To listen to religious right leaders and groups rant and rave over the SCOTUS denial of cert. in the marriage equality cases before it (and the results), you would think the SCOTUS was as evil as ISIL. It has been quite the cyber meltdown for sure.
From Brian Brown of NOM:
We are surprised and extremely disappointed that the US Supreme Court has refused to grant review of the same-sex marriage cases pending before them. This is wrong on so many levels. First, the entire idea that marriage can be redefined from the bench is illegitimate. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman; it has been this throughout the history of civilization and will remain this no matter what unelected judges say. Second, it's mind-boggling that lower court judges would be allowed to impose the redefinition of marriage in these states, and our highest court would have nothing to say about it. Third, the effect of the lower court rulings is to say that a constitutional right to same-sex ‘marriage' has existed in every state in the union since 1868 when the 14th Amendment was ratified, but somehow nobody noticed until quite recently. That's the absurd belief we are being told to accept.
From Ben Shapiro (at Breitbart):
On Monday, the Supreme Court refused to take on the issue of gay marriage – and by doing so, essentially greenlit same-sex marriage across the nation, encouraging low-level courts to continue knocking down traditional marriage laws across the country. This is the beauty of Supreme Court doctrine: they don’t even have to do their judicial dirty work anymore. They can rely on lower-level courts to violate the Constitution, then declare the Constitution magically changed because of an 'emerging' consensus on violating the Constitution. And the people have no recourse. They cannot pass laws that for two and a half centuries have been fully Constitutional. They cannot fight state attorneys general who betray their voters. They must sit by as the courts play legal games while awaiting the great Obama-esque 'evolution' – an evolution that is almost entirely top-down, and that will then be dictated to us by our betters.
From Tony Perkins of the FRC:
Unfortunately, by failing to take up these marriage cases, the High Court will allow rogue lower court judges who have ignored history and true legal precedent to silence the elected representatives of the people and the voice of the people themselves by overturning state provisions on marriage. Even more alarming, lower court judges are undermining our form of government and the rights and freedoms of citizens to govern themselves. This judicially led effort to force same sex 'marriage' on people will have negative consequences for our Republic, not only as it relates to natural marriage but also undermining the rule of and respect for law.
The Court decision ensures that the debate over natural marriage will continue and the good news is that time is not on the side of those who want to redefine marriage. As more states are forced to redefine marriage, contrary to nature and directly in conflict with the will of millions, more Americans will see and experience attacks on their religious freedom. Parents will find a wedge being driven between them and their children as school curriculum is changed to contradict the morals parents are teaching their children. As more and more people lose their livelihoods because they refuse to not just tolerate but celebrate same-sex marriage, Americans will see the true goal, which is for activists to use the Court to impose a redefinition of natural marriage on the entire nation.
Congress should respond to today's announcement by moving forward with the State Marriage Defense Act, which is consistent with last year's Windsor ruling and ensures that the federal government in its definition of marriage respects the duly enacted marriage laws of the states.
From Jonathan Saenz Of Texas Values:
The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to not take up the lower court rulings undermines both marriage and the rule of law, and it effectively silences millions of Americans in these states that have supported marriage as the unique union of one man and one woman. The decision makes Texas even more important in the effort to uphold marriage as many believe that the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will uphold our marriage laws as we expect that it will. We also expect the Texas Supreme Court to rule very soon in favor of marriage in a case that seeks to redefine marriage for divorce. Redefining marriage comes at a high cost: it costs kids either a mom or a dad (who are not interchangeable), and it costs people of faith their First Amendment religious freedom rights as government imposes the new definition across all aspects of society. Make no mistake, Texas will lead the effort to defend marriage and uphold the will of the people.
From Senator Ted Cruz:
The Supreme Court’s decision to let rulings by lower court judges stand that redefine marriage is both tragic and indefensible. By refusing to rule if the States can define marriage, the Supreme Court is abdicating its duty to uphold the Constitution. The fact that the Supreme Court Justices, without providing any explanation whatsoever, have permitted lower courts to strike down so many state marriage laws is astonishing. This is judicial activism at its worst. The Constitution entrusts state legislatures, elected by the People, to define marriage consistent with the values and mores of their citizens. Unelected judges should not be imposing their policy preferences to subvert the considered judgments of democratically elected legislatures.
Nothing in the text, logic, structure, or original understanding of the 14th Amendment or any other constitutional provision authorizes judges to redefine marriage for the Nation. It is for the elected representatives of the People to make the laws of marriage, acting on the basis of their own constitutional authority, and protecting it, if necessary, from usurpation by the courts. Marriage is a question for the States. That is why I have introduced legislation, S. 2024, to protect the authority of state legislatures to define marriage. And that is why, when Congress returns to session, I will be introducing a constitutional amendment to prevent the federal government or the courts from attacking or striking down state marriage laws.
From Jim Robinson for Free Republic:
Today's SCOTUS rollover for the sodomites and the inevitable RINO push to surrender that's guaranteed to follow. Free Republic is here to defend our Constitution and fight for the founding principles and our God-given Liberty. I'll be damned if I'm going to roll over for the homosexual agenda or the Marxist/fascist ruling class!! No surrender, no retreat!! Our God-given unalienable rights are not subject to debate, negotiation or compromise and that includes our religious freedom and the free exercise thereof!! God, family, country!! Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness or death!! Those who wish to give up and surrender can KMA!! The GOP-e and RINO enablers are dead to me
The above is just a sample of the responses to the SCOTUS decision to deny cert. in the marriage equality cases (all collected via
JMG).
The Advocate has a whole article about these responses. The first paragraph in that article reads:
Some right-wing groups are denouncing the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to weigh in on marriage equality as “dereliction of duty,” letting marriage “burn to ashes,” and enacting the “Roe v. Wade of sodomy-based marriage,” while others are relieved that the court at least did not establish a right to same-sex marriage nationwide — although today’s action brings it to many more states.
Box Turtle Bulletin has an interesting article up comparing these responses to the five stages of grief. You can read that
here.
And, some amusing tweets are below the fold. Be sure to check them out as well.