It’s as ubiquitous as Christmas decorations going up before Halloween—the annual emails from conservative Christian groups bemoaning the “de-Christing” of Christmas. According to the tenor of these emails, by simply saying “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings,” you are trampling on the rights of millions of Christians who insist that “Christ” remain the reason for the season.
Perhaps we should put this to a vote—get a petition started to change the federal Constitution so we can never, ever say, “Merry Christmas” again.
Outrageous? Preposterous? Violation of religious freedom? Violation of freedom of speech? The howling from the pro-Merry Christmas camp would be ear shattering!
Well, it could happen if enough folks pulled together to sponsor such a measure—and if the proponents of Prop 8 prevail before the California Supreme Court, the courts may not the power to prevent Christ being kicked out of the season’s greetings.
The November 4 vote, supporting an end to legal same-sex marriage in the most populous U.S. state, has caused a nationwide furor as opponents of the measure decry what they consider a civil rights violation. California’s highest court agreed on November 19 to hear a challenge, based on whether the state constitution requires support from the legislature — as well as a majority vote of the people — to strip rights from any group. The court had recognized such marriages in May, and about 20,000 same-sex couples wed before the November vote. Those marriages may now hang in the balance. Connecticut and Massachusetts are the only states that allow gay marriage.
Legal scholars say the measure, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman, breaks new ground by limiting the courts’ ability to protect minorities.
“They could take away any right from any group,” said University of Southern California Law Professor David Cruz, who filed a brief in favor of gay marriage in an earlier case.
Ponder that thought for a moment—“they could take away any right from any group.” Oh, what the conservatives have wrought.
The battle over Prop 8, at its heart, is not a battle for marriage equality—it’s a battle for the proper place of the courts within our system.
There’s a man in my church who keeps talking about how persecuted Christians are and how the new administration will take away our religious rights. I suppose it could come to pass if the courts don’t reassert their authority as the third branch of our republic. And conservative Christians—when the voting tide eventually turns against them—will have no one to blame but themselves.
