Over the predictable dissents of four Catholic male justices, the Supreme Court on June 26 finally recognized the right of Americans of any sexual orientation to marry. The decision was a long time coming, in large part because of the terrible control religion exercises over its adherents.
Justice Kennedy wrote the majority opinion and was joined by Justices Ginsberg, Breyer, Sotomayor and Kagan. Religion played a large role in the decision and opinion. The justices mentioned it more than 50 times. In his dissent, Justice Thomas, noted that many “have cautioned the Court that its decision here will ‘have unavoidable and wide-ranging implications for religious liberty.’ ” But his opinion is not controlling.
Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion noted that “Many who deem same-sex marriage to be wrong reach that conclusion based on decent and honorable religious or philosophical premises.” He also conceded, “Finally, it must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned.”
Though Kennedy is, in our humble opinions, too kind on what can only be termed religious bigotry, we are thrilled with the result. It is now clear for all, including Judge Roy Moore in Alabama, that the Constitution “does not permit the State to bar same-sex couples from marriage on the same terms as accorded to couples of the opposite sex.”
Religion has always been the greatest stumbling block to progress, particularly in the field of minority rights. When Elizabeth Cady Stanton was fighting for women’s equality, she was fighting against “… the Bible and the church, they have been the greatest block in the way of her development. The vantage ground woman holds to day is due to all the forces of civilization to science, discovery, invention, rationalism, the religion of humanity chanted in the golden rule round the globe centuries before the Christian religion was known. It is not to Bibles, prayer books, catechisms, liturgies, the canon law and church creeds and organizations, that woman owes one step in her progress, for all these alike have been hostile, and still are, to her freedom and development.”
Today marks another loss in religion’s battle to hold back the forces of humanity, compassion and progress. But most importantly, today is a day to celebrate love. Two consenting adults promising to go through all of life’s ups and downs together is a beautiful thing. And now that all Americans can share in that beauty — love has conquered religion.
