frisco.
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prisrn
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04-06-09 10:19 PM
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redwood 973, If you could only understood that it is NOT about religion- one can be religious about ANYTHING- it is about God. And no matter what you think about him, he still loves you, he is your Creator, and he is truth. I don't see out country doing so well as we implement godless principles, do you? Where do you think "love your neighbor as yourself", came from? And by the way, "judo" is a form of self-defense. I am sad for you- you must be miserable in your anger and non-belief.
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Anderson
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04-06-09 8:04 PM
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Hyber: You won't want to take a walking tour of Amsterdam, then; my children and a friend's were bug-eyed in front of a life-size, full color picture of such in a shop window there. You might want to skip the annual parade in San Francisco, too.
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hybernation
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04-06-09 6:40 PM
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as long as i don't have to view gay people having sex in front of me then they wont/dont bother me!
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hybernation
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04-06-09 6:37 PM
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does this mean we wont have to hear about gay marriage being legalized every day in ther news now?
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prisrn
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04-06-09 6:29 PM
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I am so tired of reading that if one hates the acts involved in homosexuality, one must hate the homosexual. NOT TRUE! God certainly doesn't hate homosexuals. He loves them. His is the only example we should follow- He just happens to hate the sin. This country was founded and laws written that were based on morals set down from the Bible. Contrary to to what donaldduck believes, the Bible never is outdated. Try reading it once- I suggest starting with 1 Corinthians chapter 6:vs 9-11 and then vs 13. We cannot separate Man from God- He created us. It's His call, He IS in control, whether you all believe it or not, that doesn't change the truth.
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aarchc
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04-06-09 6:23 PM
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To everyone who disagrees with gay marriage or any other issue they deem "questionable"... So many of you write abut your religion and the Bible. My question for you is this: If your faith is so solid, and you're THAT strong in your convictions, then WHY DO YOU FEEL SO THREATENED BY SOMETHING to the contrary? With all due respect to devout Christians, I don't really understand those who claim to be so strong in their faith, yet feel threatened by something they don't agree with. If your faith is THAT strong, shouldn't you feel comforted by it, rather than use it as a defense? Just think about it. And to this same group: YOUR religion is not an answer to social issues. So many of you talk about the bible, about Christianity, but don't stop to realize that YOUR RELIGION does not dictate law. Maybe for you it does, and that's fine, but stop thinking something so personal (religion) should serve as the platform for everyone.
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donaldduck
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04-06-09 12:30 PM
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Wow, how is religion still in the argument? We are not a nation ruled by God, but by mortals. Why does everyone have such a bad image about gay marriage? Are you afraid its going to turn you, or your children, into homosexuals? Is that as bad as having cancer? AIDS? No Education? And how those of you against it, how does it in any way hurt you, financially or intrinsically personal? Give up on the God/Bible argument, its old and out dated.
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Anderson
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04-06-09 9:57 AM
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Good to see you're still there, thendricksen, and with the same juvenile personal attacks and ad homonym remarks of little or no relevance to the point I made (if that second paragraph was addressed to me). Constancy can be a virtue or a handicap. In any case, you seem to have left no koolaid for me at all.
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kotabear327
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04-06-09 8:23 AM
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I too will be explaining the straight/gay thing to my daughter years down the road when the time is right. She will be her own person and will be with whom she choses but I will not raise her telling her its ok to be with a woman! People should respect our older ways also and not hate on us for being who we are. I'm fully against racism and discrimination of any kind and my daughter will know that its unacceptable. However-as a part of my family with MY religion-being gay is unacceptable so we don't have to be gay-we can love them as we do everybody else and still show them love and support. Its all my life and opinion tho' so if the gays are happy that they can get married-Congrats on the success!
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kotabear327
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04-06-09 8:16 AM
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comments-I understand why you chose those things you did to compare what you did-I sometimes do the exact same thing and we don't realize how drastic we're being at the time. I too have a daughter who is very young and I am a Christian and I abide by the old way-man and woman in the church I belong to. If gays have marriages-great. We must accept their way of living/lifestyle. However-isn't it funny how the government can take "GOD" off of everything and take prayer time/Pledge of Allegiance? out of school (with our Constitution being written under the laws of God how many years ago?!?) I was really hurt by that because it was a "right" and "freedom" taken away from me. Maybe the socialism thing will cause someone to write a LAW/RELIGION BOOK for the United States for ALL to abide by! LOL Try and love indiscriminantely but don't let anybody tell you that you cannot voice your opinion or be proud of YOUR religion.
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kotabear327
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04-06-09 8:04 AM
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Will I be given the same respect if I teach my daughter as I was taught-THE OLD WAY...MY WAY...God created marriage for a man and woman-in my religion-its unacceptable to be gay-however I would never discriminate against them and their way of living-its just not mine/ours. I love God and I can't/couldn't say/do anything about our government taking Him out of everything. I am a smoker and again-new rules and BIG $'s for that too. I "adjusted" to those new laws reluctantly (I felt violated) but its starting to look to me like "certain people/places are going to make certain laws/ways of life that all will abide by someday-against some of our rights/wills!" I know thats a bit of a harsh statement-but I do feel personally discriminated against but I go along-not happy about it but I'll live. I'm worried and a little uncomfortable about this "socialism" thing. We'll see what happens in another year I guess. JessJac-I totally "heard" you on your 1st c
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