- Calendar
« Reactions to the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Obergefell v.
Hodges
"The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State."
REACTIONS TO SUPREME COURT RULING
ON OBERGEFELL v. HODGES
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
(alpha) | MORE: SUPPORTERS | OPPONENTSDemocrats first, since that side won....
Hillary for America
Statement from Hillary Clinton on the Supreme Court Decision on Marriage Equality
Hillary Clinton released the following statement after the Supreme Court decision on Marriage Equality in the Obergefell v. Hodges case.Along with millions of Americans, I am celebrating today’s landmark victory for marriage equality, and the generations of advocates and activists who fought to make it possible. From Stonewall to the Supreme Court, the courage and determination of the LGBT community has changed hearts and changed laws.
This ruling is an affirmation of the commitment of couples across the country who love one another. It reflects the will of the vast and growing multitude of Americans who believe that LGBT couples deserve to be recognized under the law and treated equally in the eyes of society. And it represents our country at its best: inclusive, open, and striving towards true equality.
But we know that the struggle for LGBT rights doesn’t end with today’s triumph. As love and joy flood our streets today, it is hard to imagine how anyone could deny the full protection of our laws to any of our fellow Americans—but there are those who would. So while we celebrate the progress won today, we must stand firm in our conviction to keep moving forward. For too many LGBT Americans who are subjected to discriminatory laws, true equality is still just out of reach. While we celebrate today, our work won’t be finished until every American can not only marry, but live, work, pray, learn and raise a family free from discrimination and prejudice. We cannot settle for anything less.
STATEMENT: O’Malley Praises SCOTUS Ruling on Marriage Equality
BALTIMORE, MD— Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision on marriage
equality, Governor Martin O'Malley released the
following statement: “Today, the Supreme Court affirmed that marriage is a human right - not a state right. I'm grateful to the people of Maryland for leading the way on this important issue of human dignity and equality under the law. The American Dream is strongest when all are included.”
Sanders Statement on Supreme Court
Decision on Same-Sex Marriage
“Today the Supreme Court fulfilled the words engraved upon its building: ‘Equal justice under law.’ This decision is a victory for same-sex couples across our country as well as all those seeking to live in a nation where every citizen is afforded equal rights. For far too long our justice system has marginalized the gay community and I am very glad the Court has finally caught up to the American people.”
Sen. Sanders voted against the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 and supported Vermont’s civil union law in 2000 and legalization of gay marriage in 2009.
Jeb 2016, Inc.
JEB BUSH STATEMENT ON SCOTUS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE DECISION
Miami, FL — Governor Jeb Bush released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage.
“Guided by my faith, I believe in traditional marriage. I believe the Supreme Court should have allowed the states to make this decision. I also believe that we should love our neighbor and respect others, including those making lifetime commitments. In a country as diverse as ours, good people who have opposing views should be able to live side by side. It is now crucial that as a country we protect religious freedom and the right of conscience and also not discriminate
Carson America
STATEMENT FROM DR. BEN CARSON REGARDING SCOTUS DECISION ON MARRIAGE
While I strongly disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision, their ruling is now the law of the land.I call on Congress to make sure deeply held religious views are respected and protected. The government must never force Christians to violate their religious beliefs.
I support same sex civil unions but to me, and millions like me, marriage is a religious service not a government form.
Office of Gov. Chris Christie
Transcript:
Governor Christie: Well listen, I agree with Justice - Chief Justice Roberts. As you know, that this is something that should be decided by the people and not by, I think he called them, five lawyers. I agree with that, I've said that before as to our Supreme Court. That this is something that shouldn't be decided by a group of lawyers, but should be decided by the people. So I agree with the dissent that Chief Justice Roberts authored today. I think this is something that should be decided by the people of each state and not imposed upon them by a group of lawyers sitting in black robes at the U.S Supreme Court. That being said, those five lawyers get to impose it under our system and so our job is going to be to support the law of the land. And that under the Supreme Court's ruling is now the law of the land, but I don’t agree with the way it's been done. But I take an oath and the same way I've supported and enforced the law here in New Jersey since our Supreme Court made their 7-0 decision on same-sex marriage and I've supported and endorsed that law, I would have to do the same across the country. But I want to be clear, I don’t agree with the way it was done. But it's been done and those of us who take an oath have a responsibility to abide by that oath.
Cruz for President
Cruz: We must not submit our constitutional freedoms, and the promise of our nation, to judicial tyranny
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz writes op-ed in National Review Online
HOUSTON, Texas -- Today U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote an op-ed in National Review Online in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's rulings on Obamacare and marriage. The op-ed is below and may also be viewed here.
Constitutional Remedies to a Lawless
Supreme Court
National Review Online
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz
This week, we have twice seen Supreme Court Justices violating their judicial oaths. Yesterday, the Justices re-wrote Obamacare, yet again, in order to force this failed law on the American people. Today, the Court doubled down with a 5-4 opinion that undermines not just the definition of marriage, but the very foundations of our representative form of government.
Both decisions were judicial activism, plain and simple. Both were lawless.
As Justice Scalia put it regarding Obamacare, “Words no longer have meaning if an Exchange that is not established by a State is ‘established by the State.’ . . . We should start calling this law SCOTUSCare.” And as he observed regarding marriage, “Today’s decree says that . . . the Ruler of 320 million Americans coast-to-coast is a majority of the nine lawyers on the Supreme Court.”
Sadly, the political reaction from the leaders of my party is all too predictable. They will pretend to be incensed, and then plan to do absolutely nothing.
That is unacceptable. On the substantive front, I have already introduced a constitutional amendment to preserve the authority of elected state legislatures to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and also legislation stripping the federal courts of jurisdiction over legal assaults on marriage. And the 2016 election has now been transformed into a referendum on Obamacare; in 2017, I believe, a Republican president will sign legislation finally repealing that disastrous law.
But there is a broader problem: The Court’s brazen action undermines its very legitimacy. As Justice Scalia powerfully explained,
“Hubris is sometimes defined as o’erweening pride; and pride, we know, goeth before the fall. . . . With each decision of ours that takes from the People a question properly left to them—with each decision that is unabashedly based not on law, but on the ‘reasoned judgment’ of a bare majority of this Court—we move one step closer to being reminded of our impotence.”
This must stop. Liberty is in the balance.
