DOMA Supporters Express Disappointment About Gay Marriage Ruling

The ruling saddens Ray Newman. He speaks for the Georgia Baptist Convention on ethics and public policy.

“We believe in the biblical definition of marriage and we believe this goes away from that.”

And in a recorded statement, Catholic Archbishop of Atlanta, Wilton Gregory, says he’s unhappy with the ruling.

“Today’s unfortunate decision by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down part of the Defense of Marriage Act is extremely disappointing.  The Catholic Church promotes and defends marriage by teaching about marriage’s authentic meaning as a lifelong, exclusive, and fruitful communion of one man and one woman.”

Gregory went on to say as a result of the ruling the future of marriage and the well-being of our society hang in the balance.

Gary Marx is the Executive Director of the Duluth based Faith and Freedom Coalition. He says the coalition doesn’t believe Supreme Court justices should decide the definition of marriage.

“Ultimately, we want these important decisions to be left up to the peoples’ branch and debated by those who are representatives of the people in Congress, or their executives, or given directly to them to vote on like many states have done.”

But Marx is pleased the decision didn’t go even further and nullify constitutional amendments banning gay marriage in states like Georgia.

“That definition is still protected, so if someone from a state that does have gay marriage gets married, a couple gets married there, and they come to Georgia, Georgia does not have to recognize that marriage. It leaves up to the states through the principal of federalism to define marriages as they see fit.”

However, Marx says even though the ruling was close, it will continue to give momentum to advocates who support gay marriage.

Meanwhile, those in favor of gay marriage cheered the ruling. In a statement Lambda Legal, a legal organization that works for the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, and people with HIV/AIDS said, “The Supreme Court’s historic ruling striking down Section 3 of the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is an enormous victory for loving, married couples and their families, and affirms that they deserve equal treatment under the law. This victory demonstrates the importance of access to marriage, and gives married same-sex couples access to the tangible benefits of the federal safety net, allowing them to better protect one another and their children.”