There is much confusion about laws and such these days. Let me first say how happy I am that NY said no to expanding abortion beyond the current age deadline. Prayers and politics appear to have worked here for now. Having said that, the Supreme Court of the US made some decisions today. I'll give my impression of them, though I am probably wrong and have little understanding of law, which my sister and brother-in-law will be happy to point out :-) In regards to DOMA, the court said that if a state recognizes same-sex marriage, than the federal government also recognizes those unions and gives them the same rights, responsibilities and benefits, while also requiring that state to do the same. It doesn't seem to directly affect those living in states which have same-sex marriage bans. This is a strange ruling, as evidenced by the stances of the judges. Strange because liberals are happy to see support of their moral standard in the case, and conservatives should be (though probably won't be) happy to see the Supreme Court support state rights. I actually haven't even heard that brought up yet, maybe I am watching the wrong news channels.
The court's ruling on Proposition 8 is a completely different animal. Proposition 8 was a California State Constitutional Amendment voted on and approved by voters almost a decade ago banning same-sex marriage in California. The case in the Supreme Court today, though viewed as a victory for the homosexual community, was basically thrown out. The court ruled that the people who were arguing for the amendment's constitutiality did not have the legal right to challenge the lower California court's ruling negating Proposition 8. It was a legal boot to the case, sending it back to Californians to figure out. Again, supporting state rights, but by what most would consider a legal technicality.
In both cases, it seems to me that nobody really won. Neither side will look at it that way, but the Supreme Court did what they are supposed to do, and made their determination on the letter of the law, not their personal moral or political convictions, or at least it seems that way to me. As far as law and politics go, I am happy to see the court support the rights of the states to make their own laws, even if it makes some issues awkward moving between states, while also doing their job of discerning the meaning of the law without bias. They have a difficult job in doing that, one which I would never want.
As far as the moral convictions of our country, that is a different story. Honestly, I don't think anybody will change their minds on how they feel about the issues today, but down the road is another story. Listening to them talk about how they really just want to teach the children it's ok, and how they want it to go nationwide so that the children everywhere think that it's ok made me see the biggest problem with the legal stance of this country (not the courts, not the states, the country). The children are being told more every day that immorality is ok (and I am not talking about just the homosexual issue). As our country sways more away from Godly morals, we continue to legislate (yes we, we elect all those that make the laws, even in NY) toward increased immorality. Don't blame the government, it is not their job to teach morals, nor is it the job of the schools. They have begun to make and teach moral decisions because the church (Christians) has become so bad at it.
What about marriage? When did the state get to decide who can and can't be married? Why is the responsibility of the state to decide the definition of marriage? It isn't, not in God's eyes. He specifically defines marriage as the union between a man and woman. No question about it. Do all humans deserve the same legal rights? No question about it (unless they forfeit them by breaking them). The problem we have is not a legal one, it's a moral one. The government shouldn't have to teach morals, that is God and the church's job. We have not done a good job, the result is someone (the government) having to step in and try to teach morals (not the best people for that job!). We (Christians) have failed in doing our job, teaching the children God's love and rules, so someone else is doing that (not the best people for that job)...
Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,
- "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 4:9, 6:6-9
The court's ruling on Proposition 8 is a completely different animal. Proposition 8 was a California State Constitutional Amendment voted on and approved by voters almost a decade ago banning same-sex marriage in California. The case in the Supreme Court today, though viewed as a victory for the homosexual community, was basically thrown out. The court ruled that the people who were arguing for the amendment's constitutiality did not have the legal right to challenge the lower California court's ruling negating Proposition 8. It was a legal boot to the case, sending it back to Californians to figure out. Again, supporting state rights, but by what most would consider a legal technicality.
In both cases, it seems to me that nobody really won. Neither side will look at it that way, but the Supreme Court did what they are supposed to do, and made their determination on the letter of the law, not their personal moral or political convictions, or at least it seems that way to me. As far as law and politics go, I am happy to see the court support the rights of the states to make their own laws, even if it makes some issues awkward moving between states, while also doing their job of discerning the meaning of the law without bias. They have a difficult job in doing that, one which I would never want.
As far as the moral convictions of our country, that is a different story. Honestly, I don't think anybody will change their minds on how they feel about the issues today, but down the road is another story. Listening to them talk about how they really just want to teach the children it's ok, and how they want it to go nationwide so that the children everywhere think that it's ok made me see the biggest problem with the legal stance of this country (not the courts, not the states, the country). The children are being told more every day that immorality is ok (and I am not talking about just the homosexual issue). As our country sways more away from Godly morals, we continue to legislate (yes we, we elect all those that make the laws, even in NY) toward increased immorality. Don't blame the government, it is not their job to teach morals, nor is it the job of the schools. They have begun to make and teach moral decisions because the church (Christians) has become so bad at it.
What about marriage? When did the state get to decide who can and can't be married? Why is the responsibility of the state to decide the definition of marriage? It isn't, not in God's eyes. He specifically defines marriage as the union between a man and woman. No question about it. Do all humans deserve the same legal rights? No question about it (unless they forfeit them by breaking them). The problem we have is not a legal one, it's a moral one. The government shouldn't have to teach morals, that is God and the church's job. We have not done a good job, the result is someone (the government) having to step in and try to teach morals (not the best people for that job!). We (Christians) have failed in doing our job, teaching the children God's love and rules, so someone else is doing that (not the best people for that job)...
Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,
- "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 4:9, 6:6-9
