Dear Editor,
This letter is an open reply to the one written by Bruce Short and published in the Mon., April 27 edition of the Nashville News.
Marriage has been redefined many times throughout history. More specifically, within the short time of American history, marriage has been redefined almost 10 times.
Prior to the end of slavery, in 1865, blacks needed their owners’ permission to marry. Just over 100 years later, in 1967, the Supreme Court ruled interracial marriage was legal.
Almost 50 years later, some preachers still speak openly against interracial marriage. Some even refuse to officiate a ceremony for an interracial couple. The law permitting interracial marriage has not forced them to preside over any union.
No law has taken away a preacher’s First Amendment rights granted by our Constitution. To imply such more than misleading.
The authority – that which public servants swear to uphold and protect – the rule of law in this democratic experiment known as the United States of America, is the Constitution. According to the First Amendment, we have the freedom to practice any religion we choose.
We do not, however, have the right to impose our religious beliefs on others.
Albert Motta
Nashville
