Supreme Court Strikes Down Defense Of Marriage Act

June 26, 2013

The United States Supreme Court made two landmark decisions early Wednesday with regards to a pair of controversial laws limiting rights for same-sex couples.

In a 5-4-decision issued Wednesday morning, the high court ruled that that the federal Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, overturning a nation-wide legislation that limited benefits for same-sex couples.

Moments later, the court dismissed an appeal regarding Proposition 8, a decision that will once again legalize same-sex marriage in the state of California.

Both decisions out of Washington on Wednesday are already being hailed as important steps in ensuring equality for same-sex couples across the United States.

With regards to the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, the court ruled that the federal government must recognize state-sanctioned same-sex marriages. It will give gay couple access to numerous federal benefits such as tax breaks and survivor assistance aid that have previously only been afforded to heterosexual couples.

Under DOMA, the federal government recognized marriage exclusively as the union of one man and one woman, although same-sex marriage has been legalized in 12 states and the District of Columbia.

President Barack Obama was en route to Senegal when the ruling was announced Wednesday morning in Washington but weighed in from his official Twitter account.

In 2011, the Obama administration abandoned its defense of the law, but continued to enforce it.  President Barack Obama subsequently endorsed gay marriage in 2012.

Thirty minutes later, the justices said that defenders of the California law prohibiting gay marriage on a state level could not appeal an earlier ruling from a lower court that struck down the ban.

We have never before upheld the standing of a private party to defend the constitutionality of a state statute when state officials have chosen not to,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote on behalf of the majority decision. “We decline to do so for the first time here.”

We have no authority to decide this case on the merits, and neither did the Ninth Circuit,”

As a result of the 5-4 decision to not weigh in on the matter, same-sex unions in California will likely resume shortly.

[VOA][RT]

Comments

55 Responses to “Supreme Court Strikes Down Defense Of Marriage Act”

  1. David Huie Green on June 28th, 2013 1:46 pm

    REGARDING:
    “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. It’s not anybody’s business what another’s sin may be.”

    Also off topic, but Christians ARE required to warn others of danger. To do otherwise would be unChristian and unloving.

    In fact, look at what you did. You used the scripture reminding us we are all sinners and should be slow to judge others. Even if you misused it, you used it to warn us as best you could. Therefore you should appreciate the others doing the very same thing as they see it even if you don’t agree with their warning.

    David for faithful watchmen
    and properly fed sheep

  2. No Excuses on June 27th, 2013 5:03 pm

    @ Henry,

    Sigh. Let me try this again. You and I will NEVER agree because you are liberal and I am not. Personally, I do believe this law was unconstitutional because same sex marriage is something that should be left to the State to decide, much as the federal government had no business passing “No Child Left Behind” many moons ago. So, as far as what this article is meant to convey, I don’t have a problem with the act being declared unconstitutional. However, my personal beliefs still stand. You have yours and I have mine. My reasons are based in the Word of God. You may follow it, or not, as you chose. I’m not saying that anybody HAS to do anything they don’t wish to do, however I AM saying that according the God’s Word, there will be a penalty for it – if not now, then in the future when God judges mankind. That’s about as clear as I can get. I don’t think like you do, and unless you make some drastic changes in your life, I doubt I ever will.
    Additionally, I have no problem working with gays, teaching them or even seeing them promoted in my place of work. I just don’t agree with the lifestyle.

  3. jeeperman on June 27th, 2013 3:03 pm

    It all boils down to the beliefs of some should not be imposed on all.
    The freedom to follow the law of your God shall not be infringed upon by the governments law and vice versa.
    Period.

  4. David Huie Green on June 27th, 2013 12:53 pm

    REGARDING:
    “What I do not understand is the bible is also against divorce and the eating of shellfish.”

    Actually, it says divorce was not intended but due to the hardness of our hearts provision was made for it (some ARE hard-hearted).

    Further, shellfish were unclean animals but the Christian interpretation of Peter’s vision (Acts 10:9-19; 15:5-31) was that God had cleansed all beasts so now we are scripturally free to eat everything but blood and strangled animals, including shrimp, lobster, crabs and catfish.

