DOMA (the Defense of Marriage Act) is struck down! As Pastor of Metro Community Church of the Quad Cities, I am singing today: "Ding dong the DOMA's dead, which old witch, the DOMA witch, ding dong the DOMA witch is dead!," sings Rev. Rich Hendricks. This U.S. Supreme Court in the United States v. Winsor decision means loving, same-gender couples will no longer be treated as legal strangers. Thousands of federal rights and benefits will now be granted to all married couples equally. As the pastor of a global church founded on the belief that all people are created equal before God and the law, I am ecstatic that the Supreme Court recognized that all US citizens are equal in the eyes of the law, regardless of our sexual orientation or gender identity. Thoughtful, progressive religious people of all faiths have come to understand that love is the overriding principle that guides our understanding of institutions and traditions, and that God's love and God's spirit is fully present and alive in the lives of same-gender loving couples everywhere.
Entering into a committed, loving relationship is one of life's most sacred and holy gifts. Marriage means responsibility and hard work, but it also brings life-changing protections for a family.
From the majority opinion, now the law of the land: "DOMA undermines both the public and private significance of state sanctioned same-sex marriages; for it tells those couples, and all the world, that their otherwise valid marriages are unworthy of federal recognition. This places same-sex couples in an unstable position of being in a second-tier marriage. The differentiation demeans the couple, whose moral and sexual choices the Constitution protects, and whose relationship the State has sought to dignify. And it humiliates tens of thousands of children now being raised by same-sex couples. The law in question makes it even more difficult for the children to understand the integrity and closeness of their own family and its concord with other families in their community and in their daily lives. Under DOMA, same-sex married couples have their lives burdened, by reason of government decree, in visible and public ways. By its great reach, DOMA touches many aspects of married and family life, from the mundane to the profound. DOMA also brings financial harm to children of samesex couples. It raises the cost of health care for families by taxing health benefits provided by employers to their workers' same-sex spouses. And it denies or reduces benefits allowed to families upon the loss of a spouse and parent, benefits that are an integral part of family security."
There are no second class citizens under the law in the United States. I say under the law, because full equality under the law is still a ways off, let alone equal treatment in practice.
Our struggle is not over. We will continue to pray for and to advocate for equality in every state and in every country all over the world. Here are some things everyone can do to continue to promote equality: First and foremost, be yourself and live out loud! "Come out, come out wherever you are, and meet this equality and be who you are!" Share your personal stories of friendship and love between people. And stand up for equality whenever you are confronted by derogatory, tasteless or hateful remarks.
Freedom, equality -- priceless!
MCC QC holds its worship services at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays at the Tri-City Jewish Center, 2715 30th St., Rock Island through Sunday, July 14th. Beginning on Sunday, July 21st, worship services will be held at Tanglewood Chapel, 4250 Middle Road, Bettendorf, Iowa. For more information about MCC QC you may call the church at 563.324.8281 or check us out on the web at www.mccqc.com.
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For more information about this press release, contact Rev. Rich Hendricks at 563.940.9630 or by email at richdhendricks@msn.com
tearing down walls; building up hope
