A judge has recognized a 2001 same-sex union as a common-law "marriage" in Pennsylvania, even though one partner died long before the Supreme Court attempted to redefine marriage. This has left family lawyers across the state buzzing about the potential implications.
Some Ohio judges say they don’t have to officiate same-sex "weddings," or any weddings for that matter. Toledo Municipal Court Judge C. Allen McConnell refused to "marry" a same-sex couple earlier this month, saying he declined because of “his personal and Christian beliefs established over many years.” He planned to continue “traditional marriages,” but the presiding judge took over all marriage ceremonies. McConnell has asked the Ohio Supreme Court’s board of professional conduct to clarify if he must perform same-sex "marriages."
Take a moment to listen to Hannah Ford of Sanctity of Marriage Alabama and Bob Crittenden of Faith Radio discussing the latest when it comes to the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage and the opportunity currently before the Supreme Court of Alabama to comment on the ruling’s legitimacy in that state.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A state lawmaker is ready to introduce legislation, if need be, to stop marriage licenses from being issued across the state, because of the Supreme Court's attempt to redefine marriage. “If we don’t stand up and say no to these five Supreme Court Justices, we no longer have a constitutional republic; we are an oligarchy,” Rick Womick (R), of Rutherford County said. Womick said the state constitution backs him. “Under no circumstance will any law, public policy or judicial interpretation propitiating that marriage is anything other than one man and one woman will be enforceable in Tennessee,” he said. “It will be void, and that’s verbatim out of the Constitution.”
The government of Rowan County, Kentucky, has denied any liability for the actions of its county clerk, who stopped issuing marriage licences this summer after the Supreme Court attempted to redefine marriage. Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis and the county are being sued by two same-sex and two opposite-sex couples who were recently denied marriage licenses by Davis’ office. But in a court Wednesday, the county government argues that the clerk “performs a state function and does not act on behalf of, or set policy for, the County.”
MEXICO CITY, July 29, 2015 – Tens of thousands took to the streets of major Mexican cities under the slogan “Mexico is One for the Children,” to ask the government to respect state constitutions that define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, after a recent Mexican Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex unions. Several other cities will march for the same cause on August 15.
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen says religious colleges that don't accept "gay marriage" aren't at immediate risk of losing their tax-exempt status. When asked whether he could pledge that he would not "take any action to remove the tax-exempt status from religious colleges and universities based on their belief that marriage is between a man and a woman," Koskinen said, "I can make that commitment."
For the second time this year, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore has been accused of violating judicial ethics by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). Chief Justice Moore allegedly violated judicial ethics through numerous speeches suggesting that government officials should follow the law rather than the Supreme Court. "If Chief Justice Moore wants to make political speeches or be an activist in opposition to same-sex marriage, he is free to do so, but he cannot simultaneously hold his current position on the Alabama Supreme Court," SPLC President Richard Cohen said. "His blatant disregard for judicial ethics demonstrates once again that he is unfit for office."
A Christian student at the University of Cape Town in South Africa was forced out of her position at the institution after she posted a message on Facebook deemed "anti-gay marriage." Commenting on the U.S. Supreme Court's attempt to redefine marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges, Zizipho Pae, an economics and statistics major, was forced out of the Student Representative Council last week because she accused society of "normalizing sin."
The Boy Scouts of America on Monday ended its ban on openly homosexual adult leaders. But the new policy allows church-sponsored units to choose local unit leaders who share their precepts, even if that means restricting such positions to heterosexual men. The Boy Scouts’ national executive board, composed of 71 civic, corporate and church leaders, adopted the changes with 79 percent of those who participated in a telephone meeting voting in favor, according to an announcement issued by the Scouts.
Rob Gagnon: "Julie has now put her own subjective evaluation of her limited personal experience over the authority of a clear core value in biblical sexual ethics. Our Lord Jesus Himself based his understanding of the essential twoness of the marital bond on the foundation of God’s intentional creation of two primary/complementary sexes for marriage, 'male and female.' Julie now rejects that foundation for sex, which is tantamount to claiming that she knows better than Jesus."
MONTGOMERY, AL (July 28, 2015) – Sanctity of Marriage Alabama, a grassroots organization based in Montgomery, urged the Alabama Supreme Court Tuesday to uphold their order from 3 March 2015 that halted same-sex "marriage" in Alabama.
NASHVILLE - A Tennessee lawmaker has sent a letter to all 95 county clerks in Tennessee urging them to refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. State Rep. Rick Womick, R-Rockvale, said the governor and attorney general are intimidating county clerks to issue the licenses.