Not only are the Court’s opinions untethered from reason and logic, they are also alien to our constitutional system of limited and divided government. By redefining the meaning of common words, and redesigning the most basic human institutions, this Court has crossed from the realm of activism into the arena of oligarchy.
This week’s opinions are but the latest in a long line of judicial assaults on our Constitution and the common-sense values that have made America great. During the past fifty years, the Court has condemned millions of innocent unborn children to death, banished God from our schools and public squares, extended constitutional protections to prisoners of war on foreign soil, authorized the confiscation of property from one private owner to transfer it to another, and now required all Americans to purchase a specific product, and to accept the redefinition of an institution ordained by God and long predating the formation of the Court.
Enough is enough.
Over the last several decades, many attempts have been made to compel the Court to abide by the Constitution. But, as Justice Alito put it, “[t]oday’s decision shows that decades of attempts to restrain this Court’s abuse of its authority have failed.”
In the case of marriage, a majority of states passed laws or state constitutional amendments to affirm the definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. At the federal level, the Congress and President Clinton enacted the Defense of Marriage Act. When it comes to marriage, the Court has clearly demonstrated an unwillingness to remain constrained by the Constitution.
Similarly, the Court has now twice engaged in Constitutional contortionism in order to preserve Obamacare. If the Court is unwilling to abide by the specific language of our laws as written, and if it is unhindered by the clear intent of the people’s elected representatives, our Constitutional options for reasserting our authority over our government are limited.
The Framers of our Constitution, despite their foresight and wisdom, did not anticipate judicial tyranny on this scale. The Constitution explicitly provides that Justices “shall hold their Offices during good Behaviour,” and this is a standard they are not remotely meeting. The Framers thought Congress’ “power of instituting impeachments,” as Alexander Hamilton argued in theFederalist Papers, would be an “important constitutional check” on the judicial branch and would provide “a complete security” against the Justices’ “deliberate usurpations of the authority of the legislature.”
But the Framers underestimated the Justices’ craving for legislative power, and they overestimated the Congress’ backbone to curb it. It was clear even before the end of the founding era that the threat of impeachment was, in Thomas Jefferson's words, "not even a scarecrow" to the Justices. Today, the remedy of impeachment – the only one provided under our Constitution to cure judicial tyranny -- is still no remedy at all. A Senate that cannot muster 51 votes to block an Attorney General nominee openly committed to continue an unprecedented course of executive branch lawlessness can hardly be expected to muster the 67 votes needed to impeach an Anthony Kennedy.
The time has come, therefore, to recognize that the problem lies not with the lawless rulings of individual lawless Justices, but with the lawlessness of the Court itself. The decisions that have deformed our constitutional order and have debased our culture are but symptoms of the disease of liberal judicial activism that has infected our judiciary. A remedy is needed that will restore health to the sick man in our constitutional system.
Rendering the Justices directly accountable to the people would provide such a remedy. Twenty states have now adopted some form of judicial retention elections, and the experience of these States demonstrates that giving the people the regular, periodic power to pass judgment on the judgments of their judges strikes a proper balance between judicial independence and judicial accountability. It also restores respect for the rule of law to courts that have systematically imposed their personal moral values in the guise of constitutional rulings. The courts in these states have not been politicized by this check on their power, nor have judges been removed indiscriminately or wholesale. Americans are a patient, forgiving people. We do not pass judgment rashly.
Yet we are a people who believe, in the words of our Declaration of Independence that “when a long train of abuses and usurpations . . . evinces a design to reduce [the people] under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government and to provide new guards for their future security.” In California, the people said enough is enough in 1986, and removed from office three activist justices who had repeatedly contorted the state constitution to effectively outlaw capital punishment, no matter how savage the crime. The people of Nebraska likewise removed a justice who had twice disfigured that state’s constitution to overturn the people’s decision to subject state legislators to term limits. And in 2010, the voters of Iowa removed three justices who had, like the Supreme Court in Obergefell, invented a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.
Judicial retention elections have worked in states across America; they will work for America. In order to provide the people themselves with a constitutional remedy to the problem of judicial activism and the means for throwing off judicial tyrants, I am proposing an amendment to the United States Constitution that would subject the Justices of the Supreme Court to periodic judicial retention elections. Every Justice, beginning with the second national election after his or her appointment, will answer to the American people and the states in a retention election every eight years. Those justices deemed unfit for retention by both a majority of the American people as a whole and by majorities of the electorates in at least half of the 50 states will be removed from office and disqualified from future service on the Court.
As a constitutional conservative, I do not make this proposal lightly. I began my career as a law clerk to Chief Justice William Rehnquist—one of our Nation’s greatest chief justices—and I have spent over a decade litigating before the Supreme Court. I revere that institution, and have no doubt that Rehnquist would be heartbroken at what has befallen our highest court.
But, sadly, the Court’s hubris and thirst for power have reached unprecedented levels. And that calls for meaningful action, lest Congress be guilty of acquiescing to this assault on the rule of law.
And if Congress will not act, passing the constitutional amendments needed to correct this lawlessness, then the movement from the People for an Article V Convention of the States—to propose the amendments directly—will grow stronger and stronger.
As
we prepare to celebrate next week the 239th anniversary of the birth of
our country, our Constitution finds itself under sustained attack from
an arrogant judicial elite. Yet the words of Daniel Webster ring as
true today as they did over 150 years ago: “Hold on, my friends, to the
Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not
cluster and what has happened once in 6,000 years, may not happen
again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution
should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world.” We must hold
fast to the miracle that is our Constitution and our Republic; we must
not submit our constitutional freedoms, and the promise of our nation,
to judicial tyranny.
Please see Carly's statement below and on Facebook:
This is only the latest example of an activist Court ignoring its constitutional duty to say what the law is and not what the law should be. Justice Alito spoke for so many of us when he said that "[t]oday’s decision usurps the constitutional right of the people to decide whether to keep or alter the traditional understanding of marriage...All Americans, whatever their thinking on that issue, should worry about what the majority’s claim of power portends."
The Court ruled today that all Americans should receive equal benefits and rights from the government under the law. I have always supported this view. However, this decision was also about the definition of marriage itself. I do not agree that the Court can or should redefine marriage. I believe that responsibility should have remained with states and voters where this conversation has continued in churches, town halls and living rooms around the country.
Moving forward, however, all of our effort should be focused on protecting the religious liberties and freedom of conscience for those Americans that profoundly disagree with today's decision.
