Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision mandating the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples, most of the 2016 presidential candidates have made their opinions on the issue known.
Linda Barnette has issued marriage licenses in Grenada County, Mississippi for 24 years. On Tuesday, she resigned. “I am a follower of Christ and I believe strongly that the Bible is my final authority,” she wrote in her resignation letter. "The Bible teaches that a marriage is to be between a man and a woman. Therefore, because of the recent ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court, I can no longer fulfill my duties as Circuit Clerk and issue marriage licenses to same sex couples."
NJ Gov. Chris Christie has a message for clerks who might have religious objections to issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. He says, "You took the job, and you took the oath......When you go back and re-read the oath it doesn’t give you an out. You have to do it......I think for folks who are in the government world, they kind of have to do their job, whether you agree with the law or you don’t."
A polygamist in Montana is seeking to obtain a marriage license for his second wife following last Friday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling declaring that all 50 states must legalize same-sex "marriage" because of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. An official decision by the county attorney is expected next week.
The New Hampshire state Senate voted Thursday to repeal its anti-adultery law, sending the bill to Gov. Maggie Hassan, who says she's likely to sign it into law. Under the law the Legislature voted to repeal, adultery is a Class B misdemeanor and punishable by a fine of up to $1,200.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, a "gay rights" advocacy group and six New Orleans residents are suing Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal for issuing a religious freedom executive order aimed at protecting people who oppose "same-sex marriage."
Nearly one-third of Alabama counties on Monday were not issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, or had shut down marriage license operations altogether, despite Friday's landmark US Supreme Court ruling that redefined marriage.
When asked whether probate judges have no choice now but to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore said, "You're asking me should probate judges obey. I'm telling you it (the U.S. Supreme Court) has issued a ruling that has precedent over the courts of Alabama. But their interpretation of the Constitution is their interpretation. But nothing can conflict with a sworn officer's oath to the Constitution."
Roy Moore is arguing that judges in Alabama do not have to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples for the next 25 days, because parties officially have 25 days to contest the Supreme Court's ruling.
In response to a Supreme Court ruling that mandates recognition of "same-sex marriages," 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate Ted Cruz had something to say. "The court's views are radically out of step with public opinion," said Cruz. "The Supreme Court follows the opinions of Manhattan and Washington D.C., but it doesn't follow the opinions of America."
In the wake of Friday’s Supreme Court decision on marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges, Alabama pastors and leaders say the battle for marriage is not over. Around fifty Alabama pastors, elected officials, and organization leaders held a press conference this morning at the Alabama Judicial Building.
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum argued over the weekend that President Barack Obama should redirect the energy that he has been putting into fighting climate change into promoting heterosexual marriages “for the survival of our county.”
Alabama pastors and organization leaders who continue to acknowledge God’s immutable definition of marriage between one man and one woman will officially respond to the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges today in front of the Alabama Supreme Court at 11:00 am.
County clerks can refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples based on religious objections to gay marriage, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said Sunday. Paxton noted that clerks who refuse to issue licenses can expect to be sued, but added that “numerous lawyers stand ready to assist clerks defending their religious beliefs,” in many cases without charge.
Presidential candidate Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that while he disagrees with the Supreme Court's ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in all 50 states, his state will abide by the Court's decision. "We don't have a choice," Jindal said Sunday. "Our agencies will comply with the court order."
NEW YORK >> New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday made use of some newly granted powers to officiate at his first wedding, that of a same-sex couple. The marriage took place in front of the Stonewall Inn on the day of the annual gay pride march and two days after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage across the country.
HARRISBURG, PA, June 26, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) – One of the largest news publishers in Pennsylvania, Pennlive.com put out an editorial on the Supreme Court ruling noting, “As a result of Friday’s ruling, PennLive/The Patriot-News will no longer accept, nor will it print, op-Eds and letters to the editor in opposition to same-sex marriage.”
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration lit up the White House with rainbow lights on Friday night to celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling declaring that all states must legalize same-sex “marriage.”
AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott is asking heads of state agencies to protect Texans’ religious liberty now that the Supreme Court has ruled same-sex marriage a constitutional right.
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States released an opinion stating that it is unconstitutional for any state to define marriage as between one man and one woman. The vote is 5-4, with Chief Justice John Roberts dissenting, joined by Scalia, Thomas and Alito.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Several pastors gathered this week to draw battle lines against "same-sex marriage." “We stand today to put America on notice that we will not obey an unjust law. Same sex marriages, they try to claim to is a civil right. They hijacked the Civil Rights Movement and say it’s the same thing, but it’s not the same thing,” said Rev. Bill Owens, the president and founder of the Coalition of African-American Pastors.
Through their #HowWeFamily campaign, Tylenol is aiming to change public opinion about the family. Two "gay dads" with a baby are featured in the campaign's first TV ad. A voiceover declares, "Family isn't defined by who you love, but how."
As the Supreme Court prepares to rule on "Same-sex marriage," Texas pastor Rick Scarborough has something to say about it: "We're simply being pre-emptive and saying, no matter what the cost, we are not going to bow, we are not going to bend, and we will burn. The preachers need to get out front, the leaders need to get out front, out front of these ordinary citizens and say, 'Shoot me first.'"
2016 Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum says that if he is elected president, he will not enforce any ruling by the Supreme Court that legalizes "gay marriage," because it violates the First Amendment.
Southern Baptist churches across Alabama are bracing for an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling by adopting policies saying gay marriage is not allowed in their church facilities.