Gay Marriage Is Law: My Two Major Concerns - Pt.1

SCOTUS has spoken on the issue of gay marriage, making it legal throughout the country. This decision has evoked strong emotions.  Supporters are elated and feel empowered, while those who oppose it feel defeated, fearful and even angry, believing that the Supreme Court usurped the rights of voters and legislatures in deciding the matter.  I have no legal training, but I do know that in the 37 states where gay marriage laws already existed, the law was ordered by courts in 26 of those states, the legislature made the decision in eight, and only three states allowed citizens to vote on the issue. But all of that is old news now.  Going forward, I have two major concerns.

Concern #1:  The impact the decision will have on religious liberty.  Now that the high court has ruled that gay marriage is a constitutional right, it's inevitable that situations will arise (either
organically or by design) that will present enormous challenges for Christians, more specifically, fundamentalist Christians. We saw what happened with the owners of 111 Cakery in Indianapolis.   This once successful Christian-owned bakery in Indianapolis, declined to bake a cake for a gay couple. Owners Trish and Randy McCrath, said they had no problems serving their many gay customers, but made an exception that time because they "just didn't want to be a party to a commitment ceremony" because it "reflected a commitment to sin." The couple explained their decision on their Facebook page, "It's not that we wanted to deny them a cake, it's just tough to create something that goes against your beliefs."  The couple later decided to close the bakery to avoid legal battles since same-sex marriage became law in Indiana last October.

Actually, the MCrath's got off pretty good.  The owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, Aaron and Melissa Klein are awaiting the outcome of a hearing with the Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries, after declining to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple. The couple sited their religious views for not wanting to bake the cake.  Earlier this month, a lawyer for the state agency recommended that the couple be fined $135,000. In a stunning turn of events, a series of emails have been released under the Freedom of Information Act that appear to show that the agency pursing the case against the Kleins is working closely with Oregon's largest LGBT advocacy organization on the case. The Klein's have closed their business.

With the new ruling on gay marriage, there is an infinite number of possible scenarios that may put Christians, other orthodox believers and faith-based businesses and non-profits in situations like those experienced by the Christian bakers. Will tax-exemptions be taken away from churches or synagogues that decline to marry same-sex couples?  Will Christian broadcasters be required to avoid saying that same-sex marriage is wrong in order to maintain their broadcast license? What about Christian colleges, what happens when a same-sex couple wishes to share a dorm room?  What if nothing happens?  Well that would be great! But that's just wishful thinking. Religious liberty is the next big issue.

In another interesting turn of events, last week, the American Civil Liberties Union announced that they no longer support the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and is calling for its reform...some timing huh? Citing how the law has been used to allow religious people to discriminate against gays, lesbian and transgendered people as one reason for the reversal, the organization's overall opposition to RFRA is clearly steeped in disdain for the fundamentalists' beliefs on everything from birth control to abortion, which they view as discriminatory.

We'll have to wait and see how all of this works out.  I'll share my other major concern, which happens to be my greatest concern, in my next post.