After yesterday’s landmark U.S. Supreme Court rulings on gay marriage, David Gibson of Religion News Service offers four possible paths forward for religious conservatives who oppose marriage equality. Could yesterday’s rulings be for marriage equality what Roe v. Wade was for abortion? He writes:
Ironically, a sweeping Supreme Court decision in favor of gay rights could be the best thing to happen to gay marriage opponents.
The precedent here is the 1973 high court ruling legalizing abortion, Roe v. Wade. That decision was supposed to be the end of the national debate over abortion, but instead it was only the beginning. Some say that when the justices – led by Anthony Kennedy’s swing vote – overturned the federal Defense of Marriage Act this week they set up a similar scenario:
“Kennedy’s decision is the Roe v. Wade of this generation, not this generation’s Brown v. the Board of Education,” said Maggie Gallagher of the American Principles Project, referring to the landmark decision that struck down racial segregation in schools.
“Just as forty years after Roe v. Wade abortion opponents continue to fight for the pro-life agenda, pro traditional marriage supporters will fight on as well,” agreed Rick McDaniel, senior pastor at the Richmond Community Church in Virginia.
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