Supreme Court’s Marriage Ruling is Egregious Attack on Democracy, Will Never Be Accepted

Marriage should be reaffirmed, notAustin, TX, June 26, 2015 – Texas Values has released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision to force the people in all 50 states to redefine marriage, regardless of their votes to affirm that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.

On the decision, Texas Values President Jonathan Saenz said:

“This decision is the most egregious form of judicial activism of our time, overriding the votes of over 50 million voters, including millions in Texas. The freedom to democratically address society’s most fundamental institution is central to ordered liberty. The Court has taken that freedom from the people.

“This decision has no basis in the text of the Constitution and will never be accepted by millions of Americans and Texans that understand that marriage, by nature and God’s design, can only be the union of a man and woman, husband and wife, mother and father. No decision by five judges can ever alter this fundamental truth.

“Just as with Roe v. Wade in 1973, the Court will not resolve this matter. This ruling will not bring consensus, rather it will further divide America. Marriage is rooted not only in human history, but also in the biological and social reality that children are created by, and do best when raised by, a mother and a father.”

“In Texas, we encourage all government officials to wait for direction from the Texas Attorney General’s office before issuing any marriage licenses and remind them it is illegal for them to alter marriage license forms. Texas’ law was not directly before the Supreme Court.”

“Thankfully in Texas we have the Pastor Protection Law, which prevents the government from forcing pastors, churches and religious organizations and their employees and property from being a part of same sex ‘weddings’ or related ceremonies, but similar religious freedom protections for all citizens are necessary as this decision will create a collision course with the religious freedom guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution.

“Rest assured, we will not lapse into silence but will continue to speak, and encourage others to speak, to the truth that marriage is and can only be the union of one man and one woman,” concluded Saenz.

Texas Values filed a legal amicus brief with the Supreme Court of the United States on this issue and had staff in D.C. for the oral argument on this landmark case.

The Pastor Protection Law, SB 2065, protects Texas pastors, churches, and religious organizations from being forced to perform a marriage that violates their religious beliefs and from being forced to provide services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose related to the solemnization, formation, or celebration of any marriage if the action would cause the organization or individual to violate a sincerely held religious belief.

Despite strong opposition from some Democrats and from LGBT advocacy groups throughout the legislative process, including the ACLU, Equality Texas, and Texas Freedom Network, the law passed with overwhelming majorities in the Texas House and Senate without any of the amendments aimed at watering-down the bill. By passing with a vote of two-thirds in both chambers, the bill takes effect immediately. Click here to read the new law.

About Texas Values

Texas Values is a non-profit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.

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