    Not that it’s pertinent to the subject at hand, but since you brought it up. . .

    David for undivorced prawns

  5. Thinker on June 27th, 2013 11:09 am

    Ask yourself: When did you decided to be straight (and not gay)? If you say you didn’t, that you were born that way, know please that it is the same for gay people.

    When did you decide to be sighted instead of blind? To deny rights to someone because of their nature is just wrong. We are a complex species with many variations in stature, ability and behavioral inclination.

  6. Just sayin' on June 27th, 2013 10:43 am

    Thank you, sr citizen. I just don’t understand why there’s such a hullabaloo over all of this. It’s plain and simple in both the Bible and the Constitution.

    Titus 3 tells us this: 1. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

    Does it or does it not say to OBEY the magistrates? Does it or does it not say to speak evil of NO man? So how can any one person call him or herself a Christian by not doing this?

    Let he who is without sin cast the first stone. It’s not anybody’s business what another’s sin may be. God will be the judge of it all, and if they are wrong, it is between them and God. However, remember that we will also be judged for the sin of condemning them. No sin is any greater than another.

  7. greylady on June 27th, 2013 10:40 am

    For those who are so upset over this ruling, there are countries where homosexuality is punishable by death. I am sure they will be very welcoming to those from the US who feel the same. Two countries that come to mind are Iran and Uganda.

  8. sr citizen on June 27th, 2013 10:06 am

    Great post Just Sayin.

    What I do not understand is the bible is also against divorce and the eating of shellfish. Both of these behaviors are not frowned upon in the christian community. In my church all sins are equal. Seems this is not the case with other churches and Christians. If so many people are against the idea of gay marriage then I would recommend they do not marry someone of the same sex but let other people live their life as they choose to. It is not for me to decide on whether my neighbor can get married or not.

    The constitution is the law of the land, not the bible, no matter how many people want it to be. Also it is not the job of the court to decide on moral issues. The court was created as checks and balances so our legislative and executive branch do not go against our constitution. This law did in fact go against our constitution.

  9. Bob Hudsun on June 27th, 2013 10:06 am

    Well the SC killed the voting rights of those in California, when they allowed the lower court ruling to stand , the people voted AGAINST same sex marriage, and the courts have trampled their rights, now that is BS.

  10. Lifendason on June 27th, 2013 9:15 am

    @Justsaying,

    I understand what you’re saying, but the thing is, God’s law was broken and now man makes a new law to try and excuse himself for that sin.

    When God’s law is broken, it is sin and we should recognize it as that. Not accept it and move on saying, well the constitution says they can do that. I just about guarantee you that our fore-fathers did not mean for us to break God’s law so everyone can be happy.

    JUST SAYING

  11. Just sayin' on June 27th, 2013 8:16 am

    We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

    I’m sure we all recognize the Preamble to the Constitution. It states very clearly that the Constitution is intended to secure the Blessings of Liberty to themselves and their posterity. That means US! One of the blessings of liberty that we enjoy is the right to marry whomever we please. That would extend to ALL citizens, not just those who are heterosexual. Nowhere does it say “EXCEPT if that citizen be homosexual” or any other caveat.

    The Declaration of Independence gave us “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ”

    Notice that nowhere did it state “SOME men” or “ALL men unless they are homosexual” or any other such exception.

    I AM a Christian, but my God also tells me in my Bible that I am to follow the laws of the government of whom I am a subject. That would mean that I am to obey the laws whether I am in agreement with them or not. My God also tells me that I am to always be truthful. That would mean not trying to twist the facts to suit my purpose. My God tells me to spread His Word…..NOT to spread hatred.

    Whether any of you hiding behind the cloak of religion wish to acknowledge this or not…….YOU are not following the teachings you’re trying to use to justify yourselves. If you were, you would realize that you are bound by man’s laws just as we are bound by God’s laws. and, therefore………YOU MUST ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OVER 200 YEARS AGO, GAYS WERE GRANTED THE LEGAL RIGHTS TO MARRY THE SAME AS EVERY OTHER CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY WE CALL HOME!!!!!!

    Use your brains, people. It’s very plain and simple.

