Lawmaker wants to amend Missouri Constitution to protect traditional definition of marriage
By Allen Palmeri
Staff Writer
December 16, 2003
Crowell |
Pro-life bill in the works, too
JEFFERSON CITY – The majority floor leader in the Missouri House of Representatives is taking the lead on two moral issues of interest to Missouri Baptists – homosexual “marriageâ?? and abortion.
Rep. Jason Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau, will file a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution defining marriage between a man and a woman in the 2004 General Assembly. He also will file legislation prohibiting the use of public funds to subsidize abortions in Missouri .
“They’re defining cultural issues,â?? said Kerry Messer, lobbyist for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC). “They separate the two major divisions in our culture.â??
Missourians are now faced with determining whether homosexual “marriageâ?? is right or wrong and whether abortion is right or wrong, Messer said. While he is encouraged by the increasing maturity of the “strong Christian influenceâ?? in America and the state, Messer said he also must acknowledge that an adversarial side—a worldly, heathen side—does exist.
Politicians like Crowell who will line up on the right side of the culture war are invaluable to Missouri Baptists, Messer said. Crowell is a United Methodist.
“He has consistently displayed a strong, active faith in Jesus Christ, and many of us are very proud of his conduct in public office,â?? Messer said.
Crowell said he is tired of the type of judicial activism that prompted the Massachusetts Supreme Court to rule Nov. 18 that same-sex “marriageâ?? should be legal in that state. The constitutional amendment that Crowell proposes for Missouri would nullify all same-sex “marriageâ?? contracts, including those entered into in other states.
“What I want to make sure is that a Supreme Court or any other judge cannot through judicial interpretation or judicial activism grant homosexual marriage where homosexual marriage does not exist in the Missouri Constitution,â?? Crowell said. “So this is just one clear and unambiguous way to define marriage.â??
As majority floor leader, Crowell manages the floor agenda on behalf of House Speaker Catherine Hanaway, R-Warson Woods. Working with Crowell in support of the proposed constitutional amendment is Sen. Sarah Steelman, R-Rolla. Crowell and Steelman want to prevent the Missouri Supreme Court from someday looking into the Missouri State Constitution and creating a so-called “rightâ?? to same-sex “marriage.â??
“I believe the tough political decisions should be made by elected representatives,â?? Crowell said. “They should be the ones empowered to make those decisions and the judiciary should effectuate those decisions.â??
If the proposed amendment passes out of the General Assembly, it will be placed on a referendum ballot in either August or November, Crowell said. A simple majority vote would then be required to ratify it.
Crowell also wants to make sure that no state dollars will be directly or indirectly used in the procurement of abortions. His bill aims to clarify state law so that taxpayer-funded abortions will no longer be tolerated in Missouri .
This is an example of an elected official striving to obey the eternal commands of God which always bring about blessings, Messer said. The question raised by Crowell’s bill and other Christ-honoring pieces of legislation that are to be placed before Missouri lawmakers is whether Old Testament law applies to the behavior of Missouri’s citizens in 2004.
“I see nothing in the New Testament that negates Deuteronomy 28,â?? Messer said.