by Mike Andrew - SGN Staff Writer

The Roman Catholic archbishop of the Twin Cities has issued a special prayer to protect one man-one woman marriage.

Minnesota will vote on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage next November.

Archbishop John Nienstedt wants Catholics to recite the prayer for traditional opposite-sex marriage during every Mass.

He also wants Catholics 'to embrace Fridays as a particular day of prayer and sacrifice for the success of this most current struggle to defend marriage with our civil constitution. Without such deliberate prayers and sacrifices, our efforts will be in vain. But with God, all things are possible.'

'Much rides on the success of our struggle to defend marriage,' Nienstedt wrote in a letter to parishioners posted on the archdiocese's website.

In his prayer, the archbishop requires Catholics to pray not only against same-sex marriage, but also against divorce and birth control.

'Grant to us all the gift of courage to proclaim and defend your plan for marriage, which is the union of one man and one woman in a lifelong, exclusive relationship of loving trust, compassion, and generosity, open to the conception of children,' the prayer says in part.

This fall, Minnesota's Catholic bishops directed parish priests to form committees to help get the marriage amendment passed by voters in November 2012.

Meanwhile Duluth, Minnesota, became the first municipality in the state to take an official position on the amendment when its City Council voted 6-2 to oppose it.

While some council members argued that the marriage amendment was not city business, Council President Sharla Gardner replied, 'I believe the role of city government is to be the front line of democracy.'

The sponsor of the resolution against the amendment, Jeff Anderson, said, 'This directly affects and impacts people in the city of Duluth. This is about maintaining inclusive communities that will help us grow and thrive.'

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