The Minnesota Catholic Council, which represents the Catholic Church in the state, renewed its push today for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. 

This comes in the wake of a bill introduced Saturday in the Legislature that would make marriage in the state gender-neutral.

In a statement, Jason Adkins, executive director of the council, said:

 “A small group of politicians, and an even smaller group of judges, should not decide the future of marriage in Minnesota. The people of Minnesota should have the opportunity to preserve an institution that pre-dates government and has been the bedrock of human society for thousands of years.

“As the new bill shows, the movement to redefine marriage is part of a broader movement, long promoted in the law journals and academic literature, to create a gender-neutral society and transform the institution of marriage into one based solely on consent, which need not necessarily be limited to two people. That development would have far-reaching effects well outside the scope of same-sex relationships.

"Thus, the movement to enact a constitutional amendment is not ‘anti-gay,’ but instead ‘pro-marriage.’ The marriage amendment does not interfere with anyone’s ability to form relationships with whomever they choose.”

Concludes Adkins: “The time is right for the voters to consider a constitutional amendment to preserve marriage in Minnesota. Let the people vote."