The Court did not and could not end this debate today. Let us continue to show tolerance for those whose opinions and sincerely held beliefs differ from our own. We must lead by example, finding a way to respect one another and to celebrate a culture that protects religious freedom while promoting equality under the law.
Lindsey Graham 2016
STATEMENT FROM GRAHAM ON TODAY'S SUPREME COURT DECISION ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
Alexandria, VA - Today, Senator Lindsey Graham released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision on same-sex marriage:
"I
am a proud defender of traditional marriage and believe the people of
each state should have the right to determine their marriage
laws.
However, the Supreme Court has ruled that state bans on gay marriage
are unconstitutional, and I will respect the Court’s decision.
Furthermore, given the quickly changing tide of public opinion on this
issue, I do not believe that an attempt to amend the U.S. Constitution
could possibly gain the support of three-fourths of the states or a
supermajority in the U.S. Congress. Rather than pursing a
divisive
effort that would be doomed to fail, I am committing myself to ensuring
the protection of religious liberties of all Americans. No person
of
faith should ever be forced by the federal government to take action
that goes against his or her conscience or the tenets of their
religion. As president, I would staunchly defend religious
liberty in
this nation and would devote the necessary federal resources to the
protection of all Americans from any effort to hinder the free and full
exercise of their rights. While we have differences, it is time for us
to move forward together respectfully and as one people."
Huckabee for President
NEWS RELEASE
Huckabee blasts SCOTUS "I will not acquiesce to an imperial court" vows to "resist and reject judicial tyranny"
Launches statewide "Religious Liberty
Townhall Tour" across Iowa
"The Supreme Court has spoken with a very divided voice on something only the Supreme Being can do-redefine marriage. I will not acquiesce to an imperial court any more than our Founders acquiesced to an imperial British monarch. We must resist and reject judicial tyranny, not retreat.
"This ruling is not about marriage equality, it's about marriage redefinition. This irrational, unconstitutional rejection of the expressed will of the people in over 30 states will prove to be one of the court's most disastrous decisions, and they have had many. The only outcome worse than this flawed, failed decision would be for the President and Congress, two co-equal branches of government, to surrender in the face of this out-of-control act of unconstitutional, judicial tyranny."
"The Supreme Court can no more repeal the laws of nature and nature's God on marriage than it can the laws of gravity. Under our Constitution, the court cannot write a law, even though some cowardly politicians will wave the white flag and accept it without realizing that they are failing their sworn duty to reject abuses from the court. If accepted by Congress and this President, this decision will be a serious blow to religious liberty, which is the heart of the First Amendment."
Yesterday, in advance of the ruling, Huckabee announced a statewide "Religious Liberty Townhall Tour" in Iowa, June 30-July 2.
The former governor also recently penned a USA Today editorial, "America can't bow to judicial tyranny on health care or gay marriage," which outlined some some of his concerns with the court and the threat to religious liberty. To read the editorial, click here.
Governor Jindal Releases Statement on Gay Marriage Ruling
Governor Jindal said, "The Supreme Court decision today conveniently and not surprisingly follows public opinion polls, and tramples on states' rights that were once protected by the 10th Amendment of the Constitution. Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that.
This decision will pave the way for an all out assault against the religious freedom rights of Christians who disagree with this decision. This ruling must not be used as pretext by Washington to erode our right to religious liberty.
The government should not force those who have sincerely held religious beliefs about marriage to participate in these ceremonies. That would be a clear violation of America's long held commitment to religious liberty as protected in the First Amendment.
I will never stop fighting for religious liberty and I hope our leaders in D.C. join me."
?
Perry for President
Statement by Gov. Perry on SCOTUS Same-Sex Marriage
Ruling
AUSTIN - Gov.
Rick Perry today issued the following statement regarding the
Supreme Court's ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges:"I am disappointed the Supreme Court today chose to change the centuries old definition of marriage as between one man and one woman. I’m a firm believer in traditional marriage, and I also believe the 10th Amendment leaves it to each state to decide this issue. I fundamentally disagree with the court rewriting the law and assaulting the 10th Amendment. Our founding fathers did not intend for the judicial branch to legislate from the bench, and as president, I would appoint strict Constitutional conservatives who will apply the law as written."
Office of Sen. Marco Rubio
RUBIO: COURT DECISION SHORT CIRCUITS POLITICAL PROCESS
Focus now must be on nominating judges and justices that uphold the Constitution as originally written
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision ruling state same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional:
“I believe that marriage, as the key to strong family life, is the most important institution in our society and should be between one man and one woman. People who disagree with the traditional definition of marriage have the right to change their state laws. That is the right of our people, not the right of the unelected judges or justices of the Supreme Court. This decision short-circuits the political process that has been underway on the state level for years.
“While I disagree with this decision, we live in a republic and must abide by the law. As we look ahead, it must be a priority of the next president to nominate judges and justices committed to applying the Constitution as written and originally understood.
“The next president and all in public office must strive to protect the First Amendment rights of religious institutions and millions of Americans whose faiths hold a traditional view of marriage. This is a constitutional duty, not a political opinion. Our nation was founded on the human right of religious freedom, and our elected leaders have a duty to protect that right by ensuring that no one is compelled by law to violate their conscience.
“I firmly believe the question of same sex marriage is a question of the definition of an institution, not the dignity of a human being. Every American has the right to pursue happiness as they see fit. Not every American has to agree on every issue, but all of us do have to share our country. A large number of Americans will continue to believe in traditional marriage, and a large number of Americans will be pleased with the Court’s decision today. In the years ahead, it is my hope that each side will respect the dignity of the other.”
***STATEMENT***
Santorum responds to Supreme Court marriage decision
Rick Santorum said: "Today, five unelected justices decided to redefine the foundational unit that binds together our society without public debate or input. Now is the people's opportunity respond because the future of the institution of marriage is too important to not have a public debate. The Court is one of three co-equal branches of government and, just as they have in cases from Dred Scott to Plessy, the Court has an imperfect track record. The stakes are too high and the issue too important to simply cede the will of the people to five unaccountable justices."
"But leaders don't accept bad decisions that they believe harm the country, they have the courage of their convictions and lead the country down the better path. Marriage, the family and our children are too central to a healthy society to not fight for what is best. I realized that fact early on and that is why I lead the charge against some in my own party in 2004 to ensure the Federal Marriage Amendment received a vote and I continue to stand for marriage, for families, for freedom," continued Santorum.
