California Ruling on Gay Marriage is Revolutionary and Radical

The California Supreme Court last week fired what was, shocking for many, an unexpected shot across the bow when its judges ruled 4-3 to strike down the state's ban on gay marriage.

This action overturns Proposition 22, which Golden State voters overwhelmingly approved in 2000 to protect the traditional definition of marriage. The ruling came as a result of a lawsuit filed by gay rights groups alleging that they were unlawful victims of discrimination. Unless it is stayed by another court, the ruling will take effect in 30 days. At that point, California authorities will be required to issue same-sex marriage licenses. California voters will likely have another opportunity to protect marriage in the November election when the electorate will consider a proposed constitutional amendment

Shannon Minter, attorney for one of the plaintiffs in the case, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, called last week's ruling "a moment of pure happiness and joy for so many families in California."

"California sets the tone, and this will have a huge effect across the nation to bringing wider acceptance for gay and lesbian couples," he said.

Minter's comment seems to get to the heart of the original intent of the lawsuit: homosexual activists are hoping that the California ruling will have a domino effect on the rest of the nation and will lead to a carte blanche affirmation of same-sex marriage. R. Albert Mohler Jr., CBMW Council Member, said the ruling by activist judges is comprehensive and drastic; the ruling imbues "sexual orientation" with protected status equal to biological factors such as gender and race. 

"By a one-vote margin, their state Supreme Court renounced the will of the people.  The ruling is both revolutionary and radical.  It sets the stage for a much broader reorganization of human society.

"Chief Justice Ronald M. George, writing for the majority, pushed the argument for same-sex marriage far beyond where any court had taken it before. The decision identified marriage as a ‘fundamental right,' thus opening the door for infinite challenges beyond same-sex marriage.

"The court also declared sexual orientation to be a class protected by a 'strict scrutiny' test of all legislation and regulation. In so doing, the California court became the first in the nation to apply this test on the basis of sexual orientation. This move also opens the door for much broader challenges to laws and regulations across the board.

"California voters will have another opportunity to protect marriage in November, when a proposed constitutional amendment will come before the electorate. The stakes now could not be higher."

Scripture is unambiguous regarding the place of honor that marriage — as defined by holy writ — must hold within the city of man among those whose future hope lies in the City of God: "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous." (Heb 13:4)

As Dr. Mohler pointed out, there is indeed much at stake in the California ruling and the possibility of a marriage amendment next fall in that state.