Yesterday, President Barack Obama made a commitment at the The Human Rights Campaign's Dinner. He committed to repeal "the so-called Defense of Marriage Act." In a transcript of his message, he said:
"Will we uphold the ideals on which this nation was founded: that all of us are equal, that all of us deserve the same opportunity to live our lives freely and pursue our chance at happiness? I believe we can; I believe we will. And that is why -- that's why I support ensuring that committed gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country. I believe strongly in stopping laws designed to take rights away and passing laws that extend equal rights to gay couples. I've required all agencies in the federal government to extend as many federal benefits as possible to LGBT families as the current law allows. And I've called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act."
President Obama seems to be intent on redefining marriage and it's importance in the U.S. I find this value to be especially disconcerting and contradictory from a man who loves and cares for his wife and their marriage. No matter what a person's politics are, it is easy to see Obama's dedication to his family.
If you aren't sure what the Defense of Marriage Act is, read all of it here. The meat of it is:
`No State, territory, or possession of the United States, or Indian tribe, shall be required to give effect to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State, territory, possession, or tribe respecting a relationship between persons of the same sex that is treated as a marriage under the laws of such other State, territory, possession, or tribe, or a right or claim arising from such relationship.'.
Definition of `marriage' and `spouse'
`In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word `marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word `spouse' refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.'.
Does repealing the DOMA affect me if I am not gay? I believe that values portrayed by our government usually become our cultural norm. In the years to come, most people of our country will believe that same-sex marriage is a right guaranteed by the constitution, even though it is not. When marriage opens up to any lifestyle, then it devalues it for all. When laws signed in the "60's allowed "no fault" divorce, it devalued marriage. We still deal with the fall-out of those state decrees.
As the same-sex marriage supporters push the legality of "one man, one woman" marriage, the issue will end up in the U.S. Supreme Court. In the next few years, we will see same-sex marriage legalized through the judiciary, not through legislation.
When that day comes, how will the church respond?
How will we define marriage?
Will we recognize same-sex couples who are legally married?
Will we let the government determine what constitutes a legal marriage?
Issues such as same-sex marriage are relavant to all of us. The Church must look at how we are going to value marriage. Are we going to follow the culture or are we going to change the culture?