"As President, I will be committed to using the bully pulpit of the White House to lead a national discussion on the importance to our economy and our culture of mothers and fathers entering into healthy marriages so that every child is given their birthright- to be raised by their mother and father in a stable, loving home. I will stand for the preservation of religious liberty and conscience, to believe what you are called to believe free from persecution. And I will ensure that the people will have a voice in decisions that impact the rock upon which our civilization is built," Santorum concluded.
Gov. Walker Statement on SCOTUS Marriage Ruling
Madison, Wis. -- Governor Walker today issued the following comment on the Supreme Court's marriage decision:“I believe this Supreme Court decision is a grave mistake. Five unelected judges have taken it upon themselves to redefine the institution of marriage, an institution that the author of this decision acknowledges ‘has been with us for millennia.’ In 2006 I, like millions of Americans, voted to amend our state constitution to protect the institution of marriage from exactly this type of judicial activism. The states are the proper place for these decisions to be made, and as we have seen repeatedly over the last few days, we will need a conservative president who will appoint men and women to the Court who will faithfully interpret the Constitution and laws of our land without injecting their own political agendas. As a result of this decision, the only alternative left for the American people is to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to reaffirm the ability of the states to continue to define marriage.
“Recognizing that our Founders made our Constitution difficult to amend, I am reminded that it was first amended to protect our ‘First Freedom’ - the free exercise of religion. The First Amendment does not simply protect a narrow ‘right to worship,’ but provides broad protection to individuals and institutions to worship and act in accordance with their religious beliefs. In fact, the Wisconsin constitution explicitly protects the rights of conscience of our citizens. I can assure all Wisconsinites concerned about the impact of today’s decision that your conscience rights will be protected, and the government will not coerce you to act against your religious beliefs.
“I call on the president and all governors to join me in reassuring millions of Americans that the government will not force them to participate in activities that violate their deeply held religious beliefs. No one wants to live in a country where the government coerces people to act in opposition to their conscience. We will continue to fight for the freedoms of all Americans.”
Our America Initiative
GOV. GARY JOHNSON APPLAUDS SCOTUS GAY MARRIAGE RULING
SUPPORTERS
The White House
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE SUPREME COURT DECISION ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Rose Garden
11:14 A.M. EDTTHE PRESIDENT: Good morning. Our nation was founded on a bedrock principle that we are all created equal. The project of each generation is to bridge the meaning of those founding words with the realities of changing times -- a never-ending quest to ensure those words ring true for every single American.
Progress on this journey often comes in small increments, sometimes two steps forward, one step back, propelled by the persistent effort of dedicated citizens. And then sometimes, there are days like this when that slow, steady effort is rewarded with justice that arrives like a thunderbolt.
This morning, the Supreme Court recognized that the Constitution guarantees marriage equality. In doing so, they’ve reaffirmed that all Americans are entitled to the equal protection of the law. That all people should be treated equally, regardless of who they are or who they love.
This decision will end the patchwork system we currently have. It will end the uncertainty hundreds of thousands of same-sex couples face from not knowing whether their marriage, legitimate in the eyes of one state, will remain if they decide to move [to] or even visit another. This ruling will strengthen all of our communities by offering to all loving same-sex couples the dignity of marriage across this great land.
In my second inaugural address, I said that if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. It is gratifying to see that principle enshrined into law by this decision.
This ruling is a victory for Jim Obergefell and the other plaintiffs in the case. It's a victory for gay and lesbian couples who have fought so long for their basic civil rights. It’s a victory for their children, whose families will now be recognized as equal to any other. It’s a victory for the allies and friends and supporters who spent years, even decades, working and praying for change to come.
And this ruling is a victory for America. This decision affirms what millions of Americans already believe in their hearts: When all Americans are treated as equal we are all more free.
My administration has been guided by that idea. It’s why we stopped defending the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, and why we were pleased when the Court finally struck down a central provision of that discriminatory law. It’s why we ended “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” From extending full marital benefits to federal employees and their spouses, to expanding hospital visitation rights for LGBT patients and their loved ones, we’ve made real progress in advancing equality for LGBT Americans in ways that were unimaginable not too long ago.
I know change for many of our LGBT brothers and sisters must have seemed so slow for so long. But compared to so many other issues, America’s shift has been so quick. I know that Americans of goodwill continue to hold a wide range of views on this issue. Opposition in some cases has been based on sincere and deeply held beliefs. All of us who welcome today’s news should be mindful of that fact; recognize different viewpoints; revere our deep commitment to religious freedom.
But today should also give us hope that on the many issues with which we grapple, often painfully, real change is possible. Shifts in hearts and minds is possible. And those who have come so far on their journey to equality have a responsibility to reach back and help others join them. Because for all our differences, we are one people, stronger together than we could ever be alone. That’s always been our story.
We are big and vast and diverse; a nation of people with different backgrounds and beliefs, different experiences and stories, but bound by our shared ideal that no matter who you are or what you look like, how you started off, or how and who you love, America is a place where you can write your own destiny.
We are a people who believe that every single child is entitled to life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
There’s so much more work to be done to extend the full promise of America to every American. But today, we can say in no uncertain terms that we’ve made our union a little more perfect.
That’s the consequence of a decision from the Supreme Court, but, more importantly, it is a consequence of the countless small acts of courage of millions of people across decades who stood up, who came out, who talked to parents -- parents who loved their children no matter what. Folks who were willing to endure bullying and taunts, and stayed strong, and came to believe in themselves and who they were, and slowly made an entire country realize that love is love.
What an extraordinary achievement. What a vindication of the belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. What a reminder of what Bobby Kennedy once said about how small actions can be like pebbles being thrown into a still lake, and ripples of hope cascade outwards and change the world.
Those countless, often anonymous heroes -- they deserve our thanks. They should be very proud. America should be very proud.
Thank you. (Applause.)
END 11:22 A.M. EDT
Office of the Vice President
Statement by the Vice President on the Supreme Court Decision in Obergefell v. Hodges
All marriages, at their root, are about love.
Today, the Supreme Court affirmed that simple proposition—supported by a majority of Americans and a majority of our states—by recognizing that men marrying men and women marrying women are guaranteed the same civil rights and equal protection under our Constitution afforded to Jill and me, and to anyone else.
