Despite the perception one might get after browsing social media, the fact remains that millions of people in the U.S. support God’s design for marriage. After all, it’s common sense to understand that marriage serves an important purpose: to bring together the two halves of humanity — male and female — to form a family.
It can be frustrating, then, when it seems that our view is drowned out in the culture. But while Hollywood, academia and the media can try their best to muffle pleas for civil discourse on how we as a nation should define marriage, thanks to an amicus brief Focus on the Family and nearly 45 pro-family groups and scholars submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, your voice will be heard at the highest court of the land.
An Amicus — or “Friend of the Court” — Brief is one that is written and offered by a non-party to a case, usually with special expertise or experience, who is interested in the issue and wishes to help educate the court with regard to matters not generally within the Court’s knowledge.
That’s where we come in. Our brief, which has been co-signed by CitizenLink, a public policy partner to Focus, nearly 40 state-based Family Policy Councils, and four scholars, will help the justices as they examine issues pertaining to same-sex marriage in preparation for the April 28 oral arguments in the Obergefell v. Hodges case.
In other words, based on our roles as family help and advocacy organizations that represent millions of people – including you – we are sharing our Bible-based and social science-supported view that marriage matters to children.
Our amicus brief explains the differing parenting roles husbands and wives play in raising children, and why those differences create a rational, even compelling reason to limit marriage to one man and one woman. It gives “substantial evidence from sociology, psychology, and biology” that shows “gender-differentiated parenting is critical for human development, and that both mothers and fathers make irreplaceable contributions to childrearing.”
We want the justices to read evidence that shows just how important moms and dads are to children. It’s a truth that won’t change despite fluctuating political opinions. The fact is, and always will be, that the direct, continual involvement of both a mother and a father in the home is ideal for the development of children.
And that’s a very good reason for our nation’s laws to promote gender diversity in marriage – in other words, for our nation to define marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
What’s at stake in the case?
The Supreme Court decision on Obergefell v. Hodges, expected to be handed out at the end of June, will be a historical one. The definition (or redefinition) of marriage impacts every aspect of society including media messages, free speech rights, religious freedom rights, parental rights in education.
If you want to learn more about the Supreme Court’s upcoming hearing and decision on same-sex marriage, please visit our Web page, www.focusonthefamily.com/marriagedecision. This resource has been put together by our Thriving Values team to help educate and empower concerned citizens about this important issue. At the link, you’ll learn about the questions the nation’s highest court will be considering and will find profiles of each of the justices serving on the court. The page also gives an overview on the marriage issue and what to expect if marriage is redefined. Finally, you’ll find a list of practical things you can do to be involved.
Please be in prayer about this issue. Pray for the April 28 oral arguments. Pray that God will grant the nine justices the wisdom to consider the arguments laid out, and to think of the importance marriage holds to children.
Sign up for the weekly e-newsletter
Leave a Reply