    A Christian for using common sense to understand what was already there

  12. historydetective on June 27th, 2013 7:37 am

    people amaze me who do not study history or their Bible. Civilization has already dealt with homosexuality and same sex marriage. The problem is once a society has drifted into that arena they quit being civilized and eventually quit being a society. quickest extinction of a kingdom same sex marriage. homosexuality starts off in the shadows but when it is fully mature it leads to the moral destruction of a society. Animals get it they entered the ark 2×2 male and female, we are told to multiply how is two men supposed to do that or 2 female the truth is they cant. it wont matter though they will put their faith in the foster system to get the children that they cannot have on their own. The baby boomer generation is the reason for this there is a saying that the fruit of war spoils. the baby boomers were the children of war and are one of the most spoiled generations since mankind has begun. ask a builder generation about same sex marriage they will say that’s an abomination these are the people who fought wars and died and they see that it is wrong, the hippy generation that smoked dope and went to Woodstock said itsok I think ill side with the ww2 crowd on this one. sad thing is now all those hippys have gotten hair cuts and blended in the crowd and are running many parts of our country.

  13. David Huie Green on June 26th, 2013 11:39 pm

    REGARDING:
    “Straight married couples have been riding on the backs of gay people for many years.”

    I could have gone all year without that image in my head.

    AND
    “It’s my opinion that the same protections should protect everyone to the inherent rights of life, liberty and happiness”

    Pursuit of happiness.
    Nobody is guaranteed happiness.
    Nor is that in the Constitution, rather the Declaration of Independence.
    Good thing too, because some will never be happy.
    Freedom to seek is good enough.

    AND
    “There has been no scientific study to date that has isolated a gay gene or proven that gays are “born that way” ”

    Gene? No.
    Born that way? Yes
    A long term study of several thousand people from birth until something like age 20 showed at least for males, certain characteristics at one year of age which had over a 90% correlation by age 20. No way that group just “chose” to be interested only in members of their own gender or that the others all chose to be interested in critters with cooties. I’m just guessing but I would bet a nickel some of the other 10% were simply hiding from the truth.

    David for fewer birth defects
    more happiness

  14. mnon on June 26th, 2013 11:07 pm

    We all have the right to live the way we want regardless of race, disability, religion, political or sexual preferences. Fact of the matter is if there is a God, heaven or hell we are all going to hell if we all died tonight because there is not one person among us without sin; sin is sin, doesn’t matter if it is a small lie or murder and any thing in between. If you are born again/baptized does not matter the moment you told a white lie, ate to much, wish you had something your friend or neighbor has you have sinned all over again. The only person forgiven by God is someone who was never introduced to the Bible or even knows who God is. It’s all in the Bible folks. We are all sinners from the time we wake up until we go to sleep. Many religious people are more so than non-believers because they have hate and intolerance in their heart for others self-interests, when it should be none of their concern to begin with, but you are supposed to spread the word and save souls and how can you do that teaching intolerance in your places of worship. You can’t draw people to the Lord on fear or you end up with what we have now, people that believe they are right and the only one true religion to follow. The Bible, religion, government, laws etc are all man made. Period.

  15. Henry Coe on June 26th, 2013 9:56 pm

    @No Excuses,

    So how does the Constitution of the United States fit in with your perspective? That’s why DOMA is repealed, because it isn’t constitutional to discriminated based on sex, be it sexual preference or gender.

    It’s my opinion that the same protections should protect everyone to the inherent rights of life, liberty and happiness without having mechanisms with in our laws that discriminate or show favoritism, especially toward religious perception or beliefs.

    No one who cares about the Constitution and their own personal Liberties should have a problem with that.
    It has nothing to do with personal choices for or against religion or beliefs based in faith. Those are personal and not the governments business. Including your right to live and believe what you believe that is based in faith.
    All that being said, it is my own opinion that marriage is a religious concept and that government should do no more than offer a certificate of Civil Union for any adults who choose to legally share everything. Beyond that, if people, how ever they are pared, want to have some kind of ceremony, religious or otherwise, they should and they can call it a marriage ceremony or what ever they want. That would be something they do that is beyond the scope of government.