We couldn’t be prouder. Over the years—in their homes, on our staff, on the frontlines of war, and in houses of worship—Jill and I have befriended countless gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans who share a love for their partners constrained only by social stigma and discriminatory laws. But today, their love is set free with the right to marry and the recognition of that marriage throughout the country.
This day is for them, their children, and their families. And it is for generations of advocates—gay, lesbian, transgender, straight—who for decades fought a lonely and dangerous battle. People of absolute courage who risked their lives, jobs, and reputations to come forward in pursuit of the basic right recognized today, but at a time when neither the country nor the courts would protect or defend them.
And this day is for history to remember as one where, as a nation, our laws finally recognize that all people should be treated with respect and dignity—and that all marriages, at their root, are defined by unconditional love.
Democratic
National Committee
DNC Chair Statement on Obergefell v. Hodges
Washington, DC – Today, DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on same-sex marriage:“I enthusiastically applaud the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Obergefell v.Hodges. This decision, and what it means for the LGBT community, has been a long-time coming and is the result of decades of struggle and perseverance.
“Now, same-sex couples throughout the country will be guaranteed the recognition and legal protections they so fully deserve. No longer will their families be viewed as lesser in the eyes of the law.
“Last week I had the privilege of officiating a same-sex wedding right across the street from the Supreme Court building. It was clear that the love between Alex and Robert is no different than the love I share with my husband Steve. Love is love, and love is now the law.
“Today is a day of celebration, and as we move forward from this important victory, Democrats will continue fighting to ensure that nobody in this country faces discrimination because of who they are or whom they love.”
Freedom to Marry
Historic Supreme Court Ruling Brings Joy to Families and Victory to Decades-Long Freedom to Marry Movement
Same-sex couples will soon have the freedom to marry and equal respect throughout the United States
Washington, DC – Today the Supreme Court held that same-sex couples can no longer be denied the freedom to marry guaranteed by the Constitution, assuring that soon all loving and committed couples will be able to marry throughout the United States.Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry, released the following statement:
“Today’s ruling is a transformative triumph decades in the making, a momentous victory for freedom, equality, inclusion, and above all, love. For anyone who ever doubted that we could bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice, today the United States again took a giant step toward the more perfect union we the people aspire to. Today the Liberty Bell rings alongside wedding bells across an ocean of joy.
"With the ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, the justices affirmed what a super-majority of Americans had come to understand: the freedom to marry is a precious, fundamental right that belongs to all, and that same-sex couples and our families share the same dreams and needs as any others.
"Today’s win is the culmination of a decades-long campaign that successfully made the case in the court of public opinion, enabling victories in the courts of law.
"Freedom to Marry calls on state officials to swiftly and faithfully implement the Constitution’s command in the remaining 13 states with marriage discrimination, so that all Americans can marry the person they love and build and protect their families, without delay, throughout the land.
"While the work towards equality for all Americans is far from over, the Freedom to Marry campaign has been transformative in Americans’ understanding of who gay people are.
"The movement will continue to harness the power of the marriage conversation and win in the work ahead – including passage of a federal civil rights bill, securing state and local protections against discrimination, tending to the needs of our youth and our seniors, and ensuring that the lived experience of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people is fulfilling, good, inclusive, and equal throughout the land. But the work of this Freedom to Marry campaign is now accomplished. Over the next several months, we will collaborate with key movement colleagues to smartly and strategically wind down its work and document lessons learned, and then close its doors, having achieved its goal of winning marriage nationwide and helping loving and committed couples cross the threshold to marriage and full inclusion in society, with equal justice under law.”
Freedom to Marry will now begin airing a 30-second nationwide TV ad -- "Love Won, We All Won" -- celebrating the country's living up to its ideals and the joy this triumph will bring to so many families. The ad can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/
A transcript follows.
Once again, America has lived up to its promise. Through conversations on front porches and around dinner tables, Americans agreed that it’s right for gay and lesbian couples to share in the freedom to marry. Our shared values of fairness, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness have made more families safer, stronger, and more connected. By opening our hearts, love won. By living up to our founding ideals, we all won.
GetEQUAL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Message to Those Gathered Outside Supreme Court for Marriage Equality: "Liberation Can't Wait"
Media Contact: H Kapp-Klote, 785.331.9039, h@getequal.org
WASHINGTON DC -- Following the Supreme Court's release of its decision on Obergefell v Hodges, GetEQUAL leaders and partners are taking action this morning to call attention to the long list of other needs facing the LGBTQ community. Organizers with GetEQUAL and partner organizations are standing outside the Supreme Court dressed in black and holding a banner reading "Liberation Can't Wait" -- reminding the American public, mainstream media, and other LGBTQ organizations that we must continue to work toward liberation for all LGBTQ people.While today is a day of celebration for some LGBTQ people, many other LGBTQ individuals are facing the very real struggles of police brutality, detention and deportation, insufficient access to healthcare, systemic racism, unsafe/unstable housing, and poverty. Marriage is just the tip of the iceberg in a bigger fight -- the fight for liberation. As mainstream LGBTQ organizations proclaim that “Love Can’t Wait,” GetEQUAL maintains that “Liberation Can’t Wait.”
“We can’t let this moment distract from the very real violence that LGBTQ people, especially LGBTQ people of color and black people, are facing,” said Angela Peoples, co-director of GetEQUAL. “As people gather in Charleston right now to mourn the lives of those murdered by a white supremacist gunman, we know the struggle for liberation is an urgent one -- for LGBTQ people, black people and people of color, people living below the poverty line, and anyone experiencing violence and discrimination. The work of the movement is far from over.”
This reminder comes on the heels of an action taken earlier this week by Jennicet Gutiérrez with Familia QTLM, Not1More, and GetEQUAL, a transgender undocumented woman, at the White House to draw attention to the violence being experienced by transgender detainees. While, for some, marriage is not just a social justice issue but also an economic justice issue, Jennicet’s action reminds all of us that many LGBTQ individuals face threats, harassment, danger, and violence on a daily basis -- whether in detention centers, schools, or their own homes.
Interviews with those who took action today are available on request, and pictures of the action can be found at www.facebook.com/GetEQUAL.
