Today the Supreme Court issued a historic, game-changing decision when it legalized same-sex marriage across the nation. The Texas State Constitution recognizes marriage as between one man and one woman, as God designed. This unique relationship was designed for our good and for God’s glory. It has been the bedrock of human society for thousands of years. Today our nation treads into uncharted territory that will result in unknown legal repercussions stemming from a decision made by nine unelected justices in Washington D.C. acting more like a legislature than a judiciary.
As we move forward from this decision, protecting the freedom of religious expression will be paramount. Texas recently passed the Pastor Protection Act, which protects our religious leaders from performing marriages that they object to based on their sincerely held religious beliefs. Additionally, the Texas Constitution requires the Legislature to protect religious freedom: “[I]t shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such laws as may be necessary to protect equally every religious denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public worship.” We must redouble our efforts to defend laws, such as the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which intends to provide legal protections for individuals freely exercising their faith. Our goal should be to ensure that churches, individuals, and businesses are protected from discrimination by the government, regardless of their religious viewpoint. This battle will be ongoing for years to come in the courtroom, but we will continue the fight to protect religious liberty in Texas.
The right to marry is already recognized as a fundamental right under our Constitution. By extending that fundamental constitutional protection to same-sex marriage we depart from the moral law that has been our foundation since our nation’s founding. Traditionally, marriage is an issue that has been left to the discretion of the states, not the federal government, and today’s decision further erodes the 10th Amendment to our Constitution. All laws reflect someone’s morality; this ruling is no different. I will continue to stand for the morals established by our Creator, and will continue to fight for the people of Texas and our state’s rights.
– Matt Schaefer
State Representative, District 6