  16. CW on June 26th, 2013 9:42 pm

    “This merely gives homosexuals new ways to get at our means (meaning the taxes we all pay).”

    Gay people are typically more formally educated and have higher incomes than straight people, therefore have paid a large sum into the social security system. Straight married couples have been riding on the backs of gay people for many years.

  17. Sandra on June 26th, 2013 9:22 pm

    There has been no scientific study to date that has isolated a gay gene or proven that gays are “born that way” Sans the science, I will believe that the homosexual lifestyle is simply a deviant sexual behavior that certain members of our society prefer. Shame on the Supreme Court for usurping their authority and overturning DOMA which clearly gave individual states the authority to mandate what marriage consisted of.

  18. smokey on June 26th, 2013 7:16 pm

    So people vote for something and it doesn’t matter because whatever these few people decide is right is right . It don’t really matter though because we know right from wrong and that’s what we recognize as real.

  19. Tuf on June 26th, 2013 7:02 pm

    Tuesday – Voting Rights Act decision. Archaic law. Every state and local decision on voting and districting does not need federal oversight. Constitution upheld regarding powers not reserved to the federal government. Recognition of the Constitution’s dynamic nature through time.

    Wednesday – DOMA ruled unconstitutional. Federal government reemphasizes states rights in decisions on marriage. Congress cannot target politically unpopular groups. Federal government recognizes each state’s marriage laws as decided in those states through fee/tax/service benefits equally for all.

    Sounds to me like the Supreme Court is doing its job. Keeping laws and constitutional interpretation up with the times. Do we really want a nation in 2013 whose day-to-day functions remain locked in time since 1787? Think slavery, Native American removals, women’s vote and right to even own property, segregation, etc., etc. to never change with the ever-changing revisions to the way we see our selves, neighbors, nation, and world?

  20. rgollo on June 26th, 2013 6:17 pm

    The supreme court that matters is the one that the chief justice createad this world….enough said

  21. Mike on June 26th, 2013 6:02 pm

    I think some miss the point:

    This merely gives homosexuals new ways to get at our means (meaning the taxes we all pay). It is & always has been a way for the unmarried (& I never will consider 2 of the same sex as married, because they are not, not really) to get more government benefits.

    It’s all about the money. :)

  22. L. Cranston on June 26th, 2013 5:59 pm

    Former Gov. Mike Huckabee stated on his Facebook page on June 20, 2013 – “Freedom doesn’t work unless everyone enjoys it equally. That seems to be a lesson we’re failing to teach to young people.” Maybe he was trying to tell us something.

  23. Ben on June 26th, 2013 5:51 pm

    Not surprised by the ruling. Disapointed it was a 5-4 vote, though.

  24. No Excuses on June 26th, 2013 5:28 pm

    Henry,

    You will be one of those who realizes the error of his thinking when it’s too late. Nowhere in my post did I say anything about the government being used by Christians to control others. Nowhere. I did state, however, that those without true understanding of the scriptures would not understand them until it’s too late (unless, of course, you accept Christ and receive the Holy Spirit). You, unfortunately, fall into that category as evidenced by the opinions and ideas you have explained here. Those of us who understand what I am saying here will be praying for you.

  25. Thinker on June 26th, 2013 5:19 pm

    And how now, does this affect marriage between a man and a woman? Will it make the divorce rate any higher? LOL – I hope this is the end of this and we get to keep our Republic intact as a secular nation honoring freedom of conscience instead of sinking into a (fascist) theocratic “Christian nation”, something our Founders had escaped and knew to be bad for people.

  26. smokey on June 26th, 2013 5:04 pm

    The Bible doesn’t tell us to Use the government,,but people who believe what the word say’s, voted and passed this and then the “Supreme Court ” decided it was unconstitutional,but that’s unconstitutional.

  27. THE DOER on June 26th, 2013 4:27 pm

    Statistics for AIDS and HIV in Florida. From Care Resource, dated June 26, 2013;

    Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM):

    In the U. S., 74% of all AIDS cases are among men.
    Of the reported HIV cases among men, 72% in Miami and 75.8% in Broward are MSM.
    Among black male cases living with HIV/AIDS in Florida through 2008, 46% were MSM.
    Among living Hispanic male HIV/AIDS cases in Florida reported through 2008, MSM was the leading mode of exposure with 70% of cases.

