Minnesota Family Council Reacts to Gay Marriage Rulings

I just wanted to quickly share this email I got from the Minnesota Family Council following the two SCOTUS rulings regarding gay marriage last week. I won't comment on it here other than to note they asked for money 4 times in the same email. At least Obama had the courtesy to send you three separate emails.

Dear Friends, As you already may have heard, the United States Supreme Court issued opinions on two marriage cases involving the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.  The Court struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act, (DOMA) and dismissed an appeal regarding a constitutional California marriage amendment called Proposition 8 which was passed by more than 7 million voters in 2008.

Many of you have asked: “What do the decisions mean and how will they affect our religious freedoms?

Proposition 8 Ruling
The Proposition 8 ruling is the most disturbing.  The Court chose not to rule on the merits of the case and instead ruled that the proponents of California’s Proposition 8 had no standing to appeal the case.

(After voters passed Prop 8 in 2008, a lawsuit was filed to challenge it. The California government refused to defend the law and the defense was conducted by private citizens.  Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that those private citizens who defended the law did not have the legal ability to do so.)

By not ruling on the merits of the case, the Court established a “terrible precedent, ruling that citizens who pass an initiative (Prop 8 or other Marriage Amendments) do not have the legal right or standing to defend that law when elected officials refuse to do their job and defend the duly enacted law in court.”

The effect of this ruling will play out in both the federal district court and in California state courts in the upcoming days and weeks, and the fate of CA’s Proposition 8 is still unknown. The ruling applies narrowly to California and has no effect on Minnesota.

Please consider making a generous financial contribution of $25, $50, $100 or even more to help MFC promote marriage as between one man and one woman and protect your religious liberties against the new same-sex “marriage” bill passed in May.

DOMA Ruling
The High Court struck down the portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that defines marriage as between one man and one woman for federal law purposes. This means that the same-sex “spouses” of federal employees will receive federal benefits as if they were spouses in a natural marriage in states that have redefined marriage.

The Court’s ruling on the DOMA case completely misinterprets the principles of federalism it purported to affirm. Federal government has the authority to make federal law for federal purposes, just as states have the authority to create state marriage laws for state purposes. The disappointing ruling declares that Congress does not have the right to maintain a federal definition of marriage.

More disturbing, the majority opinion written by Justice Kennedy implies that the members of Congress who passed DOMA were motivated in part due to “improper animus” towards gays and lesbians.  This is simply preposterous.  Please take the time to read Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissent as he sounds a “chilling warning” that the DOMA ruling deliberately uses language and reasoning that will encourage future legal cases that will allow the Supreme Court to force same-sex marriage on all 50 states.

What Is The Bottom Line?
The good news is that the rulings demonstrate that there is no constitutional right to same-sex “marriage.”  The Court’s rulings affirm that the conversation about marriage can continue among citizens in the states. The Court found no constitutional right to same-sex "marriage.”

The decisions by the Supreme Court today affirm that the debate about marriage CAN and SHOULD continue…and it’s in YOUR hands.

As Minnesotans who understand the biological, historical, and transcendental reality of marriage, as well as the public purpose of God’s design for marriage, we now more than ever have the RIGHT, DUTY, and RESPONSIBILITY to stand in defense of 1 man-1 woman marriage. Promoting the good of marriage as an institution that uniquely encourages children to be raised by their mother and father if at all possible is GOOD policy and works to limit government’s involvement in our personal lives.

Here is what you can do.
Please make a generous financial contribution of $25, $50, $100 or even more to help MFC promote marriage as between one man and one woman and protect your religious liberties against the new same-sex “marriage” bill passed in May.

And, find out how your REPRESENTATIVE and SENATOR voted on Minnesota’s same-sex “marriage” bill and take action.  Contact them to thank them for voting against the bill or let them know that you are disappointed that they voted yes and you will be working to hold them accountable in the next election.

“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 3:13-14) Many of you have asked: “What do the decisions mean and how will they affect our religious freedoms? Proposition 8 RulingThe Proposition 8 ruling is the most disturbing.  The Court chose not to rule on the merits of the case and instead ruled that the proponents of California’s Proposition 8 had no standing to appeal the case.  (After voters passed Prop 8 in 2008, a lawsuit was filed to challenge it. The California government refused to defend the law and the defense was conducted by private citizens.  Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that those private citizens who defended the law did not have the legal ability to do so.) By not ruling on the merits of the case, the Court established a “terrible precedent, ruling that citizens who pass an initiative (Prop 8 or other Marriage Amendments) do not have the legal right or standing to defend that law when elected officials refuse to do their job and defend the duly enacted law in court.” The effect of this ruling will play out in both the federal district court and in California state courts in the upcoming days and weeks, and the fate of CA’s Proposition 8 is still unknown. The ruling applies narrowly to California and has no effect on Minnesota. Please consider making a generous financial contribution of $25, $50, $100 or even more to help MFC promote marriage as between one man and one woman and protect your religious liberties against the new same-sex “marriage” bill passed in May. DOMA RulingThe High Court struck down the portion of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that defines marriage as between one man and one woman for federal law purposes. This means that the same-sex “spouses” of federal employees will receive federal benefits as if they were spouses in a natural marriage in states that have redefined marriage. The Court’s ruling on the DOMA case completely misinterprets the principles of federalism it purported to affirm. Federal government has the authority to make federal law for federal purposes, just as states have the authority to create state marriage laws for state purposes. The disappointing ruling declares that Congress does not have the right to maintain a federal definition of marriage. More disturbing, the majority opinion written by Justice Kennedy implies that the members of Congress who passed DOMA were motivated in part due to “improper animus” towards gays and lesbians.  This is simply preposterous.  Please take the time to read Justice Antonin Scalia’s dissent as he sounds a “chilling warning” that the DOMA ruling deliberately uses language and reasoning that will encourage future legal cases that will allow the Supreme Court to force same-sex marriage on all 50 states. What Is The Bottom Line?The good news is that the rulings demonstrate that there is no constitutional right to same-sex “marriage.”  The Court’s rulings affirm that the conversation about marriage can continue among citizens in the states. The Court found no constitutional right to same-sex "marriage.” The decisions by the Supreme Court today affirm that the debate about marriage CAN and SHOULD continue…and it’s in YOUR hands. As Minnesotans who understand the biological, historical, and transcendental reality of marriage, as well as the public purpose of God’s design for marriage, we now more than ever have the RIGHT, DUTY, and RESPONSIBILITY to stand in defense of 1 man-1 woman marriage. Promoting the good of marriage as an institution that uniquely encourages children to be raised by their mother and father if at all possible is GOOD policy and works to limit government’s involvement in our personal lives. Here is what you can do.Please make a generous financial contribution of $25, $50, $100 or even more to help MFC promote marriage as between one man and one woman and protect your religious liberties against the new same-sex “marriage” bill passed in May. And, find out how your REPRESENTATIVE and SENATOR voted on Minnesota’s same-sex “marriage” bill and take action.  Contact them to thank them for voting against the bill or let them know that you are disappointed that they voted yes and you will be working to hold them accountable in the next election.  “Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 3:13-14)