The Supreme Court of the United States created quite a furor last week when it announced that it would not hear cases regarding same-sex marriage in its next term. Both sides of the issue were waiting for SCOTUS to review a same-sex marriage case to add some legal clarity to the hotly debated topic.
Instead, during the October term that began last Monday and runs through June 2015, the Court will hear arguments in cases involving redistricting in Arizona, a challenge on personal solicitations of campaign contributions in judicial elections in Florida, proving discrimination regarding the Fair Housing Act in Texas, and whether a Muslim woman who was wearing a headscarf was discriminated against when she was not hired by clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch.
American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) says the Court’s “inaction” on the pressing issue is, indeed, an action.
“The Supreme Court most decidedly did take action on the same-sex marriage issue,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon. “Not to decide is a decision. Not to act is an action. The Court knew exactly and precisely the consequences of its judicial inaction.
Despite the Supreme Court’s decision to ignore the issue of same-sex marriage in America,” he continued, “the battle to protect time-honored marriage is long from over. The Dred Scott decision didn’t settle the slavery issue, Roe v. Wade didn’t settle the abortion issue, and the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear cases in the coming year will not settle the marriage issue.”
Wildmon added that same-sex marriage will be an important issue on Election Day on November 4. AFA is encouraging voters to take their values into account at the ballot box.
“Same-sex marriage will be a litmus test for candidates running from now through 2016,” he said. “Candidates who are unwilling to fight for the sanctity of God’s institution of marriage and family are not worthy of support or reelection.”
Last week, on Religious Freedom Day—October 7, a day focusing on the threats to religious liberty and how Americans can respond—AFA debuted its new 60-minute documentary “A Time To Speak: The Threat to Religious Liberty in America,” which highlights the urgent need for Christians to pray, speak out and vote. The film will be available for viewing at www.ATimeToSpeak.com this month. DVDs of the documentary are also available for purchase through the AFA Online Store.
