Family Life

09.05.12 | Sarah Harnisch

The Democratic National Convention added something, and took something out of its platform Tuesday that is causing concern for people of faith, even those that support the re-election of the President. Delegates to the convention officially voted to pull the word "God" out their platform. This is the paragraph that was in the 2008 platform:

“We need a government that stands up for the hopes, values, and interests of working people, and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential.”

The words “God-given” have been removed. The paragraph has been restructured to say this:

“We gather to reclaim the basic bargain that built the largest middle class and the most prosperous nation on Earth – the simple principle that in America, hard work should pay off, responsibility should be rewarded, and each one of us should be able to go as far as our talent and drive take us.”

Then, they added a paragraph that now shows official support of gay marriage. New york Lieutenant Governor Bob Duffy of addressed delegates at the DNC yesterday. He said the Empire state played a key role in the gay rights language. In July of 2011, New York became the 6th and largest state in the nation to allow same sex couples to wed. In its first year, 11-thousand couples married. Duffy called the move "progressive", and said it led to the DNC changing its stance. 38 other states don't allow gay marriage. Conservatives say same sex marraige could play a role in the presidential race in some swing states. In North Carolina, where the DNC is being held, 66 percent of voters said they support traditional marriage.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will give an address at the convention Thursday.