By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League
June 27, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. — While many view Wednesday’s Supreme Court rulings in favor of gay marriage as effecting only wedding vows and marital benefits, they also represent a huge blow to religious freedom in America.
“These rulings will usher in an era of persecution for much of the church in our nation and will harm children and our culture in untold ways,” said the Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina. “Even in the midst of this cultural defeat, Christians must remember, the Supreme Court is not the Supreme God.”
In its controversial votes, both 5-4, the Court concluded that the Defense of Marriage Act, passed in 1996 to block federal recognition of same-sex marriages, amounted to “deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment.” The opinion means that same-sex marriages now legal in a dozen states and the District of Columbia will be recognized by the U.S. government as it determines who is entitled to federal perks such as Social Security survivor benefits, family leave and more.
To Read Dr. Creech’s Full Statement on the SCOTUS Rulings click here
Its second ruling, actually a refusal to rule on California’s Proposition 8, opens the way for gay marriage to begin again in that state despite the vote of the people. The Supreme Court found that supporters of the 2008 law did not have legal standing to appeal last year’s case which upheld a federal district court ruling striking down Prop. 8 in 2010.
In his dissent on the DOMA ruling, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote “We have no power to decide this case. And even if we did, we have no power under the Constitution to invalidate this democratically adopted legislation. The Court’s errors on both points spring forth from the same diseased root: an exalted conception of the role of this institution in America.”
He said the DOMA ruling would be used by groups challenging state bans on same-sex marriage. North Carolina passed its constitutional amendment affirming marriage as between one man and one woman with 61 percent of the vote in May 2012.
“By formally declaring anyone opposed to same-sex marriage an enemy of human decency, the majority arms every challenger to a state law restricting marriage to its traditional definition,” Scalia wrote in the dissenting opinion.
Although pleased that the nation’s High Court did not rule specifically on whether states have a right to outlaw same-sex marriage in light of DOMA’s demise, Dr. Creech said Scalia’s assessment is on point.
“The effect of these rulings will be to demonize anyone who opposes same-sex marriage, including Christians who hold firmly to God’s view of the family,” he said. “This is where religious freedom will take another hit. Expressing God’s view on marriage will become less and less tolerated in America.”
You must be logged in to post a comment.