A federal judge awarded a team of Kentucky attorneys more than $1 million for their role in the U.S. Supreme Court case that purported to redefine marriage, but declined to award them the additional $1 Million that they had requested. Jessica Ditto, spokeswoman for Gov. Matt Bevin, said, "We are pleased that the court did not award any bonus attorney fees and eliminated certain fees and expenses that the court deemed unnecessary."
The owners of a wedding venue in New York who were fined $13,000 fro refusing to host a lesbian "wedding" had their appeal rejected by a state court on Thursday. Robert and Cynthia Gifford cited their conservative Christian beliefs in refusing to host the 2013 "wedding" of two women at Liberty Ridge Farm. They appealed a ruling from the state's Division of Human Rights, asserting their rights to free speech and religious exercise.
A bill that would direct Tennessee officials to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that purported to redefine marriage could lead to a cutoff of all federal funds going to that state, according to the bill's fiscal note. The lost money would amount to approximately $8.5 billion. Bill sponsor Rep. Mark Pody said he would work with the Fiscal Review Committee to determine how the estimate was reached and how to decrease the cost.
When she lived the lesbian lifestyle, Rosaria Butterfield didn’t think she was all that bad. Sin just didn’t look like sin. But then, that’s the way it is with all of us. Then she repented, and her perspective concerning everything changed . . . radically. Kevin Swanson interviews Rosaria Butterfield on her new book, and on important issues such as repentance, identity, homophobia, community, and the power of grace.
On Tuesday, around 150 LGBT activists, pro-abortion activists, atheists, and humanists united their voices to demand removal of Chief Justice Roy Moore at the Alabama Supreme Court. Across the street, a hundred Christians gathered to pray for God’s mercy on the nation. An hour later, several dozen gathered for a press conference on the stairs of the Alabama Supreme Court.
In this article, David Fowler writes in support of Roy Moore's stand. He says, "Most states, under the direction of their attorney generals, have given up on state sovereignty and have basically advised their state officials to allow the Supreme Court to commandeer their state legislatures. Our Founding Fathers would have never imagined that state officials would be so quick to let the federal government tell them what to do."
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — More than 100 people are expected to attend Thursday's Rutherford County Commission meeting to oppose a resolution that encourages state lawmakers to resist the U.S. Supreme Court decision that purported to redefine marriage for the entire nation. The resolution passed the county's Steering Committee on Jan. 4. Republican state Rep. Mike Sparks of Smyrna has come out in support of the resolution.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A group called Equality Wiregrass is rallying against Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore and his stand for the U.S. Constitution. More than 100 people with signs and posters chanted “No more Roy Moore” during the demonstration Tuesday at the state’s main judicial building in Montgomery. However, a group of Moore supporters gathered in front of a church across the street in support of the Chief Justice.
Two rather controversial bills — Senate Bill 120 and House Bill 236 — have been introduced to the Alaska State Legislature. The bills, proposed by Sen. Peter Micciche, R-Soldotna (pictured); and Rep. David Talerico, R-Healy, respectively, were written in an attempt to shield clergy from the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that purported to redefine marriage for the entire nation.
A lawmaker in Virginia is pushing legislation aimed at "protecting" local elected officials who object to same-sex "marriages" based on moral or religious grounds. Republican Sen. Charles Carrico of Galax, whose southwestern district borders Kentucky, said he wants to help Virginia officials who are put in the same position as Kim Davis. Gov. Terry McAuliffe has already vowed to veto the bill if it passes the General Assembly.
Dr. Tom Ford writes in support of Chief Justice Moore's administrative order. He says, "Governors, attorneys general, judges at all levels and legislators face a moment of grave decision – a moment that will decide the future of this nation. Will we bow to the intimidating voices of the left and lay the time-tested principles of law and federalism on the altars of fear, confusion, or judicial supremacy? Or will we follow the line of duty before God and this nation, stand on the plain text of the law and say “enough” to those who seek to destroy the laws, the heart and the soul of this nation?"
Members of First Baptist "Church" of Memphis approved a resolution Sunday that would redefine marriage to include homosexual unions. The vote, taken Sunday after the worship service, wasn't a big surprise. The "church" baptized an openly homosexual man in 2001. Two years ago, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to ordain its first homosexual deacons.
