Iowa churches protest gay-marriage ruling

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — From prayer rallies to political advocacy, Iowa churches are at the forefront of an escalating fight over a county judge's ruling that overturned the state's same-sex marriage ban.

About 1,200 people from local churches joined hands and sang the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" at a recent rally urging the Iowa Supreme Court to reverse the judge's decision.

"This is more than a political battle," said the Rev. Keith A. Ratliff Sr. of the Maple Street Missionary Baptist Church. "This is a spiritual battle."

Polk County District Judge Robert Hanson ruled on Aug. 31 that a state law defining marriage as only between a man and woman was unconstitutional and ordered the Polk County recorder to allow same-sex couples to marry.

The next day, Hanson stayed his ruling while the case is appealed to the state supreme court, which could take two years. Only one couple was able to marry — the ceremony was performed in a Unitarian pastor's front yard — before Hanson suspended his ruling.