Chuck Darrell campaigning with the National Organization for Marriage.
In a stunning attempt to co-opt not only Christianity, but all of organized religion, the spokesperson for Minnesota for Marriage has claimed that all religious people support the constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. After the group held a religious rally — at which Minneapolis/St. Paul archbishop John Nienstedt incredulously said the amendment is “not intended to be hurtful or discriminatory to anyone” — Chuck Darrell explained that only the nonreligious could oppose the anti-gay measure:
DARRELL: There should be very little doubt that the vast majority of churches with members will support the amendment. And the marriage amendment campaign focused on turning them out. Amendment opponents will have to find a whole lot of atheists if they want (to) win.
Just like the Maine campaign, Minnesota for Marriage is attempting to pit religion against LGBT people. Contrary to Darrell’s claims, hundreds of religious leaders in Minnesota oppose the discriminatory amendment, including Catholic priests, Episcopalians, and Jewish Rabbis. Of course, anybody who appreciates not imposing one religion’s harsh “values” upon an entire state of people has reason to oppose the amendment, whether they believe in God or not.
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