U.S. Senator Richard Shelby says he supports Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's order to probate judges telling them not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Sen. Shelby made that comment after speaking to the Mid-Alabama Republican Club at the Vestavia Hills Library Saturday morning. He says he hasn't seen Moore's order, but like Moore, he believes marriage is between a man and woman.
On Wednesday, Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly interviewed National Organization for Marriage President Brian Brown to discuss Chief Justice Moore’s recent order. "It goes to your understanding of whether you believe that the Supreme Court has the right to dictate to the rest of the country key questions," Brown said. "Abraham Lincoln, when faced with a Supreme Court that issued the infamous Dred Scott decision, said that it did not."
Dr. Michael Brown explains why an acceptance of homosexual unions is incompatible with a high view of Scripture. He says, "The choice then, is simple: You can embrace the full authority and inspiration of the Scriptures, in which case you will be filled with love and compassion for those who identify as LGBT and proclaim the good news of forgiveness and new life to them, or you can endorse same-sex, committed relationships. But you cannot do both."
Dave Gunn writes on Chief Justice Moore and the criticisms he has received for not following "the law." He says, "Actually, Judge Moore is following the law. He is following the law of Alabama and of the United States Constitution. He is resisting the federal tyranny of judges who illegally legislate from the bench, and interpret law, not as it is, but as they want it to be. We need more men and women like Judge Moore in all branches of government."
In the wake of Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's order to probate judges on Wednesday, telling them not issue marriage licenses contrary to Alabama law; at least 13 of the 67 counties in Alabama are standing behind him. However, at least 41 counties are currently ignoring Moore's order. In addition, many of the counties not issuing licenses stopped long before Moore's order on Wednesday.
Bryan Fischer writes on Roy Moore's stand for Alabama's marriage amendment. He says, "The only one in this sorry mess so far who is actually upholding the Constitution is Justice Roy Moore. He is following the Constitution of the United States, which does not authorize the central government to meddle in marriage, and he is upholding the plain meaning of the Alabama state constitution, which it is his sworn duty to do."
On Thursday, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore clarified his position in an interview with the Associated Press. "Until further clarification, (the probate judges) are bound by state law," Moore said. His remarks drew immediate condemnation from pro-homosexual organizations. In addition, Some of the judges who had stopped issuing licenses after Moore's order resumed issuing them on Thursday after consulting with attorneys.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has again emphasized that same-sex "marriage" is the "law of the land – including in Alabama." In a statement issued Wednesday night, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said that the administrative order issued by Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore indicates that more work needs to be done to "ensure that marriage equality is guaranteed and enforced nationwide."
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore said in an interview Wednesday afternoon that he did not intend to defy the nation's highest court, but said that there were "conflicting orders" between the U.S. Supreme Court and the Alabama Supreme Court, which upheld the state's bans on same-sex "marriage" last March, three months before the U.S. Supreme Court declared similar bans to be "unconstitutional" in Obergefell v. Hodges.
Despite a ruling from the United States Supreme Court purporting to overturn state amendments that define marriage as between one man and one woman, the windows at the marriage license counter are closed to all couples in Mobile County, Alabama following an unexpected order from Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore on Wednesday.
A Spartanburg County lawmaker says his attempt to oppose same-sex "marriage" reflects the will of his constituents. Rep. Bill Chumley, R-Woodruff, and Rep. Mike Burns, R-Taylors, have pre-filed a bill in the South Carolina House of Representatives that would continue to define marriage as between one man and one woman. The bill is titled the "South Carolina Natural Marriage Defense Act."
On Wednesday, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an order telling Alabama probate judges not to issue any marriage licenses to same-sex couples. He said, "Until further decision by the Alabama Supreme Court, the existing orders of the Alabama Supreme Court that Alabama probate judges have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary to the Alabama Sanctity of Marriage Amendment or the Alabama Marriage Protection Act remain in full force and effect." You can read the rest of Chief Justice Moore's order here.
Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an order today saying that a ruling issued last March by the Alabama Supreme Court remains in effect and that probate judges "have a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage license contrary" to Alabama's law and constitutional amendment banning same-sex "marriage." In a four-page administrative order, Moore said the conflict between the state court ruling and the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June has caused "confusion and uncertainty" among probate judges.