Idea for positive, just amendment

To the editor:

The Declaration of Independence promises all Americans the chance to pursue life, liberty and happiness. The best of the Bible teaches compassion, love and inclusiveness. Nevertheless, for the better part of two centuries white Christian politicians and theologians used the Bible to justify the outrageous practice of buying and selling human beings and assigning women a second-class status in church and marriage. Fortunately, the majority of modern Christians find both of these practices decidedly unchristian.

Some Christians continue to believe they have a God-given right to establish civil laws based on selected Bible passages. These Christians insist that their religious beliefs should determine which two consenting adults have the opportunity to commit themselves to one another through the procurement of a civil marriage license.

A number of amendments to the Constitution changed in a positive way the status of blacks and women. In contrast, the current marriage amendments proposed by politicians shamelessly panders to a constituency which uses the Bible as an excuse for racial prejudice and homophobia. A truly positive and just amendment would revoke all anti-interracial and anti-same-sex laws. Such an amendment would read:

Amendment XXVII: Section 1. The right of consenting adult citizens of the United States to marry shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race or sex. Section 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

JOHN C. BIERK

Cape Girardeau