    Women:

    Nationwide, African American women account for the majority of new AIDS cases among women (64%).
    AIDS is growing among women. In 2008, 30.5% of AIDS cases in Miami-Dade were among women. In Broward County, women account for 35.6% of AIDS cases.
    72% of AIDS cases among women in Miami-Dade are among African-Americans.

  28. wm on June 26th, 2013 4:24 pm

    There is nothing new under the sun. “Normalization” of homosexual relationships has occurred over the ages — and brought down the respective civilizations that allowed it.

    The Roman Empire I mentioned earlier — and of course Sodom and Gomorrah before them.

  29. Haha on June 26th, 2013 4:19 pm

    @Sam
    Haha Well said. I couldn’t think of any better way of saying it buddy!

  30. THE DOER on June 26th, 2013 4:17 pm

    Dear Henry Coe,
    Thank you for trying to “educate” me on the meaning of hypocrisy. If we were to accept your logic, we could assume that it is morally acceptable to attempt to have “natural acts” with an animal or even anything materialistic for that matter. After all, what may not be natural to me, could certainly seem natural for someone else. Sorry, dude. Your logic is illogical. This is why we have laws. Sadly, the laws are changing. We will pay the price. If same-sex marriage is accepted in Florida, the health care alone will increase big time. Do your homework. Let’s look at Massachusetts. Since their 2003 court decision to recognize same-sex marriages, public schools have changed. “Gay Days” are considered the norm. Picture books include pictures with same-sex couples kissing. Even teachers promote it there. (I have friends there.)
    In public health care, since homosexual marriage has become legal in Massachusetts, the rates of HIV/AIDS have gone up considerably. the Massachusetts Department of Public Health helped produce The Little Black Book, Queer in the 21st Century, a hideous work of obscene pornography which was given to kids at Brookline High School on April 30, 2005. Among other things, it gives “tips” to boys on how to perform oral sex on other males, masturbate other males, and how to “safely” have someone urinate on you for sexual pleasure. It also included a directory of bars in Boston where young men meet for anonymous sex.
    All insurance in Massachusetts must now recognize same-sex “married” couples in their coverages. INCREASES GALORE!
    You keep on kidding yourself. Hide behind calling those of us who don’t agree as “haters” or “bigots.” Yes, as of right now, you still have freedom of speech, for a while anyway.

  31. Gary on June 26th, 2013 4:12 pm

    Those who use the word ‘haters’ to describe someone is so ignorant and show a clear lack of vocabulary. Is it hate to disagree with someone’s position? I hate mustard on my cheeseburger. Does that too make me a hater?

    Must be some of those liberal-college grads….

  32. Bob Hudsun on June 26th, 2013 4:03 pm

    In other word , as long as we do not recognize it in the state of Florida, I’m good.

  33. Bob Hudsun on June 26th, 2013 4:00 pm

    Hey Henry , gotta put your foot down some time, now is just as good as any.

  34. Bob Hudsun on June 26th, 2013 3:58 pm

    As long as we do not accept gay marriage in our state , that will be fine, can not control what ever other states wish to do, but the gays are more than welcome to move there.

  35. Henry Coe on June 26th, 2013 3:33 pm

    @No Excuses,

    What part of the Bible tells you as a Christian to use Government to try to control other people? I’m only aware of two examples set in the Bible regarding regarding government.
    One of those in the OT is Moses who got out of government in order to serve God. The other was Jesus in a conversation about taxes said “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God, God’s”. (That might not be verbatim) So if Jesus or the Bible are consistent in type after type, considering that Caesar was the government at the time of that lesson, then the example set for believers is stay out of government and pay your dues.

    I’m not aware of any biblical example that instructs believers to use and manipulate government on God’s behalf, in order to try to legislate their perceived version of morality through the Holy Spirit. Do you?

  36. Sam on June 26th, 2013 3:29 pm

    Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Mine is marriage is between a man and woman. I could care less if a pervert marries a tree, goat, another man. Just stay clear of me.

