Ethics

Gay Marriage and Religious Liberty

By Ed Brayton

We've been having an interesting exchange on the religionlaw listserv in the aftermath of the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. It began when someone posted a link to a press release from Americans United in which the group said that the ruling "upholds religious liberty." That press release said, in part:

In its unanimous ruling, the Iowa high court makes it clear that religious denominations have a constitutional right to set their own rules about marriage but that civil law should reflect equal protection for all citizens and not be anchored in religious dogma.

"The court has reaffirmed religious liberty," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "The justices reminded us that religious groups are free to marry whomever they choose, but civil law cannot be based on any group's theology.

Full post as published by Dispatches from the Culture Wars on April 15, 2009 (boomark / email).