This Wednesday and Thursday, July 29-30, the appeal hearing for Dr. Paul Church will take place. It will include lawyers, “evidence”, and witnesses, as his hospital attempts to seal his firing. Dr. Church’s crime? He voiced concerns to his colleagues and hospital staff about the unhealthy nature of homosexual behavior and objected to the hospital’s aggressive promotion of “gay pride” activities. For years the hospital has been aggressive in its attempts to silence and punish Dr. Church. Please consider signing the petition to have Dr. Church reinstated.
A Southern Indiana woman is suing after she was fired for refusing to process same-sex couples’ applications for marriage licenses because of her “sincerely held” religious beliefs. Linda Summers, a former clerk's office employee in Harrison County, filed the lawsuit last week against the county and County Clerk Sally Whitis in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana in New Albany.
Frankfort, KY — The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) revoked the volunteer credentials of an ordained minister because he was unable to sign a statement promising to refrain from ever telling juvenile inmates that homosexuality was “sinful.” In a letter to the Commissioner, Liberty Counsel has given the Department until July 31 to reinstate David Wells’ volunteer visitor credentials.
Rob Gagnon: "I say with lament, not malice, that Julie Rodgers’ defection from orthodox sexual ethics has been in the making for some time. For those reading the warning signs along the way, it was not a great shock to read on July 13 that she no longer believed that homosexual relations were wrong. It was less of a surprise to read that, given that change of mind, she had immediately resigned from her job at Wheaton caring for students with same-sex attractions. All the same, these developments were sad occasion for many of us."
MONTGOMERY, AL: The Foundation for Moral Law, a Montgomery-based legal foundation that defends the right to acknowledge God and the duty to interpret the Constitution as written, says a local case involving "same-sex marriage" is not over, because the issue of retroactivity has not yet been decided. The Foundation is opposing Paul Hard, who is trying to collect a spousal share of his dead homosexual partner's estate.
The 25-day deadline for filing a motion for a rehearing before the US Supreme Court on the same-sex “marriage” ruling came and went with no action. All four eligible state Attorneys General (Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee) refused to file for it. And virtually every prominent pro-family group declined to get involved.
Democrats plan to unveil an expansive anti-discrimination bill that would force businesses to provide employment, housing and education to people who identify as homosexual or transgender. The bill, which Democrats say will be introduced in the Senate and House, would extend "protections" granted under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to "LGBT people." It's been less than a month since the Supreme Court attempted to redefine marriage, and we're already moving towards forced commerce.
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — At least nine Alabama counties are refusing to issue marriage licenses to any couples, homosexual or heterosexual, nearly a month after the Supreme Court attempted to redefine marriage, according to a survey by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Two Alabama counties said they will now issue marriage licenses after the Supreme Court's decision. The probate judges of Houston and Henry counties have reopened marriage license operations and will issue licenses to anyone. The change came at the end of a 25-day window in which the U.S. Supreme Court could have reconsidered its decision.
Dr. Joel R. Beeke speaks out about the recent Supreme Court ruling and says that it is important for us to remember six things: (1) It is a decision against the Bible, (2) It is an oxymoron, (3) It opens a floodgate of disastrous consequences, (4) It is an unloving decision, (5) It is an audacious decision, and (6) It is a decision that lacks the fear of God.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is placing the debate over “religious freedom” front and center of his Republican presidential campaign with the release of a new campaign video Tuesday highlighting the “incredible journey” of an Iowa couple who refused to host a "gay marriage" in their wedding venue. “Your story inspires me, and inspires millions of believers,” Cruz informs the couple in the video. “Believers of many faiths in this country who want to live in a land where we’re free to live according to our faith and our convictions and it’s not second-guessed by the government saying we don’t share your faith and we’re going to shut you down.”
At least three mainline Protestant denominations have celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court’s attempt to redefine marriage, and others say they are divided on the issue. “By and large, [mainline denominations] have been more liberal than the culture in compromising their sexual standards before the country itself compromised its laws on marriage,” said Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy. Average church members in mainline denominations, Tooley said, are “close to where the nation is as a whole” on "gay marriage," but the “governing bodies” of those denominations are “certainly much more liberal than the country is.”
MONTGOMERY — Two conservative groups that sued to stop same-sex "weddings" earlier this year have urged the Alabama Supreme Court to resist the U.S Supreme Court's attempt to redefine marriage. In a court filing, the Alabama Policy Institute and the Alabama Citizens Action Program urged justices to resist the "gay marriage" ruling the same way courts in other states resisted pro-slavery laws in the 1850s, saying there is “precedent for the highest court of a state to reject a U.S. Supreme Court mandate which is unlawful.”