Douthat's grim prediction on the crusade for acceptance of same-sex marriage
By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Mar 03, 2014
Here’s an insightful and sobering op-ed column by Ross Douthat of the New York Times, who fears that the US Supreme Court will eventually follow “the logic of its own jurisprudence” and redefine marriage to include same-sex couples.
Starting out from that grim prediction, Douthat predicts that the court’s decision will leave the country severely divided on the definition of marriage. As the Roe v. Wade decision showed, the court’s ruling may settle the question of law (at least temporarily), but it will not settle the public debate, and it will spawn dozens of ancillary legal cases.
The biggest question, Douthat says, will be whether those who reject same-sex marriage will be allowed to live in peace, or subjected to constantly mounting pressure to accept both the new definition of marriage and the acceptability of homosexual affairs. He fears that the latter possibility looms much larger this week, after the appalling drive in Arizona to scuttle legislation that would have protected the religious freedom of those who objected to same-sex unions. That debate was appalling, Douthat adds, in large part because of the horrible press coverage—“which was mendacious and hysterical—evincing no familiarity with the legal issues, and endlessly parroting the line that the bill would institute ‘Jim Crow’ for gays.”
If there’s a silver lining in the cloud, it is this: It’s a New York Times columnist who is making his harsh but accurate judgment of his journalistic colleagues, and speaking the truth about a campaign of distortion.
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Posted by: geoffreysmith1 -
Mar. 05, 2014 10:36 AM ET USA
"The rule of law is ignored, created to serve a very few and stage-managed in the media." Surely I am not the only one who can see America's second civil war looming on the horizon? If the Supreme Court decides in favor of SSM for all the states, it will split the nation down the middle, and one side or the other must ultimately prevail - and it won't be resolved peacefully.
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Posted by: polish.pinecone4371 -
Mar. 04, 2014 2:24 PM ET USA
I disagree with Douthat on this: Christians had plenty of opportunities...to treat gay people with real charity, and far too often chose intolerance...So being marginalized, being sued, losing tax-exempt status — this will be uncomfortable, but we should keep perspective and remember our sins, and nobody should call it persecution." I don't buy it. Douthat is falling for the gay=race idiocy. It is persecution. It may be payback for perceived sins, but it is also persecution.
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Posted by: Defender -
Mar. 03, 2014 8:03 PM ET USA
Big business, thinking of the almighty dollar and not allowing religion to seep into their cavernous wasteland, convinced the politicians. Small business, pounding out a living and going to church, lost. How 5% of this country's populace can control the three branches of government at the state and local level is depressing. The rule of law is ignored, created to serve a very few and stage-managed in the media.