America, Are We Still 'One Nation Under God'? SCOTUS Rulings

Are we still ‘One Nation Under God’? This was the question that whirled around in my mind the day after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled to lift all bans on same-sex marriage throughout the United States, making it legal for same-sex ‘partners’ to marry. Justices Anthony Kennedy, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer ruled in favor, and the Justices writing dissenting opinions were John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. It was a dark day for America on Friday, June 26, 2015 for those who value marriage between one man and one woman, but for many it was a superficial ‘victory’. Superficial because this decision allowing these self-destructive unions cannot stand the test of eternity.

This isn’t the easiest article I have had to write but it’s one of the most important because it is a ruling of historic proportions. The SCOTUS redefined marriage from one man and one woman to allowing same-sex partners to marry in civil court. This ruling defies reason and God’s natural law. Marriage has been defined as between one man and one woman since the beginning of time. Even so, five unelected justices thought they knew more than our Creator and as Chief Justice Roberts' dissenting opinion puts it, “As a result, the Court invalidates the marriage laws of more than half the States and orders the transformation of a social institution that has formed the basis of human society for millennia, for the Kalahari Bushmen and the Han Chinese, the Carthaginians and the Aztecs. Just who do we think we are? The word ‘unelected’ is written in the joint dissenting opinion of Justices Roberts, Scalia and Thomas.

Justice Kennedy delivered the opinion of the court and used the 14th Amendment as his legal argument as had been expected. “Under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, no State shall 'deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.' His opinion read more like a Romance Novel or a sad country song when he wrote that, “Marriage responds to the universal fear that a lonely person might call out only to find no one there. It offers the hope of companionship and understanding and assurance that while both still live there will be someone to care for the other.” While the key word ‘procreation’ was used in the opinions, it failed to persuade the Majority.

Genesis 1:27-28
God created man in his image; in his divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them saying: “Be fertile and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.”

The ruling by the SCOTUS on same-sex marriage is a direct assault of states’ rights. Absolutely no mention was made of the 10th Amendment granting the states the right to self-govern on matters not pertaining to the US Constitution. Texas and 13 other states lost their states’ rights with this ruling. Justice Roberts wrote in his dissent, “If you are among the many Americans—of whatever sexual orientation—who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today’s decision. Celebrate the achievement of a desired goal. Celebrate the opportunity for a new expression of commitment to a partner. Celebrate the availability of new benefits. But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it.”

Justices Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, and Alito agreed that religious liberty is dangerously at risk and that our religious freedom will be challenged. Even though we may have all thought that this ruling was on the horizon, it is still strikingly disturbing to read the opinions of the justices. It is even more shocking to experience the reaction of so many Americans. Christians have self-muted their voice and this ruling only proves just how silent we have been. Reactions have been varied but silence, denial, disbelief, aggression, and ignorance of the unintended consequences are prevalent.

The #LoveWins crowd is not wasting any time in harassing or verbally abusing the traditional marriage believers. I posted a video on traditional marriage by Catholic Vote and the negative responses have been plentiful.

At the San Antonio Family Association Marriage Rally that had been planned prior to the ruling, the #LoveWins crowd aggressively bullied the participants by telling them to get off the sidewalk because they were going to ‘call the cops’. Yet they had a larger crowd that overtook another part of the sidewalk. They won, so why so much anger? A ruling of this significance can only bring division and more conflict to an already contentious issue. These are very difficult times for Christians but it is imperative that we respond to these diatribes with Love and Truth. Remember, that the Supreme Court cannot mandate morality.

The Catholic Church stands firm on traditional marriage and will not marry same-sex couples or allow same-sex adoptions. Saint Pope John Paul II in his encyclical letter, ‘Evangelium Vitae’ wrote about the homosexual. “Those who would move from tolerance to the legitimization of specific rights for cohabiting homosexual persons need to be reminded that the approval or legalization of evil is something far different from the toleration of evil. In those situations where homosexual unions have been legally recognized or have been given the legal status and rights belonging to marriage, clear and emphatic opposition is a duty.” We must stand firm in our belief that God created one man and one woman for the purpose of precreation and that the family unit is the foundation of our society no matter how flawed we might think it is.

Genesis 2:22-24
The Lord God then built up into a woman the rib that he had taken from the man. When He brought her to the man, the man said, “This one, at last, is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called, “woman”, for out of her man this one has been taken.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.

How can we as Americans believe that America is still ‘one nation under god’ when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of abortion in 1973 with Roe vs Wade and now with same-sex marriage. Patrick Van Dohlen, president of San Antonio Family Association put it this way, “We are now ‘One Nation Under Population Control’”

Doing some research I found that ‘under God’ was first added to the Pledge of Allegiance by the largest Catholic fraternal service organization the Knights of Columbus during their Board of Directors executive meetings in New York City in the early 1950’s. A joint resolution by congress amended the Flag Code of 1942 and on June 14, 1954 the words ‘under God’ were added to the Pledge of Allegiance as we now know it. If it was possible for laymen to begin the process to add the words ‘under God’ to the pledge of Allegiance, then it is possible for Christians to change our culture to a “Nation Under God”.

Ephesians 6:10-13
Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God, so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the power, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything to hold your ground.

The RED Report
Sonja Harris
Pray, Fight, NEVER GIVE UP!