Supporters of marriage equality celebrated the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage as a long fought victory in America’s culture war. Among them were people of faith.
Breathlessly grateful to God whose passion for justice never sleeps. Love is love. And those who love, know God.
— Gene Robinson (@BishopGRobinson) June 26, 2015
The decision written by Justice Anthony Kennedy sought to take into account those Americans who object to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. The ruling mentions the words religion and religious a total of 54 times. Right off the bat, it offers this reassurance religious organizations: “ …the First Amendment ensures that religions, those who adhere to religious doctrines, and others have protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths.” Some will not find much reassurance in Kennedy’s reasoning here and will see Friday’s decision as a setback for religious freedom. Ryan Anderson writes about marriage and religious liberty at the Heritage Foundation.
Judicial activism. Plain and simple. Nothing in the Constitution required the redefinition of marriage. Doesn't change the truth.
— Ryan T. Anderson (@RyanTAnd) June 26, 2015
“Marriage is sacred to those who live by their religions and offers unique fulfillment to those who find meaning in the secular realm,” Kennedy writes. He goes on to say that religious people who oppose same-sex marriage may continue to do so and that people should continue to debate the issue on the grounds of faith or otherwise. But, ultimately, Kennedy finds that, “[t]he Constitution …does not permit the State to bar same-sex couples from marriage on the same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex.” In his dissent, Chief Justice John Roberts also cites the principle of religious freedom and disagrees about what the Constitution means for same-sex marriage. “Many good and decent people oppose same-sex marriage as a tenet of faith, and their freedom to exercise religion is—unlike the right imagined by the majority— actually spelled out in the Constitution,” Roberts writes.
Roberts in his dissent: hard questions for religious freedom: pic.twitter.com/43m6VNG5Eb
— Elizabeth Dias (@elizabethjdias) June 26, 2015
In his dissenting opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas mentions the prominent place that religious freedom has had in American history. “Many of the earliest immigrants to America came seeking freedom to practice their religion without restraint,” Thomas argues. He goes on to accuse the majority decision of short-circuiting the process where the American people themselves determine what constitutes inappropriate restrictions on religious expression, “with potentially ruinous consequences for religious liberty.” Roman Catholic bishops in Michigan released a statement on the Supreme Court decision.
Michigan bishops say #SSM decision will have "significant ripple effect" on religious liberty http://t.co/9cs3idHb1w pic.twitter.com/frmXSfjfmR
— Rhina Guidos (@CNS_Rhina) June 26, 2015
Russell Moore president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Russell Moore: Why the church should neither cave nor panic over the decision on gay marriage https://t.co/doPTYxgaai pic.twitter.com/UDg37iUHP4
— Wash Post Faith (@washpostfaith) June 26, 2015
The same-sex marriage ruling got swift reaction from GOP presidential contender, Bobby Jindal.
This ruling must not be used as pretext by Washington to erode our right to religious liberty. http://t.co/1Kfw9l0KMG
— Gov. Bobby Jindal (@BobbyJindal) June 26, 2015
Outside the Supreme Court in Washington on Friday, there were chants of, “Love has won!” And joining in were people who wanted to show that their religious belief was not in conflict with the court’s decision on same-sex marriage.
Baptists and Catholics for #MarriageEquality at #SCOTUS pic.twitter.com/DDTr3LxU0d
— Peter Montgomery (@petemont) June 26, 2015