Sunday, July 19, 2015

No Same-Sex Marriage in Texas

6/29/15
Texas Governor Greg Abbott wasted no time in responding to the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same-sex marriage. The Governor issued a directive to all state agencies that ordered all state agency heads to respect and preserve the religious liberties and First Amendment rights of all Texans. In other words, he just shut down same-sex marriage in Texas.
The Governor released a public statement regarding this memorandum and the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage ruling:
The Supreme Court has abandoned its role as an impartial judicial arbiter and has become an un-elected nine-member legislature. Five Justices on the Supreme Court have imposed on the entire country their personal views on an issue that the Constitution and the Court’s previous decisions reserve to the people of the States.
“Despite the Supreme Court’s ruling, Texans’ fundamental right to religious liberty remains protected. No Texan is required by the Supreme Court’s decision to act contrary to his or her religious beliefs regarding marriage.
“The Texas Constitution guarantees that ‘[n]o human authority ought, in any case whatsoever, to control or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion.’ The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion; and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, combined with the newly enacted Pastor Protection Act, provide robust legal protections to Texans whose faith commands them to adhere to the traditional understanding of marriage.
“As I have done in the past, I will continue to defend the religious liberties of all Texans – including those whose conscience dictates that marriage is only the union of one man and one woman. Later today, I will be issuing a directive to state agencies instructing them to prioritize the protection of Texans’ religious liberties.”
This is refreshing to see Governor Abbott take swift and decisive action in response to this travesty of justice by the Supreme Court. Our hope is that more conservatively-governed states follow suit and stand up to this ruling.
Do you think Governor Abbott’s directive will be an inspiration to other Republican governors across the country?
http://conservativenewsroom.com/news/texas-governor-takes-immediate-action-against-same-sex-ruling/

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