Archbishop Nienstedt's Unconvincing Argument

The following letter was published in yesterday’s Star Tribune in response to Archbishop Nienstedt’s recent call for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in Minnesota.

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Archbishop John Nienstedt’s argument for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage is unconvincing (“Let's Protect the Meaning of Marriage,” April 28).

I served as a priest of this archdiocese for 48 happy years. In doing so I came to personally know many gay and lesbian couples. On the whole, I find them to be wonderful couples, and those with children are caring parents.

Amazingly, many try to raise their children as Catholics despite the obstacles placed by the church’s pronouncements against them. For the life of me, I cannot understand the argument that gay and lesbian couples or families pose any kind of threat to the rest of us who are married, with or without children.

After all, isn’t marriage all about growing in love, companionship and tolerance, as well as acceptance of others?

I cannot see how the love of two gay or lesbian people threatens my very happy marriage in any way.

- Edward Flahavan
St. Paul

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
Archbishop Calls (Again) for a Marriage Amendment to Minnesota's Constitution
Same-Sex Marriage: Still Very Much on the Archbishop's Mind
An Open Letter to Archbishop Nienstedt
Archbishop Nienstedt's "Learning Curve": A Suggested Trajectory
Interesting Times Ahead
No Place for Dialogue in Archdiocese Newspaper
At UST, a Rousing and Very Catholic Show of Support for Marriage Equality
A Catholic Voice for Marriage Equality at the State Capitol
Minnesotans Rally for Equality and Love at the State Capitol
300+ People Rally at the Cathedral in Solidarity with LGBT Catholics
An Ironic Truth
A Christian Case for Same-Sex Marriage