Dear Brothers and Sisters  in Christ:

Among the many issues that will face voters in Minnesota this November, the question of the unchanging definition of marriage will appear on the ballot. The people of our state will be asked: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?”

Along with my brother bishops and a diverse array of Minnesotans concerned for the future of marriage in our society, I encourage you to vote “yes” on this crucial question.

Preserving and strengthening marriage profoundly impacts married couples and families now and into the future, and it is also an investment in the common good of our lives together in society. The constitutional amendment seeks only to promote, protect and preserve the definition of marriage, joining the citizens of 31 other states who have already done so in response to proposals to change what marriage means for us all.

As the foundation for the family, marriage is the basic building block of social life. It is not simply about the individual happiness of consenting adults, but about the ordering of human relationships for the continuance of a community. The legal benefits linked to marriage are granted not for the advantage of the couple, but to enable their contribution to the common good.

Values at stake

While it is true that we support an “amendment” to a document, it is not in fact a change in law nor does it represent any kind of discrimination.

Marriage is by definition a commitment that can only be made by one man and one woman. This has been the practiced norm since the founding of Minnesota more than 150 years ago, in line with the consistent meaning of marriage across cultures and generations.

Hence, an explicit constitutional statement that marriage can exist only between one man and one woman does not “restrict” the definition of marriage. Marriage is not an arbitrary concept. It has a meaning, one that is not subject to legal, judicial or social reconstruction.

Because such profound values are at stake, it is not surprising that the debate about marriage will be intense, emotions will run high and deep convictions will be tested. Some will feel torn between their commitment to their faith and their support for loved ones.

It is my fervent prayer that our involvement as a church will be always and only a witness of charity, understanding, kindness and patience with those who differ from our message. Our support of marriage does not indicate opposition to anyone; we desire to promote and renew the essential role marriage and family play in a healthy society, now and for future generations. At the same time, we respect the image of God in each person, regardless of age, creed, orientation or other qualities.

Love by its very nature draws us out of ourselves and toward another. Marriage answers our deep human longing for a love that is enduring, embodied and expansive. There are various types of life-long commitments that endure through joys and sorrows, good times and bad times, across the seasons of life. Friendship is one; my own life as priest and bishop is another. However, only the complementary relationship of man and woman has the natural capacity to bring forth the fruit of their embodied and self-giving love in children. As the U.S. Catholic bishops state, marriage is “unique for a reason.”

Strengthening marriage

Today, many alternatives to marriage have become commonly accepted and dominate media portrayals of human relationships. Cohabitation, casual sexual involvements without commitment, contraception, “no-fault” divorce and same-sex unions are each different from one another, but they all exclude one or more of the essential elements of marriage. As we see all around us, the human costs of substituting partial imitations for authentic marriage are enormous.

We need to do much more to foster and promote marriage for what it truly is, the cornerstone of our social order. I encourage the people of our diocese to use the months ahead to celebrate and strengthen marriage in our parishes and communities, to be a Marriage-Building Church.

Materials will be available from our Office of Marriage and Family to study the bishops’ pastoral letter, “Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan.” Bulletin inserts from the Minnesota Catholic Conference and other approved sources will be shared with a positive message and educational talking points for the discussions we will have in our state.

I ask parishes to create opportunities for prayer, marriage enrichment activities and outreach to our young people who will be surrounded by conflicting voices.

One of my great joys each year is to join couples who have been married five, 25, 40, 50 years and beyond. Their tested and life-giving love, surrounded by children and grandchildren, is such a powerful witness of selfless dedication. They help us see the beauty of marriage, “unique for a reason.”