Gay marriage: ENDA the world … as you know it?

The California Supreme Court ignored the will of millions of voters Thursday and legalized gay “marriage” in the state by throwing out precedent and existing law. In doing so, it has empowered an assault on the foundational freedoms of this country.

In scenes reminiscent of the Visigoths dancing in the ruins of Rome, spontaneous celebrations by gay “marriage” supporters broke out in San Francisco and other cities following the announcement of the court’s ruling. Reported the Associated Press:

“Our state now recognizes that an individual’s capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual’s sexual orientation,” Chief Justice Ron George wrote for the court’s majority, which also included Justices Joyce Kennard, Kathryn Werdegar and Carlos Moreno.

The decision doesn’t settle the issue, as there is a movement to pass a constitutional amendment to keep marriage in its traditional form. If passed, the amendment would trump the court decision.

The court clearly overstepped its authority in making law for the entire state, a job that is supposed to be reserved for the Legislature. But the most troubling thing about the court decision is that it apparently did not even consider what I regard as the most important issue: that marriage is a religious matter.

The concept of male-female marriage has been around in one form or another in every culture throughout history. Marriage has always been considered primarily a religious ceremony. Governments traditionally have protected and regulated marriage because all states have an interest in the circumstances of creating and raising the next generation of citizens, but they have always taken their cues from the religions specific to their cultures.

I do not believe the gay marriage movement has ever been about “gay rights,” though many people have been lured into supporting it based on that slogan. If it were about particular rights, then we could have made a list and made a case in the legislatures of this land. But the fight has been about changing the very concept of marriage, a concept which was not invented by the state.

The real fight has been about using the government and other authorities to hammer away at traditional religion, particularly Christianity, and reducing its influence in this country:

• In the Senate, Edward Kennedy, Harry Reid and other liberals are pressing for passage of ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. Superficially well-intentioned, the law would prohibit discrimination against gays and any other non-heterosexual. The law makes no exception for the religious conscience of an employer or co-worker, and it provides for the government, at taxpayer expense, to be the primary enforcer of the law. In short, ENDA could force churches, private schools and individuals to choose between their religious convictions and possible financial ruin.
• In New Mexico in April, a couple of Christian wedding photographers were fined by authorities $6,600 for refusing to photograph a lesbian “commitment ceremony.”
• In 2002, Kodak fired a loyal 23-year employee who objected to pro-homosexual indoctrination and refused to attend “diversity” re-education.
• In 2005, Allstate fired a manager for writing, on his own time, a column critical of gay marriage.
• In 2004, an appeals court upheld Hewlett Packard’s firing of a Christian employee for posting anti-homosexual Bible verses in his cubicle after company officials placed pro-homosexual posters around the office as part of the company’s “diversity” program.
• Google made news for rejecting ads from Christian groups ChristianExodus and Stand to Reason, both of which opposed gay marriage.
• At Sandia National Laboratories, Christian employees were forbidden to use the employee bulletin board, ordered to remove religious screensavers and posters, and finally were prohibited from displaying family pictures after homosexuals complained that they found it “offensive” to see photos of traditional families.
• In 2005, the American Red Cross in San Diego fired an employee after he objected to a memo encouraging workers to help support Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. The e-mail he sent to his boss included the phrase, “I would like to start by stating that I am a Christian not willing to compromise my beliefs to promote the agenda of the homosexual community.” He added Bible verses including Galatians 6:7 and Joshua 24:15.

Gays certainly must have the same basic rights as anyone else. But there is no doubt in my mind that if gay marriage stands, it will be used to oppress Christians.

Supporters of gay marriage may think they’ve struck a blow for freedom, but what they’ve really done is laid a cornerstone for a state church.

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