by Patricia Coffey

Created on: July 09, 2007   Last Updated: January 19, 2009

Marriage is a sacred institution. Sacred institutions are under the jurisdiction of religious institutions. Our constitution clearly states that there is a separation of church and state institutions. Our founding fathers came to this country to freely practice their religious beliefs free from government interference and direction. This country was not established with a designated religious preference. We as citizen must keep it this way. We cannot mire the constitution with a religious decision.

We are losing sight of the greater picture. We are losing the vision of the writers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Americans are not looking outward, but have become insular. We have forgotten our civic lessons, or perhaps because of budget cuts never had a civic lesson. We are the people of the United States. Our greatness comes in embracing all that is around us. It is letting the religious matters such as marriages being sacred stay in the realm of the churches.

Civil issues are ours to reckon. Why is it that some Americans have better health care? Why is it that some Americans have better schools? What is it that some Americans have access to better hospitals? What is it that some Americans have more and some have less? Instead of trying to amend the Constitution, we should be amending our communities, our cities, and our states. We should be about making these United States more equitable for all the people. We need to have every American have access to education, food, shelter, and health. Let the churches tend to the matters of morality and morales. Let the people start to worry about the institutions that provide for the welfare of the people and that contribute to the pursuit of happiness.

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