Human Rights Campaign
With Sweeping New Ruling, Marriage Equality Must Begin in All 50 States
Governors, Attorneys General, and officials everywhere should heed the call of history, begin issuing marriage licenses to loving same-sex couples
In a historic 5-4 ruling, today the Supreme Court of the United States found bans on marriage equality to be unconstitutional—and that the fundamental right to marriage is a fundamental right for all. The majority’s opinion, authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, represents a clear mandate for governors, state attorneys general and officials everywhere to cease their attempts to uphold these discriminatory statutes.“Today’s ruling makes perfectly clear that there is no legal or moral justification for standing in the path of marriage equality. Couples from Mississippi to North Dakota to Texas shouldn’t have to wait even a moment longer to be treated equally under the law,” said HRC president Chad Griffin. “State officials across the country must act swiftly to ensure that every obstacle to obtaining a marriage license is removed. To do anything less is a shameful attempt to cement their state on the wrong side of history. But what’s clear today is that our work isn’t done until every discriminatory law in this nation is wiped away. The time has come in this country for comprehensive federal LGBT non-discrimination protections. We now have to work harder than ever before to make sure LGBT Americans cannot be fired, evicted or denied services simply on the basis of the marriage license that they fought so hard to achieve.”
Named plaintiff in the case, Jim Obergefell, also issued the following statement in reaction to the ruling:
"Today I could not be prouder of my country, more grateful for the memory of my late husband John, and more indebted to the incredible lawyers, advocates and fellow plaintiffs who made this landmark day possible. The fact that the state I have long called home will finally recognize my marriage to the man I honored and cherished for more than 20 years is a profound vindication—a victory I'm proud to share with countless more couples across the country. Thanks to the Supreme Court, a period of deep injustice in this nation is coming to a close, but it's also clear today that there is still so much work to do. As long as discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is tolerated—whether in the seeking of a marriage license, the pursuit of fairness on the job, or the fight for equal treatment at a restaurant or business—we haven't truly guaranteed equal justice under the law. But today's victory proves that anything is possible, and I could not be more hopeful about the capacity of this country to change for the better."
The ruling comes at a consequential and grave moment for civil rights nationwide. Last week, a white supremacist gunman opened fire at a historically black church in Charleston, South Carolina, killing 9 black Americans. Today, President Barack Obama will deliver a eulogy at the memorial service of one of the victims, the late State senator Clementa Pinckney. Around the country, voices across the political spectrum are calling for Confederate flag imagery to be removed from the public square. HRC stands in broad coalition with other LGBT organizations and civil rights groups in opposing public celebration of the Confederate flag and in protecting and restoring key pieces of civil rights legislation like the Voting Rights Act.
No one ruling—and no one law—can finish the work of liberty and justice for all. That’s why the LGBT movement is today redoubling its efforts to full equality. In addition to fighting to end marriage discrimination in every state, in the coming months HRC will lead the fight for a sweeping federal non-discrimination bill—legislation that seeks to protect LGBT people and their families from discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit, federal funding, education and jury service. HRC will redouble its efforts through campaigns like Project One America and the work of the HRC Foundation to guarantee that the lived experience of LGBT people realizes the legal principle of “equal justice under law.”
“Our work is far from complete. As we saw in Indiana and Arkansas earlier this year, the opponents of equality will stop at nothing to enshrine discrimination into law, and we don’t believe for one second that this fight is over,” said Griffin. “Even with today’s ruling, tonight, somewhere in this country an LGBT young person will spend many sleepless hours feeling helpless and hopeless because of discrimination they face at school, in church, even around their own dinner table. Our job now is to guarantee that they can have true and lasting hope at last—and that they are fully protected from discrimination at the federal level and in the state that they call home.”
On April 28, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Obergefell v Hodges, a case originating in Ohio. The arguments followed a January announcement by the Supreme Court that it would hear Obergefell along with three other cases from Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The arguments were consolidated under the name Obergefell, and the questions posed by the court dealt with the constitutionality of marriage bans more broadly. Prior to today’s decision, marriage equality had come to 37 states as well as the District of Columbia—representing more than 70 percent of the U.S. population.
Republican
National
Committee
RNC
Statement on Supreme Court's Marriage Ruling
“The Supreme Court failed to recognize the states’ constitutional role in setting marriage policy, instead finding a federal role where there is none. In doing so, they have taken power away from the states and from the people to settle the relevant issues for themselves.
“Even though the Supreme Court has spoken with finality, there remains a diversity of opinions about marriage policy—from those celebrating today’s ruling to those concerned about the constitutional balance of power.
“As a Party, we believe in the importance of traditional marriage between a man and a woman and remain committed to finding common ground to champion the family’s role in society. Marriage is critically important to strengthening our country and our communities. Likewise, we will remain champions of religious liberty. Today’s ruling cannot and must not be used to coerce a church or religious institution into performing marriages that their faith does not recognize. We should respect the sincerely held religious views of our fellow citizens, just as we respect those on the winning side of this case.”
ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp on today’s Supreme Court decision in “Obergefell v. Hodges”:
“The Supreme Court has become unhinged from its purpose… resolving questions through judicial fiat,” says Schlapp
WASHINGTON DC – “The American people have received two devastating rulings from a Supreme Court that has become unhinged from its purpose. As with other catastrophic decisions, this Court is attempting to resolve through judicial fiat questions appropriately belonging in the hands of the American people. That is the opposite of what our Founders envisioned.“The Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts has dramatically re-imagined the role of our Judiciary and has empowered the Court to behave as unelected legislators without term limits.
“It should come as no surprise given yesterday’s tragic dismantling of a government of, for, and by the People, that the Roberts Court has moved us farther in the direction of using the Judiciary to serve political ends by disregarding the notion of constitutionality in today’s decision. Sadly, one consequence of this overreach will undoubtedly be growing resentment and rancor around these issues. As in the Roe vs. Wade decision concerning abortion, usurping the will of the people does not resolve conflict, it only extends it.
“The 1st Amendment clearly states that Religious Liberties are protected. However, President Obama and the liberals ignore this protection and seek to dictate what are ‘appropriate’ tenets of faith. Today’s opinion creates the Church of the Supreme Court, with President Obama serving as its High Priest.
“If America is strong enough to live under this decision, then it should be strong enough to protect the rights of sincere and decent people of faith, whose rights are sadly forgotten.”
