“I now pronounce you husband and husband.”

Wait … what?  What once seemed impossible in Iowa now is legal after the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously voted on April 3 to legalize same-sex marriage. Monday, April 27, marked the first day that same-sex couples could obtain a marriage license and, if they received a waiver on the “three-day waiting period” from a judge, the couples could marry. A few couples did just that in Dubuque County, and dozens of others took advantage of the opportunity across the state.

For some, it’s a glorious day. Many people who support equal rights for same-sex couples did so over fears that they were not afforded the same civil rights.

“This is a great step forward in helping to establish increased equality for couples or persons who are homosexuals,” said Loras senior Chris Bodane. “Gay marriage is something that I eventually hope to see as a federal right for all couples across the nation.”

Others fear that society is turning its back on God. The counter-argument to same-sex marriages is that Scripture tells us that God intended marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman. The Rev. William Joensen, associate professor of philosophy, points to the words of Jesus in Matthew 19:1-12, “where the creation of humans as male and female described in Genesis is understood as the basis for the potential union of a man and woman in the unique and inseparable bond of holy matrimony.”

Joensen also said the argument against same-sex marriage goes even further than Scripture.

“But even if persons do not accept the authority of Scripture, thousands of years of human experience testify to the common cultural wisdom that children naturally issue from, and flourish in the context of, families where a mom and a dad realize their responsibility to multiply love and life, not only for their own benefit but for the sake of society,” Joensen said.

“The preference for monogamy over polygamy or polyandry is not simply a biological or sociological phenomenon, but reflects insight into what is truly human fulfilling on an ultimate scale,” he continued. “That this monogamous bond would consist of two persons of the opposite sex is an even more fundamental fact about human nature, even as we recognize that some persons are uninterested or incapable of entering into such relationships.”

That being said, the gospel also “amplifies the need to respect all human persons,” Joensen said.

“The dignity of all human persons merits respect and the opportunity and responsibility to actively contribute to society,” he said. “This same respect for human dignity also prompts the desire to communicate the call to friendship with God in Jesus Christ in the way of holiness, love and truth. All persons are the recipients of God’s profound, redeeming love for every individual he has created. All persons, including those of homosexual orientation, are called to lay their lives down for love’s sake.

“But the Church believes that it would be misleading and unloving to persons in same-sex relationships of whatever sort to suggest that they are called to marriage,” Joensen added.

Luke Hoffmann, a first-year student at Loras, also believes that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. He attributes his stance primarily to his upbringing.

“When I first heard of the legalization, I was very surprised; I had no clue that this issue was going through legislation,” he said. “I agree with our church/school’s view. I am against gay marriage.”

Nonetheless, Hoffmann doesn’t buy the argument that a couple’s homosexuality is somehow contagious.

“I do not think that a child raised by gay parents will end up necessarily different from other kids,” he said. “I disagree that because a child’s parents are gay, that will pressure them into becoming gay as well.”

He said that he no longer is alarmed to learn of someone’s homosexuality.  “I have noticed that as I have matured, I have become more acceptable of gays,” Hoffmann said. “I would not consider myself as homophobic anymore. I have no problems with gays; I just do not believe they should be married.”