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JULY 9, 2010 ARCHIVED STORIES:
BOSTON (BP)--In a landmark decision that could force the United States to recognize "gay marriage," a U.S. district judge July 8 overturned part of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, ruling that the government cannot constitutionally distinguish between traditional marriage and same-sex "marriage."
Judge Joseph L. Tauro's ruling on a pair of lawsuits out of Massachusetts invalidates Section 3 of the act, which says that for the purpose of federal law, marriage "means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife."
It is the first ruling of its kind; if upheld, it will place the United States alongside the 10 or so other countries worldwide that recognize homosexual "marriage." It would force the government to recognize "gay marriages" from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Iowa and Massachusetts, and by extension grant federal benefits, such as tax breaks and federal employee spousal insurance, to same-sex couples.
"Four to five years ago when we were encouraging the passage of the federal marriage amendment, many people criticized us and said that we were crazy, that the Defense of Marriage Act was sufficient and that we were just trying to rally the troops and get out the vote," Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told Baptist Press. "What we said would happen has happened. Read More
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PCUSA delegates OK
gay clergy, table marriage proposal
MINNEAPOLIS (BP)--Delegates to the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly in Minneapolis voted July 8 to allow the ordination of noncelibate homosexuals but shelved a proposal to redefine marriage in a way that would include same-sex couples.
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Oil spill crisis continues to escalate
NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Eleven people died when the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded and sank April 20 in the Gulf of Mexico some 52 miles southeast of Venice, La.
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Oil spill, hurricane response taking shape
NEW ORLEANS (BP)--There's plenty Southern Baptists can do for people affected by the Deepwater Horizon explosion and the millions of gallons of oil spilling into the Gulf of Mexico: provide hope for those who think they have none.
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INTERNATIONAL DIGEST: Colombians elect 'security hawk' president, reject Chavez advice
Dedicated Quichua people
follow Ecuador missionaries to Asia
Ministry trailers spread the Gospel
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Richard Land
FIRST-PERSON: Obama shows his hand with Berwick appointment
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Donald Berwick was nominated as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services by Barack Obama in mid-April. Just over two months after that announcement, the White House revealed July 6 the president had given the Harvard pediatrician a recess appointment, completing an end run around Congress.
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David Gray
FIRST-PERSON: Will LeBron James win?
GARRETTSVILLE, Ohio (BP)--LeBron James is leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers in order to become a bigger winner. I wonder what will constitute a big enough win.
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Kelly Boggs
FIRST-PERSON: 'To Kill a Mockingbird's' timeless message
ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP)--Someone once observed that the measure of a great book is that is has no ending. By this standard, "To Kill a Mockingbird" is indeed a classic.
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