-30-
For more information or to schedule an interview or additional comment from ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp contact Ian Walters or Ross Hemminger at (202) 347-9388 or by email atiwalters@conservative.org and ross@conservative.org
American Values
Gary Bauer says Supreme Court Ruling Opens the Door to Attacks on Religious LIberty
WASHINGTON, June 26, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Today's ruling by the Supreme Court is not only a blow against marriage, it is a blow against the body politic and the fundamental idea that we are a self-governing people," said former presidential candidate Gary Bauer."Millions of Americans were just told by five justices that their votes and their values do not matter. As Justice Scalia warned his dissent, this ruling threatens American democracy and opens the door to attacks on religious liberty," Bauer said.
The president of American Values continued: "As disturbing as this is, worse is on the horizon. Religious liberty is already under attack using same-sex marriage as the battering ram. Values voters cannot afford to let their disappointment result in capitulation. If those voters leave the public square, they will quickly find that even their churches are no longer safe havens."
Gary L. Bauer served in the Reagan Administration, as under secretary of education and as President Reagan's chief domestic policy advisor. He ran in the 2000 Republican presidential primaries. The Guardian called Bauer "one of the leading campaigners in the U.S. on pro-life and pro-traditional family issues." For more information, go to www.ouramericanvalues.org
Faith & Freedom Coalition
STATEMENT BY RALPH REED, CHAIRMAN OF THE FAITH & FREEDOM COALITION
(Duluth, GA) Ralph Reed, Chairman and Founder of the Faith & Freedom Coalition released the following statement following today's Supreme Court Ruling:"Today's decision is just the latest example of a federal judiciary run amok, legislating from the bench, issuing political edicts masquerading as reasoned interpretation of the law, and trampling on the time-honored values of millions of Americans. In bypassing the democratic process and refusing to allow the issue of marriage to be resolved by the people and their legislators, the Court has insured that the disagreement over marriage will remains polarized due to the imposition of the redefinition of marriage on an entire nation."
Faith & Freedom Coalition has over 1,000,000 members and supporters in all 50 states. FFC advances sound public policy to strengthen the family and marriage, protect innocent life, reduce the tax burden on middle-class families, and lift up the poor and marginalized.
The Faith & Freedom Coalition sent direct mail to 6 million voters, made 10 million phone calls, distributed 20 million nonpartisan voter guides, ran 16 million online video ads, and knocked on 500,000 doors of evangelical households in key states in 2014.
Family
Research Council
Supreme Court's Marriage Ruling is Shocking Abuse of Power, Will Never Be Accepted
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins responded today to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision forcing the people in all 50 states to embrace same-sex "marriage," regardless of their votes to define marriage in their states as a man-woman institution.Of the decision FRC President Tony Perkins said:
"Five justices on the Supreme Court have overturned the votes of 50 million Americans and demanded that the American people walk away from millennia of history and the reality of human nature.
"In reaching a decision so lacking in foundation in the text of the Constitution, in our history, and in our traditions, the Court has done serious damage to its own legitimacy.
"No court can overturn natural law. Nature and Nature's God, hailed by the signers of our Declaration of Independence as the very source of law, cannot be usurped by the edict of a court, even the United States Supreme Court.
"Marriage is rooted not only in human history, but also in the biological and social reality that children are created by, and do best when raised by, a mother and a father. No court ruling can alter this truth.
"It is folly for the Court to think that it has resolved a controversial issue of public policy. By disenfranchising 50 million Americans, the Court has instead supercharged this issue.
"Just as with Roe v. Wade in 1973, the courts will not have the final say on this profound social matter. The American people will stand up for their right to have a voice and a vote, especially as they experience the ways in which redefining marriage fundamentally impairs their freedom to live and work in accordance with their beliefs.
"With this ruling, the Supreme Court has set our government on a collision course with America's cherished religious freedoms, explicitly guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution.
"Americans will not stop standing for transcendent truth, nor accept the legitimacy of this decision. Truth is not decided by polls or the passage of time, but by the One who created time and everything that exists therein.
"We will not lapse into silence but will continue to speak uncompromisingly for the truth about what marriage is, always has been, and always will be: the union of one man and one woman," concluded Perkins.
Family Research Council's amicus brief in this case can be found here: http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=
-30-
National Organization for Marriage
National Organization for Marriage (NOM) Issues Statement Following US Supreme Court Decision on Marriage
Washington, DC – The following statement may be attributed to Brian S. Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM):
Though expected, today's decision is completely illegitimate. We reject it and so will the American people. It represents nothing but judicial activism, legislating from the bench, with a bare majority of the Justices on the Supreme Court exercising raw political power to impose their own preferences on marriage when they have no constitutional authority to do so. It is a lawless ruling that contravenes the decisions of over 50 million voters and their elected representatives. It is a decision that is reminiscent of other illegitimate Court rulings such as Dred Scott and Roe v Wade and will further plunge the Supreme Court into public disrepute.
Make no mistake about it: The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and countless millions of Americans do not accept this ruling. Instead, we will work at every turn to reverse it.
The US Supreme Court does not have the authority to redefine something it did not create. Marriage was created long before the United States and our constitution came into existence. Our constitution says nothing about marriage. The majority who issued today's ruling have simply made it up out of thin air with no constitutional authority.
In his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," Dr. Martin Luther King discussed the moral importance of disobeying unjust laws, which we submit applies equally to unjust Supreme Court decisions. Dr. King evoked the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas that an unjust law or decision is one that is "a human law that is not rooted in eternal law or natural law."
Today's decision of the Supreme Court lacks both constitutional and moral authority. There is no eternal or natural law that allows for marriage to be redefined.
This is not the first time that the Supreme Court has issued an immoral and unjust ruling. In 1857, the Court ruled in the infamous Dred Scott v Sandford case that African Americans could not become citizens of the United States and determined that the government was powerless to reject slavery. In 1927 the Court effectively endorsed eugenics by ruling that people with mental illness and other "defectives" could be sterilized against their will, saying "three generations of imbeciles are enough." And in Roe v Wade, the Court invented a constitutional right to abortion by claiming it was an integral element of the right to privacy. Over 55 million unborn babies have died as a result.
We urge the American people and future presidents to regard today's decision just as President Abraham Lincoln regarded the Dred Scott ruling when he said in his first inaugural address that "if the policy of the government upon vital questions, affecting the whole people, is to be irrevocably fixed by decisions of the Supreme Court, the instant they are made…the people will have ceased to be their own rulers, having to that extent practically resigned their government into the hands of that eminent tribunal."
