To the editor,
In a matter of weeks, Minnesotans will decide whether they will uphold the time-tested definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman, or whether they will redefine marriage to be only about the adults in relationship and not the included children.
When our society happily and carelessly embraced easy, no-fault divorce, more men found it convenient to abandon their responsibilities and neglect the children they helped bring into the world. Fatherhood was diminished. One of the devastating consequences of redefining marriage is the inevitable degradation of fatherhood. Since Canada redefined marriage, birth certificates in British Columbia list a place to write the biological mother, and list “father or other” with a check-off box as the second parent; fatherhood is now relegated to a check-off box, diminishing biological law itself. Instead of viewing fathers as necessary, fathers are viewed as optional, based on personal choice. The public social structure of marriage shifted from being a means to bringing up children to a private right of any personal expression of commitment. But is this truly best for children? Does a boy or girl really need a dad in his/her life, or will two moms serve just as well?
President Obama made the following tremendous point as Senator on Father’s Day in 2008:
“We are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to the foundation of the family. They are mentors and role models. But if we are honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that what too many fathers also are is missing from too many lives and too many homes. We know the statistics that children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crime; nine times more likely to drop out of schools and 20 times more likely to end up in prison. We need fathers to realize that responsibility does not end at conception. We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child, it’s the courage to raise one.”
Upholding traditional marriage not only strengthens fatherhood but also strengthens corresponding societal expectations. Redefining marriage as “between any two persons” weakens fatherhood. So-called “gay marriage” will make it easier for children to be raised by two moms; more fathers will be missing. As Obama correctly said, when more children grow up without a father, more and more are likely to live in poverty, to commit crime, to drop out of schools, and to end up in prison.
As Obama said, a father’s responsibility does not end at conception. Minnesota would do well to vote yes to retain the social structure of marriage being between one man and one woman. Men need the courage to be fathers to the children they are responsible for bringing into this world. You need the courage to vote yes to retain the social structure that is best for children.
Pastor Cory J. Rintala
Ray, MN
