Alabama (IV) Congressman Mike Rogers

I hope all who read this blog had a Happy Thanksgiving.

The Congressman from Alabama's 2nd Congressional District, Terry Everett, is a lame duck (soon to be replaced by Democrat Bobby Bright). So today I am addressing a letter to Congressman Mike Rogers (324 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515), Republican, of Alabama's 3rd Congressional District:

Dear Congressman Rogers,

I write you as a concerned citizen to urge you to change your stance on the issue of same-sex marriage. You are obviously a person of faith, as evinced by your proposal of a Constitutional amendment to allow prayer in schools. You may feel that your faith justifies your support of the so-called "Federal Marriage Amendment" that would deprive same-sex couples of the right to marry throughout our Union, but is that the charitable or Christian stance? If two people love one-another and are committed to establishing a family, what earthly power may legitimately deny them?

The question does not merely reduce to one of individual liberty or personal happiness, however, but extends into the realm of religious freedom. Certain religious denominations offer the sacrament of marriage to same-sex couples. By licensing all marriages performed by certain religious groups but only some marriages performed by others, does not the United States violate its First Amendment commitment to make no "establishment of religion?" How can you ask that all people be free to pray in school on the one hand and insist that clergy are not free to form a marital bond in their own churches on the other?

Individual civil liberties and genuinely ecumenical religious freedom will only be a reality in our Republic when the Constitution is amended to read, "The right to marry shall not be abridged or denied by the United States or any state on account of sex or sexual orientation." I urge you to scrutinize your own principles and carefully consider your position on this issue.

I thank you for your attention, I hope this message finds you well.

Sincerely,


Andrew Meyer