In a lengthy 14 paragraph rant, a group of religious organizations, including 5 that appear on the Southern Poverty Law Center's list of hate groups, is vowing to defy the highly anticipated Supreme Court rulings on marriage equality should things not go their way.
As Christian citizens united together, we will not stand by while the destruction of the institution of marriage unfolds in this nation we love. The Sacred Scriptures and unbroken teaching of the Church confirm that marriage is between one man and one woman. We stand together in solidarity to defend marriage and the family and society founded upon them. The effort to redefine marriage threatens the proper mediating role of the Church in society.
Experience and history have shown us that if the government redefines marriage to grant a legal equivalency to same-sex couples, that same government will then enforce such an action with the police power of the State. This will bring about an inevitable collision with religious freedom and conscience rights. We cannot and will not allow this to occur on our watch. Religious freedom is the first freedom in the American experiment for good reason.
Finally, the Supreme Court has no authority to redefine marriage and thereby weaken both the family and society. Unlike the Legislative Branch that has the power of the purse and the Executive Branch which has the figurative power of the sword, the Judicial Branch has neither. It must depend upon the Executive Branch for the enforcement of its decisions.
As Christians united together in defense of marriage, we pray that this will not happen. But, make no mistake about our resolve. While there are many things we can endure, redefining marriage is so fundamental to the natural order and the true common good that this is the line we must draw and one we cannot and will not cross.
So there you have it. The stunning hypocrisy of these people is on full display in their full statement. They claim that they love this country and stand up for its values unless those values include sharing equality with people they hate. Their impotent rage at something that hasn't even occurred yet is a symptom of their authoritarian childishness. Their obliviousness to the fact that the constitution was written for all Americans, not just this faction of self-absorbed, Theocratic-minded boobs speaks to the danger their world view presents to the rest of this nation.
They love this country right up to the point where obeying the law only applies to them if they agree with that particular law. If they don't, they will direct their simple-minded followers who hold civic jobs to abandon their official responsibilities and deny giving us our marriage paperwork. They promise they will be right there, standing behind Mr. and Mrs. Holierthanthou when they slam their B&B door in our faces or when that screwy Baker for Jesus says "no wedding cake for you." They willfully see no harm in doing so, just like those not so long ago who hung up "White's Only" signs in their shitty little diner windows.
I highly recommend you read John Aravosis' excellent analysis of this tasteless stunt on AmericaBlog.
What’s really going on here, in my opinion, in addition to religious right leaders admitting publicly that they do not believe in democracy in general, and in America’s democracy and our system of governance as laid out in the Constitution, in particular, is a not-so-subtle last-ditch effort to pressure the Supreme Court to rule against gays in the DOMA and Prop 8 cases.
It’s difficult to explain to a non-lawyer, but it’s considered incredibly rude to attempt to “lobby” the Supreme Court. And to threaten them is even more low-brow. The appropriate way to “lobby” the Supreme Court is by filing an amicus brief, or at best going on TV or penning an oped and hoping a Supreme Court Justice happens to see it. But you don’t outright threaten them. It’s not just poor form and boorish, it’s considered un-Democratic. Courts of law, the Supreme Court especially, are not supposed to respond to the whims of the people. They’re supposed to do what’s right under the law.
He is absolutely right that the timing of this statement is a Hail Mary pass designed to intimidate the Court into ruling their way. It is also, in my opinion, aimed directly at the public in a post-ruling attempt at intimidation. They are bullies who see no need to play by rules or standards of decency.
As we all await these historical rulings (come on, SCOTUS, enough already), I suspect neither side will get everything it wants. They will only be satisfied unless DOMA stands and Prop 8 is upheld. Of course, I would love nothing more than to see marriage equality guaranteed at the Federal level. Neither scenario is likely to happen. Whatever does happens, I know that my brothers and sisters in this fight will continue to work within the restraints of our laws and through the channels of our democracy to achieve our goals of full equality. It is clear that the other side is willing to do the exact opposite. They will continue to equate us with pederasts and worse, utilize debunked studies to give their lies an air of legitimacy, all the while claiming we can be "cured" if we would only come to them. That right there should tell you all you need to know about the true character of these upstanding Americans.