  37. Henry Coe on June 26th, 2013 3:18 pm

    @THE DOER,

    Sorry, I just have work backward in what you posted to show the hypocrisy in what you stated.

    You said, “The government needs to stay out of marriage, religion, and health.”

    The SCOTUS deciding DOMA is unconstitutional, does get government out of marriage.
    STD’s including AIDS, happens more with Heterosexuals.
    Procreation does happen with male & female, but lots of people have sex without the intent of procreation to include male/female so naturally sex is not limited to only procreation and I’d say that goes for many species besides human beings.
    While it may not be natural for you to want to have sex with someone of the same gender, who’s to say it isn’t natural for someone else? Just because they aren’t trying to procreate doesn’t mean their desires aren’t natural, simply because you don’t have those desires.
    People, whether you have regard for “God given free will” or call it something else, should have the right to live how they choose without government being used by religious people to hinder or take away those individual liberties.

  38. jeeperman on June 26th, 2013 3:12 pm

    Gee wilikers Mr./Miss Doer,
    Thanks so much for the ducation, I never new that female homosexuals desire to sodmize each other. Now tell us how.
    Did you haters ever think that maybe your God and mother nature created gays so that their gene pool would not continue?
    Is that not also what all you haters would prefer?

  39. EMD on June 26th, 2013 3:04 pm

    Yes. Love is love. And lust is lust. One can love a person without having a physical union. But, how can one love God and disobey what He has ordained? He has said this is sin. So it is, whether or not we understand it. I understand some peoples’ confusion in this. I believe their feelings. However, God said it is sin to act on them sexually. So it is. If we love Him, His commandments are now written on our hearts. Those that believe they are innocent before God while knowingly living in any sin are in danger. Some that condemn homosexuality are fornicators. You are in danger too. So are thieves and liars and all others that persist in these things and others that God has said is sin.

  40. CW on June 26th, 2013 3:01 pm

    @THE DOER

    So I guess straight couples who have no desire to reproduce should not have sex? I mean, that’s the ONLY reason to have sex right? To reproduce?

    It’s amazing how primitive some people still are in 2013.

  41. Suzie on June 26th, 2013 2:20 pm

    Well said Mr. Coe. This is a hot button topic. But freedom means being free.
    While I do not condone this lifestyle I do believe that each and every person in this country should have equal rights and opportunities regardless of race, creed or
    sexual orientation. This is what America was founded on and why we have the Constitution to protect these rights.

  42. Joyce on June 26th, 2013 2:17 pm

    This is a sad day in America. Just another sign of ushering in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ!!!!!!!!!!!

  43. No Excuses on June 26th, 2013 1:52 pm

    Well, it was inevitable, wasn’t it? Regardless of what man says, one day “Every Knee Will Bow And Every Tongue Confess That Jesus Christ Is Lord”. That includes the Antichrist, the False Prophet and Satan. So, to all you folks who are calling conservatives and Bible believing people “haters” know this: We don’t hate, we uphold what God holds dear. One day you will understand, but by then it will be too late! Right now, you don’t have a clue because you don’t have the Holy Spirit. Therefore, you can’t understand what you read.

  44. THE DOER on June 26th, 2013 1:48 pm

    Let’s leave the Bible out of this for a second, since so many people have differing views. It is not PHYSICALLY natural or normal for two men or two women to desire to sodomize each other. To populate the earth, procreation must occur. The male and female bodies were made so that that can be done. It takes both a male and a female to reproduce. Attempting to sodomize (That is the actual term for it) each other as same-sex partners do, is not natural or healthy for the human body; i.e., AIDS and STD’s. The government needs to stay out of marriage, religion, and health. Children are born from a male and female. There is no denying this, and those of you in support of same-sex recognition must admit this.

