Religious liberty is at stake.  The welfare of the American family and society is at stake.  The United States Supreme Court heard cases regarding same-sex marriages on April 28 and is scheduled to publish NATIONWIDE decisions this June. We must make our many voices heard so that they can rule appropriately in favor of traditional marriage! 

On April 2, 2015, an amicus brief was submitted by 19 different religious organizations and associations representing over 50 million Americans (see end note for a full list).  The brief details the threats to religious freedoms that would ensue if marriage were to be redefined by the United States Supreme Court to include same-sex couples.

If the following statement (taken from the amicus brief) applies to you, please sign this petition to the United States Supreme Court.  They must understand that we are the majority and that we believe in marriage between a man and a woman!  We must retain our right to make these decisions at local levels!

"Notwithstanding our theological differences, we are united in declaring that the traditional institution of marriage is indispensable to the welfare of the American family and society. We are also united in our belief that a decision requiring the States to license or recognize same-sex marriage would generate church-state conflicts that will imperil vital religious liberties. This brief is submitted out of our firm judgment that the Constitution does not require States to take that fateful step."

American laws are supposed to be based on the voice of the people.  We must raise our voices so they can be!!

There are many reasons we believe in marriage only between a man and a woman, including scriptural and religious beliefs, observance of history, personal experiences, and countless studies on families.  We believe that this traditional definition of marriage will provide the healthiest and strongest society for us and our children after us.

Jesus Christ, and surely millions more, have taught that we should love all people.  Differences in opinions do not warrant cruelty or persecution of any kind.  This petition is intended to be signed by Americans who love and respect all people, regardless of opposing viewpoints. 

We must work together to pass laws that achieve fairness for all.  However, taking away one group's rights in an effort to secure them for another is counterproductive.  Compromise can be achieved though, as can be seen in the recent case of the state of Utah where bills were passed to protect religious freedoms and to ban discrimination against LGBT's in housing and employment. 

A federal court decision to redefine marriage for all states is NOT the answer.  A decision of this nature would simply create additional (and severe) difficulties.  As stated in the amicus brief, if the supreme court decides to designate sexual orientation as a suspect class (deserving special protection, like race) "religious believers could find their speech, association, and free-exercise rights diminished or denied in a variety of contexts, such as public education, employment, public accommodations, and professional certification.” 

Or, if the court rules against the state bans on same-sex marriage due to a finding of animus, our democratic rights would be destroyed, among other consequences.  As stated by the brief: "A decision that traditional marriage laws are grounded in animus would demean us and our beliefs. It would stigmatize us as fools or bigots, akin to racists. In time it would impede full participation in democratic life, as our beliefs concerning marriage, family, and sexuality are placed beyond the constitutional pale. It would nullify our votes on key public policy issues – including on the laws before the Court in this case. Because we cannot renounce our scriptural beliefs, a finding of animus would consign us to second-class status as citizens whose religious convictions about vital aspects of society are deemed illegitimate. Assaults on our religious institutions and our rights of free exercise, speech, and association would intensify."

To download the full text of the brief and to see examples of religious freedoms already being revoked visit: http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/ article/religious-freedom-and- fairness-for-all

We must work in our local communities through the constitutionally-prescribed democratic process to resolve these issues.  It is our constitutional right to shape the communities in which we live.   

Please help us raise our voices as a majority in this beautiful country in support of traditional marriage, religious liberty, and the religious leaders who have already taken this stand!  

Note:

Religious organizations that filed the above-quoted amicus brief include the following: National Association of Evangelicals; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention; The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod; the Assemblies of God; the Christian Legal Society; The Brethren Church; The Christian and Missionary Alliance; the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee; Converge Worldwide; the Evangelical Congregational Church; the Evangelical Presbyterian Church; The Fellowship of Evangelical Churches; the Free Methodist Church – USA; Grace Communion International; the International Pentecostal Holiness Church; The Missionary Church; Open Bible Churches; and The Wesleyan Church.