Today's decision is by no means the final word concerning the definition of marriage; indeed it is only the beginning of the next phase in the struggle. NOM is committed to reversing this ruling over the long term and ameliorating it over the short term. Specifically:
- We call on Congress and state governments to move immediately to protect the rights of people who believe in the truth of marriage from being discriminated against by passing the First Amendment Defense Act through Congress, and similar legislation in the various states.
- We also call on Congress to advance to the states for consideration a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage in the law as it has existed in reality for the entirety of our nation's existence – the union of one man and one woman.
- We call on the American people to make the definition of marriage a pivotal issue in the 2016 presidential contest and to elect a president who will be a true champion for marriage, one who is committed to taking specific steps to restoring true marriage in the law including appointing new justices to the Supreme Court who will have the opportunity to reverse this decision.
- NOM will work tirelessly along with allies to help change the culture so that Americans have a better understanding of the importance of marriage to children, families and society as a whole.
While today's decision of the Supreme Court is certainly disappointing, it is not demoralizing to those of us who fervently believe in the truth of marriage and its importance to societal flourishing. Indeed, the decision will be energizing. Just as the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v Wade infused the pro-life movement with new energy and commitment, so too will the decision today reawaken the American people to join the marriage movement.
Our prayer for America is that today's injustice can be corrected quickly, sparing the nation decades of anguish of the kind that has followed the Court's decision in Roe.
Southern Evangelical Seminary
As SCOTUS Redefines Marriage, Battlefield Now Shifts to Religious Freedom
Southern Evangelical Seminary President Dr. Richard Land: Will People Be Forced to Affirm Homosexual Behavior?
CHARLOTTE, N.C.—The United States Supreme Court handed down its long-awaited same-sex marriage ruling today, opting to redefine marriage in America—a 180-degree turn away from the biblical intent for marriage—as the Court also pushed aside states’ rights and voters’ voices.Dr. Richard Land, President of Southern Evangelical Seminary (www.ses.edu), a leader in apologetics education, said the decision throws away God’s meaning for marriage.
“Now,” Land said, “the battlefield shifts to religious freedom. Will the progressive, totalitarian and intolerant left weaponize the government and attempt to force or compel people to affirm same-sex behavior and relationships? Or will they respect the freedom of conscience guaranteed by the Constitution? These will continue to be questions for the coming generations, now that the high Court has seized the historic role of defining marriage from the individual states and stripped it away from voters.”
FOX News recently reported that the nearly 16 million members of the Southern Baptist Convention by an overwhelming vote of their convention were encouraged to “openly reject any mandated legal definition of marriage and to use their influence to affirm God’s design for life and relationships.” Land, President Emeritus of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the Southern Baptist Convention’s official entity assigned to address social, moral and ethical concerns, with particular attention to their impact on American families, served as President of that organization from 1988-2013.
SES is a leader in apologetics education—teaching students to defend their faith and talk intelligently, passionately and rationally about what they believe and why they believe it. Many courses focus on societal issues from a Christian worldview, delve into scientific apologetics or contemplate creation research.
SES’s 22nd annual National Conference on Christian Apologetics will be hosted by Calvary Church in Charlotte on Oct. 16-17, 2015, with the theme, “Ideas Have Consequences: The Bigger the Idea, the Bigger the Consequence.” In addition to Dr. Land, confirmed speakers include Josh McDowell, Dr. Jay Richards, Dr. Hugh Ross, Dr. Norman Geisler and Dr. Paige Patterson.
Land is featured in his nationally syndicated daily radio commentary, “Bringing Every Thought Captive,” which airs on 200 stations on the American Family Radio Network and 100 stations on the Bott Radio Network. “Bringing Every Thought Captive” is also podcast daily on the free SES mobile app and airs locally in the Charlotte, N.C., area every weekday. The “Bringing Every Thought Captive” television program, hosted by Land, debuted in January on the NRB Network, and airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. and midnight EST. This spring, it began airing on the Total Living Network, reaching nearly 2 million households in the Chicago area. For more information about stations, times, downloads and more, visit www.ses.edu/about-us/
Land has taught as a visiting or adjunct professor for several seminaries and has authored or edited more than 15 books. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford University in England and his bachelor’s degree (magna cum laude) from Princeton University. Land also earned a Master of Theology (Honors Program) degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he received the Broadman Seminarian Award as the Outstanding Graduating Student. Dr. Land was the 2013 Watchman Award recipient from the Family Research Council for his leadership on moral and cultural issues. He also received the Phillip E. Johnson Award for Liberty and Truth from Biola University in 2010. Land served previously (1988-2013) as president of The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, the Southern Baptist Convention’s official entity assigned to address social, moral and ethical concerns, with particular attention to their impact on American families. In 2014, he was appointed as a Senior Research Fellow of the ERLC’s Research Institute, and in 2015, he was named in the top 15 of Newsmax’s “Top 100 Christian Leaders in America.”
Southern Evangelical Seminary invites visitors to its web site to join the more than 20,000 people who have already downloaded the SES Apologetics App for Windows mobile devices and Android and Apple phones and tablets. Those with the app can get the very best news and information in Christian apologetics, including articles, audio, video, blogs and more from today’s most able defenders of the Christian faith—William Lane Craig, Lee Strobel, Josh McDowell, William Dembski, Frank Turek, Hugh Ross, Gary Habermas and other well-known speakers, authors and teachers.
Southern Evangelical Seminary has been ranked as the top graduate program for General Christian Apologetics by TheBestSchools.org’s “Top 10 Graduate Programs in Christian Apologetics.”
For more information on SES, visit its web site at www.ses.edu or its Facebook page, follow the SES Twitter feed, @sesapologetics, or call (800) 77-TRUTH. For more information about "Ethics in Emerging Technology," visit www.ethics.ses.edu.
###
For information on SES or to set up an interview, contact Deborah Hamilton at 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096, ext. 102, or Beth Harrison, 610-584-1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com.
Southern Evangelical Seminary is a leader in apologetics education—teaching students to defend their faith and talk intelligently, passionately and rationally about what they believe and why they believe it. The accredited Christian college and seminary offers a wide variety of bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees. Programs can be completed through residence in the Charlotte area or online. The award-winning education at SES is distinctively Christian and focused on evangelism and world-engaging defense of the Christian faith—Christian Apologetics.
Copyright © 2015 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action.
All rights reserved.