At the end of June, the United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in the case known, for short, as Obergefell. Some say that decision has changed the definition of marriage. But others say marriage is marriage, and the high court declared it a constitutional right for all citizens. Now states can’t discriminate—they have to offer the legal status to couples regardless of sexual orientation. But religious leaders and legal scholars agree that ministers, priests, rabbis, and other religious officiants will never be forced to bless these legal unions.
SDPB’s Victoria Wicks has studied these issues for a few years now and recently talked with several lawyers and ministers.
She spoke only with Protestant ministers, in the Christian faith, but all religions in the United States are covered by the legal tenets discussed here.
To read the transcript of the U.S Supreme Court oral arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges, go to the first link, and to hear the audio, go to the second link.
http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/14-556q1_l5gm.pdf
http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2014/14-556-q1
