Today the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage. Many states have already changed or developed legislation allowing gay marriage, but this is a significant decision by the highest court in the land, affecting all 50 states.
This is certainly of interest to Canadians, although same-sex marriage was legalized in this country more than a decade ago. Some denominations, including the United Church, have permitted same-gender marriage, with the decision to marry resting with congregation and pastor. Our moderator, Gary Patterson, is in a same-gender marriage.
The vote was close --five to four -- and was carried by the more liberal justices. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote the majority opinion, saying that gay and lesbian couples had a fundamental right to marry: “no union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.”
I certainly uphold the deep meaning and covenantal aspect of marriage, and particularly Christian marriage. I don't feel that same-gender marriage threatens my heterosexual marriage in any way. I can't see how legalizing same-gender marriage has resulted in any negative impact in this country. Instead it has reinforced the importance of this powerful union between two people, regardless of gender, through vows of commitment.
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