The Supreme Court did overturn the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act passed by congress and signed into law by President Clinton which defined for federal purposes that marriage was only between one man and one woman. It would take be too long to dissect that decision here.
But the larger issue here is, again, where this all is headed. The political and social agenda of the GLBT movement is now starting to collide with the freedom of religion guaranteed all Americans in the US Constitution. Here are a couple of recent examples of this:
- In 2013 in Colorado, two men recently married in Massachusetts filed a discrimination complaint against a Colorado bakery – Masterpiece Cakeshop – that refused to make them a wedding cake for their reception. The owner of the bakery cited his Christian beliefs when he refused the couple’s business. The Colorado Attorney General’s office filed a formal complaint on behalf of the couple.
- In 2013 in the state of Washington, state Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced a lawsuit against an eastern Washington florist who refused to provide flowers for a same-sex marriage ceremony.
In response to the lawsuit in Washington, the owner of Arlene’s Flowers posted this on her Facebook page: “I could not [provide the flowers] because of my relationship with Jesus.” She added: “I have hired all walks of people in different circumstances, and had the privilege of working with some very talented people that happen to be gay. I’m sure there are many places you can purchase flowers, if you choose not to purchase them from Arlene’s, because of your beliefs, then I certainly understand.”
Using the power of the government to force private business owners to violate their religious convictions is just a step away from the government telling churches who they can and can’t marry and what they can and cannot teach.
Tim Wildmon, President
American Family Association
http://www.afa.net/Detail.aspx?id=2147536650
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