  45. Henry Coe on June 26th, 2013 1:28 pm

    @kevin, It doesn’t matter what the bible says. These rulings are based in Constitutional Liberties and an individuals right and freedom to their live how they choose in equality with everyone,without being discriminated against in having equal access to the same benefits.
    IMO, these same laws that protect the individual freedoms to live without discrimination apply to everyone, equally, gay or straight and without any concern for someone’s religious beliefs, which really needs to be completely beyond the purview of government or reflected in our laws.
    There are some religious folks who believe that the Constitution is some kind of extension of the Bible and they tend to look at the Constitution as though it should reflect their religious beliefs. They don’t understand what the Constitution is or how it works because they believe what they have been taught via religious traditions, so it has to do with what they “feel” and the facts as they understand them based in how they feel. Which means it has nothing to with Constitutional facts, it just has to do with how they “feel”.
    IMHO, The one thing each of us shares equally as Americans is the Constitution of the United States. If we don’t share our rule of Law in equality with individual Liberty intact, then we are not America.

  46. David Huie Green on June 26th, 2013 1:17 pm

    REGARDING:
    “And then people wonder why God has taken His hand off this country. ”

    I can’t think of another nation on earth as blessed as we are.

    Our poorest live as billions wish they could.
    We can speak our minds without fear of assassination or imprisonment.
    We are secure in our homes (as long as we stay off the phone and computer).
    We can marry or not marry as we see fit.
    Nobody tells us how to worship or what to believe.
    Our worst problems are that our neighbors don’t see everything exactly as we do.

    David for a blessed people

  47. kevin on June 26th, 2013 12:44 pm

    So many haters throwing up the bi le about gay marriage. Well what does the bible say about divorce. What about premarital sex what does it say and what about sexual positions what does it say. Before you throw the bi le into it please reread and look at your own faults.say a cuss word? All sins are equal

  48. Reality Check on June 26th, 2013 12:40 pm

    I believe this is the very reason for separation in church and state. Not everyone follows the same teachings. I’m having trouble understanding how God might have a problem with gay marriage equality when divorce and adultery are so prevalent in America. How come there is no major push for the prohibition of those two things? One would almost think that if God absolutely hated the idea of equal rights he might have included it in his Ten Commandments along side Adultery. I’m just asking for consistency. Also, we shouldn’t be so bold as to claim our capacity for understanding his ways. Maybe God’s hand left the country a long time ago when we decided people didn’t have equal rights, or when we started being ok with the twisting of his words.

  49. jeeperman on June 26th, 2013 12:26 pm

    Wow, still so many haters who just can’t let people live in a world that is not like their world.
    So sad.
    Hey, who is it that gives birth to a homosexual?
    A hetrosexual.
    You all should be happy that homosexuals can marry each other.
    At least THEY won’t be birthing any new homoswxuals like you haters are doing.

  50. cygie on June 26th, 2013 12:21 pm

    I believe the word used in Scripture is “abomination” and then followed by “reprobate.” And then people wonder why God has taken His hand off this country. Not a hater of the sinner, just the sin.

  51. BOGIAN on June 26th, 2013 12:20 pm

    Big victory for States rights today.

  52. Bob Hudsun on June 26th, 2013 12:13 pm

    Man made rule, man made law, against the will of God. These so called (marriages) can not be blessed by God,as God opposes the homosexal life style, guess the only thing we can do is make sure out state does not recognize it either; So I hope they are very happy living in the liberal states that do.

  53. xpeecee on June 26th, 2013 12:11 pm

    The current Liberal agenda seems to be an attempt to abolish every Conservative ideal in America – which will, of course, result in the downfall of this country..

    Just curious, judging from Liberal trends: Will the next “Hero” be the man who marries several men? Where does it stop? People marrying animals? Just curious…

  54. wm on June 26th, 2013 11:45 am

    One more nail in America’s coffin — we’re following the same path as did the Roman Empire…

  55. 429SCJ on June 26th, 2013 11:29 am

    Regardless if it had been Romney, the outcome would be the same. On this world satan has the game sewed up on both sides. No matter which party wins he is standing there with his council to enforce his desires by intervening against those who oppose his will; but according to God’s revelation to St John, just for a little season.

    Hate and hurt will solve nothing. We can only try an obey the commandments of God and not pass judgment as judgment is the domain of the Lord. Just please don’t try and educate our Grand Children that this is a peachy keen lifestyle as indoctrination is the domain of the parent.