(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, has endorsed a US Senate bill writing same-sex marriage protections into federal law.
The draft “Respect for Marriage Act,” which codifies same-sex nuptials in federal law, was passed with 62 votes in the Senate, with the support of 12 Republican senators.
The Mormon Church’s voiced support for the bill reverses its stance against gay marriage. In 2008, it worked actively in favor of an effort to change California’s state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
“We are grateful for the continuing efforts of those who work to ensure the Respect for Marriage Act includes appropriate religious freedom protections while respecting the law and preserving the rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters,” the Mormon Church declared in a statement.
“We believe this approach is the way forward. As we work together to preserve the principles and practices of religious freedom together with the rights of LGBTQ individuals, much can be accomplished to heal relationships and foster greater understanding,” the Utah-based church elaborated.
Even though in 2015, the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court ruling outlawed same-sex marriage bans, leftists fear today’s conservative-dominated Supreme Court could reverse that, The Washington Times wrote in a report.
Those worrying point to the June 2022 ruling of the Supreme Court, which overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and allowed abortion bans.
A statement by five US Senators – three Republicans and two Democrats – said the “Respect for Marriage” bill contains an amendment with “commonsense language to confirm that this legislation fully respects and protects Americans’ religious liberties and diverse beliefs, while leaving intact the core mission of the legislation to protect marriage equality.”
They said the draft law exempts non-profit religious organizations from providing “any services, facilities, or goods for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.”
The statement was signed by Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ). Two Republicans – Portman and Tillis – are serving their last weeks in the US Senate.
“The endorsement of the marriage bill, which needs 60 votes to pass the Senate, represents the latest step in the LDS church’s evolution on same-sex marriage,” the report said.
Utah members of the US House of Representatives already voted in July to support an earlier version of the pro-same-sex marriage bill.
“I do not believe the federal government should infringe upon an individual’s decision about who they wish to marry,” commented at the time Republican US Rep. John Curtis of Utah, who is also a Mormon Church member.
Utah US Senators – Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, both active LDS Church members – were among the 12 Senate Republicans supporting the “Respect for Marriage Act.”
What is your reaction to the church’s position? Please share your thoughts and opinions by emailing [email protected]. Thank you.
Mormon Church backs ‘Respect for Marriage Act,’ writing same-sex nuptials into federal lawhttps://t.co/dzkMyEq2ao pic.twitter.com/93bIFdEurc
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) November 17, 2022
