I had never read the opinions by the Supreme court judges
put forward in regards to the Obergefell v Hodges case which allowed for
same-sex marriage to be recognized in all states of the Union. It’s difficult to read through the law jargon
but I think I understand what most of them were saying.
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What I
found interesting was how the dissenting judges took their fellow judges to
task for making a political rather than a judicial statement on marriage. The
majority judges make a political statement rather than looking at the
Constitution and judging on the case. As Judge Roberts stated, “Supporters of
same-sex marriage have achieved considerable success persuading their fellow
citizens—through the democratic process—to adopt their view. That ends today.
Five lawyers have closed the debate and enacted their own vision of marriage as
a matter of constitutional law. Stealing
this issue from the people will for many cast a cloud over same-sex marriage,
making a dramatic social change that much more difficult to accept.” These are
pretty harsh words.
He goes
on to state that marriage has not had to be defined as “For all those
millennia, across all those civilizations, ‘marriage’ referred to only one
relationship: the union of a man and a woman.” I did a little research and
found something on the Romans view of marriage just out of curiosity. Romans
did not even sanction same-sex marriage though they, mainly men, were prone to
having same-sex relationships.
Though
the Supreme Court (with a majority, not unanimous) has ruled that the
definition of marriage is changed (as well as several other countries
throughout the world) that does not really change the definition of marriage.
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What
does that last quote have to do with same-sex marriage? As we draw on our
relationship with God, we want to naturally show our love for Him. He stated in
the New Testament, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). I
cannot find that God has changed the definition of marriage in the scriptures.
In fact, in 1995, the prophet of God issued a proclamation which states, “We,
the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a
man and a woman is ordained of God.” Whether, you believe in modern-day
prophets or not, God has not changed His standard on marriage. If we love Him,
then we will keep the commandment that marriage is between a man and a woman,
not between two people of the same sex.
Perhaps
you don’t believe in God and thus the above commandment may not seem to apply
to you. I would like to share what Judge Roberts wrote: the rulings [Loving v Virginia, Zablocki v Redhail, Turner v Safley] as stated
by the majority “did not; however, work any transformation in the core
structure of marriage as a union between a man and a woman.” These rulings
still conformed to the traditional definition of marriage between a man and a
woman. He also states in regards to the arguments by the majority of the Due
Process Clause, “Our precedents have accordingly insisted that judges ‘exercise
the utmost care’ in identifying implied fundamental rights’ es the liberty
protected by the Due Process Clause be subtly transformed into policy
preferences of the Members of this Court.”
I
believe God instituted the law of marriage between a man and a woman. I know He
has not revoked that law or changed it in any way. I also know that nine
Supreme Court justices sit on a
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