Secularism Alive in the Heartland

The statute at issue in this case does not prescribe a definition of marriage for religious institutions. Instead, the statute, declares, 'Marriage is a civil contract' and then regulates that civil contract.... Thus, in pursuing our task in this case, we proceed as civil judges, far removed from the theological debate of religious clerics, and focus only on the concept of civil marriage and the state licensing system that identifies a limited class of persons entitled to secular rights and benefits associated with marriage.

Iowa Supreme Court in the unanimous opinion on protecting same-sex marriage rights.

3 April 2009