Recently, churches in states that have redefined marriage–such as New York and others–have wondered whether new marriage laws require them to permit same-sex weddings on church property.
Alliance Defending Freedom has the answer: In short, church property is private property, and the church is protected by the First Amendment when it comes to the activities it does and does not permit on its property.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
LITTLE ROCK, AR – On Tuesday afternoon, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel rejected a proposed constitutional amendment legalizing same-sex marriage in Arkansas.
Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “The Attorney General is responsible for reviewing proposed measures like this one to ensure nothing in them is vague or misleading. He is doing his job, and I believe most Arkansans appreciate that.”
Cox said he does not believe efforts to overturn Arkansas’ ban on same-sex marriage will be successful. “People pushing to legalize same-sex marriage seem to think public opinion has shifted drastically on this issue. The truth is, it’s still right about where it was a few years ago. A recent poll conducted by proponents of same-sex marriage showed most Arkansans don’t want to see marriage redefined. Even if same-sex marriage came up for a vote, I just don’t think public support would be strong enough to pass it.”
Cox said he believes lawsuits filed to overturn same-sex marriage bans in Arkansas and more than a dozen other states indicate same-sex marriage activists do not think they can win at the ballot box. “I think most of the people trying to change the definition of marriage must agree public opinion simply is not in their favor right now. Otherwise we would see them putting stronger support behind constitutional amendments like this one instead of filing lawsuits to get the courts to redefine marriage for them.”
Cox said his group will continue to monitor any efforts to redefine marriage in Arkansas.
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Homosexual activists have initiated 4 separate efforts to redefine marriage in Arkansas.
They have filed two lawsuits to declare Amendment 83 unconstitutional. One of the suits is in state court, and the other is in federal court. In addition, two pro-homosexual groups have asked Attorney General Dustin McDaniel to approve language for petition drives to place measures on the 2014 and 2016 ballots to repeal Amendment 83. Arkansas voters passed Amendment 83 in 2004 by a vote of 75%. It defines marriage in Arkansas as the union of a man and a woman.