In a landmark same-sex marriage case in California, federal Judge Walker overturns the voter-determined ban on same, now passing the deck to the Supreme Court, for the ultimate say. Already propped up for this case and positioned in D.C., the forecast is stormy for a Supreme Court review of these issues. With Kegan’s “virtually assured” position as Supreme Court Justice, and in light of the issuance of her statement during the commissioned hearings that she “didn’t know” if she believed in inalienable rights, referring to those superseding and preceding the Constitution–making a clear statement-by-default about her own moral and judicial frame–the climate is certainly semi-controlled and the clouds are moving in at a clip.
The Church has made the following official statement regarding the overturn of Prop 8 and the ban on same-sex marriage.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regrets today’s decision. California voters have twice been given the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage in their state and both times have determined that marriage should be recognized as only between a man and a woman. We agree. Marriage between a man and woman is the bedrock of society.
We recognize that this decision represents only the opening of a vigorous debate in the courts over the rights of the people to define and protect this most fundamental institution–marriage.
There is no doubt that today’s ruling will add to the marriage debate in this country and we urge people on all sides of this issue to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward those with a different opinion.
Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker, offered the following commentary:
Judge Walker’s ruling overturning Prop 8 is an outrageous disrespect for our Constitution and for the majority of people of the United States who believe marriage is the union of husband and wife. In every state of the union from California to Maine to Georgia, where the people have had a chance to vote they’ve affirmed that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Congress now has the responsibility to act immediately to reaffirm marriage as a union of one man and one woman as our national policy. Today’s notorious decision also underscores the importance of the Senate vote tomorrow on the nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court because judges who oppose the American people are a growing threat to our society.
