MINNEAPOLIS - The marriage amendment debate has many faithful people wrestling with the issue of gay marriage. That's no different for Catholics who seem to be divided at every level.
This November, Minnesotans will vote yes or no on a constitutional amendment that asks them to limit marriage between one man and one woman.
The state already bans same sex couples from legally getting married. But supporters of the amendment want the law written into the constitution in order to stop so-called "activist judges" from overturning it.
At the state capitol Tuesday Archbishop John Nienstedt, alongside other clergy urged people to support the amendment.
"We as clergy come here to proclaim this reality today. I ask all Minnesotans in joining us in voting yes on November 6th," he told a crowd.
The leader of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis believes God's teachings demand us to vote yes, that marriage should be between one man and one woman.
Yet at another event Tuesday night, other Catholics came together saying their faith tells them they should vote no.
"I understand where the bishop is coming from but I just feel he's making a mistake," said Ed Walsh, a catholic at St. Joan of Arc in Minneapolis. "Committed loving relationships are the life blood of our community."
Father Mike Tegeder is one of the few catholic priests in the Twin Cities who is speaking out publicly against the marriage amendment.
"I support the catholic teaching of marriage, but we're not talking about catholic teaching on marriage. We're talking about civil marriage," he said.
And he believes civil marriage should be a right for everyone. While many priests disagree with him, he claims others are on his side.
"I know there are a lot of priests who feel it's a difficult issue for them to speak out on," he said.
Yet there are so many who are speaking out on an issue that seems to be dividing parishioners and their priests.
"The gospel can divide good people. And I think there are good people on both sides of this issue," he said.
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