Des Moines, USA - Roman Catholic leaders in Iowa are urging voters to back a constitutional convention, saying the rare gathering would be the quickest way to overturn the court ruling that legalized gay marriage in the state.
The Iowa Catholic Conference, which represents the state's four Roman Catholic dioceses, issued the statement Monday in favor of a yes vote on a Nov. 2 ballot question that would require a constitutional convention.
Gay marriage has been legal in Iowa since 2009, when the state Supreme Court affirmed a lower court decision that found a same-sex marriage ban approved by lawmakers violated the Iowa Constitution. Since then, about 1,800 same-sex weddings have been held in Iowa, most by couples who live in other states.
Tom Chapman, executive director of the Catholic Conference, said the group was part of a larger effort to encourage Iowa's roughly 500,000 Catholics to vote their conscience on a number of issues.
Voters last called for a constitutional convention in 1920, but it wasn't convened, according to Rich Johnson, the legal director for the Legislative Services Agency. He didn't know why. In such a convention, the Legislature would set a process to select delegates and voters would have to approve any changes delegates propose.
Separately, Minnesota's Catholic bishops are launching a new effort against same-sex marriage, with a DVD being mailed to parishioners. Winona Bishop John Quinn said the DVD explains church teaching on marriage and describes what church leaders consider the potential impact of allowing same-sex marriage in Minnesota.