Date posted: 11-30-2022
Estimated Reading Time : 4:00
The so-called Respect for Marriage Act (HR 8404) passed the U.S. Senate this week, with 12 Republicans joining Democrats to vote for the bill without Utah Sen. Mike Lee’s amendment to protect religious liberty.
This extreme bill, already passed by the Democrat-led House of Representatives and likely to be signed into law by Joe Biden, will take the effect of taking the loosest, most immoral, and ungodly marriage laws of any state and making that the “law of the land.”
Under this law, if any state approves same-sex or polygamous marriage, every other state and the federal government must give those marriages “full faith and credit.” The law repeals the Defense of Marriage Act, passed in the 1990s, makes gay marriage a civil right under federal law.
It essentially codifies the wrongly decided gay marriage decision of the Supreme Court (Obergfell v. Hodges), and overrides the power of individual states to decide these issues. It also gives power to the federal Attorney General’s office to enforce the law and individual citizens to file lawsuits.
According to the Washington Stand, “H.R. 8404, which skeptics call the ‘Disrespect for Marriage’ Act, requires all 50 states to recognize any marriage legally recognized by any other state and gives individuals the right to sue if they feel they have been harmed by people who believe in natural marriage.”
Though Republicans regained a House majority in the upcoming Congress, outgoing Democrat House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can oversee one final vote for final passage of the bill during the lame duck session, cementing her radical leftist legacy. A previous version of the bill passed the House earlier with 47 Republicans voting for it.
“Love is love,” said Biden, who claims to be a devout Catholic but has shown an open disregard to biblical principles. “I look forward to the House passing this legislation and sending it to my desk, where I will proudly sign it into law.”
This bill is a direct attack on foundational, biblical truth regarding marriage and family. Marriage was created by God as a union between one man and one woman.
According to Jim Daly, Focus on the Family president, marriage as defined by the Bible is the cornerstone of America’s greatness and the key to its survival.
“The health of our nation is predicated on the health of its families,” said Daly. “It’s inconceivable why a majority of our leaders would deliberately vote to erode the very institution that holds the answer to a thriving country and culture. Children desperately need mothers and fathers, and today’s vote seriously undercuts and ignores what should be a top legislative priority.”
As Republicans take control of the House in January, introducing a bill to protect religious liberty will be a top priority for leadership. Without creating a firewall to protect rights already detailed in the Constitution, Christian organizations and individuals will be at risk.
According to Richard Harris, executive director of Truth & Liberty Coalition:
This new measure is deeply troubling. The federal government was never given power in the Constitution to tell states how to define marriage. Plus, God’s Word prohibits homosexuality and defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman for life. This law not only rejects God’s word, it commands every government official in the entire nation to reject God’s word. It is a direct repudiation of “the laws of nature and Nature’s God” upon which our nation was built. By refusing to provide meaningful protection for the freedom of believers to follow God’s word in this vital area, the lawmakers have knowingly facilitated violations of First Amendment and put the federal government on a collision course with the Church. Going forward, we must all pray and prepare ourselves to stand our ground for Truth, no matter the cost.
Learn More
Explore the Truth & Liberty website and visit our Research Center for practical resources to defend biblical marriage and family values. Also learn how you can become a Truth & Liberty Coalition member and join us in standing for truth in the public square.