50/50

2 CommentsMarriage, ,

The following blog post is by Family Council Staff member Sarah Bean.

In light of last Wednesday’s Supreme Court decision there are already talks of a movement sweeping across states to repeal state-enacted marriage amendments. Already there are claims that traditional marriage is a thing of the past, and those of us who believe marriage is between one man and one woman are a dying breed, or we just need to stop being “bigots” and accept the inevitable. After all there’s no harm, right?

The interesting thing about this debate is that despite same-sex marriage proponents’ claim marriage-redefinition is “inevitable,” it really is not.

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Family Council: DOMA, Prop. 8 Rulings Not the Best, Far From the Worst

Marriage, , ,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 26, 2013

On Wednesday, Family Council President Jerry Cox, issued a statement concerning the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and vacate the Ninth Circuit Court’s decision on California’s Proposition Eight.

“Today’s rulings are not as good as we had hoped or as bad as we had feared,” Cox said. “The good news is the court did not find a constitutional right to same-sex marriage. The court did not strike down any state laws defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Arkansas’ marriage amendment still stands, as do laws in thirty-seven other states defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.

“Today’s ruling on DOMA does mean same-sex couples in Arkansas can travel to states where same-sex marriage is legal, get a marriage license, return to Arkansas, and receive federal benefits like joint filing on a federal tax return. It does not mean the State of Arkansas will have to recognize the marriage.”

Cox said the decision leaves a lot of unanswered questions. “Will same-sex couples in the military stationed on bases in the U.S. or overseas be permitted to marry regardless of local laws to the contrary? Will military chaplains be forced to solemnize same-sex marriages regardless of their religious objections? At this point, we do not know.”

Cox said the marriage debate is far from over. “People trying to redefine marriage for the entire nation didn’t get the landmark victory they had hoped for. Americans have spent the better part of the past two decades democratically deciding what is and is not a marriage in their states. Opponents of traditional marriage tried to disenfranchise millions of voters with two court rulings today. That did not happen. Same-sex marriage is not the forgone conclusion many would have us believe it is, but I doubt the debate is going away any time soon.”

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My 1973?

Marriage, ,

The following blog post is by Family Council staff member Sarah Bean.

The time is here. I can’t remember being so worked up about the future and what a little ole’ Supreme Court decision could mean. I wasn’t around in 1973 when the abortion decision was handed down, and I really don’t remember much about 9/11, but with the decision that will be handed down tomorrow I feel a heavy pressure all around me—a nervousness that is unsettling.

Marriage as we know it could be forever changed. That’s scary to think about. I don’t know what upsets me more: That our system of checks and balances could be unbalanced by a Federal mandate that trumps what 41 states have said “No” to, or that an institution designed to glorify a Holy God as man and woman come together to form a union might become dishonorable and tainted. I’m definitely more upset by the prospect of the latter, but the former still gets to me.

It is comforting to know God is still in control and He will be glorified no matter what. Of that I am certain. He is the ultimate judge. Days like tomorrow serve as a reminder that we don’t put our faith in men or governments, but in a Holy God.

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