This week I had the opportunity to review and contemplate an article from the Supreme Court regarding Obergefell v. Hodges which is a summary of the ruling on June 26, 2015, that legalized gay marriage, (5-4 vote). The primary questions reviewed by the Court were; whether a State must recognize a same-sex marriage that is licensed and performed in a State which does grant and recognize that right; and whether States are required to license a marriage between two people of the same sex (Obergefell v. Hodges; 2015).
Although the majority decision was, to a large degree, based on their interpretation of Constitutional justice and liberty, the main concern is reinforced by a comment by dissenting Justice Roberts, “This universal definition of marriage as the union of a man and a woman is no historical coincidence. Marriage did not come about as a result of a political movement, discovery, disease, war, religious doctrine, or any other moving force of world history—and certainly not as a result of a prehistoric decision to exclude gays and lesbians. It arose in the nature of things to meet a vital need: ensuring that children are conceived by a mother and father committed to raising them in the stable conditions of a lifelong relationship (Quale 1988).
But the most important knowledge and need for worldly understanding and acceptance is expressed by President Nelson,
“God is the Father of all men and women. They are His children. It was He who ordained marriage as the union of a man and a woman. Marriage was not created by human judges or legislators. It was not created by think tanks or by popular vote or by oft-quoted bloggers or by pundits. It was not created by lobbyists. Marriage was created by God” (Nelson, 2014)!
Another concern was also voiced by Justice Alito, “I assume that those who cling to old beliefs will be able to whisper their thoughts in the recesses of their homes, but if they repeat those views in public, they will risk being labeled as bigots and treated as such by governments, employers, and schools” (Obergefell v. Hodges 2014). However, as President Nelson has admonished us, “The day is gone when you can be a quiet and comfortable Christian. Your religion is not just about showing up for church on Sunday. It is about showing up as a true disciple from Sunday morning through Saturday night—24/7 (Nelson, 2014, Aug. 14)! Although this will require patience and tolerance on everyone’s part, Elder Dallin H. Oaks has stated, “Tolerance does not require abandoning one’s standards or one’s opinions on political or public policy choices. Tolerance is a way of reacting to diversity, not a command to insulate it from examination” (Oaks, 2001, 17).
In reading the Justices’ dissenting remarks it is clear that all are concerned regarding the unknown ramifications of this new law with regards not only to the definition of marriage and religion, but for family, children and society in general. As Christians, we must appropriately find our voice as admonished by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in The Family: A Proclamation to the World, “We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” 102.) And in the end, as stated by dissenting Justice Alito, “. . . no one—including social scientists, philosophers, and historians—can predict with any certainty what the long-term ramifications of widespread acceptance of same-sex marriage will be” (Obergefell v. Hodges 2014).
References:
Nelson, R. M. Disciples of Jesus Christ-Defenders of Marriage. Brigham Young
University Commencement, 2014, Aug. 14.
Oaks, D. H. “Weightier Matters,” Ensign, Jan. 2001, 17. https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/the-divine-institution-of-marriage
Obergefell v. Hodges; 2015. https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/14pdf/14-556_3204.pdf
Quale, G. A History of Marriage Systems 2 (1988); cf. M. Cicero, De Officiis.
BEYOND "I DO " 