Friday, March 12, 2004
SanFran same-sex marriage rush halted
The California Supreme Court issued an order today blocking San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom from issuing same-sex marriage licences.
The decision came as Massachusetts lawmakers gave preliminary approval to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage but allowing civil unions, which grant nearly all the rights and benefits of marriage.
San Francisco, under Newsom's order, issued the first officially sanctioned marriage licences to same-sex couples in American history on February 12. More than 3,700 ceremonies have been conducted since then. A week later, New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid intervened to stop a clerk in Bernalillo, N.M., who began issuing licences to same-sex couples. These developments and others came after the Massachusetts high court struck down a ban on same-sex marriage in November in a ruling to be implemented in mid-May.
The Florida-based Liberty Counsel on behalf of Campaign for California Families filed suit against Mayor Newsom last month with the State Superior Court in a case scheduled to be heard on March 29. The California Supreme Court has stayed that hearing, however.
CCF contends Newsom violated nine state civil laws, a statewide voter initiative known as Proposition 22 and a criminal law.
One fears this is only a minor hiccup in plans by homosexual activists to get civil unions and/or homosexual marriage regularised worldwide. But it might give pro-marriage advocates a breathing space to gather more support to stem the tide.
The California Supreme Court issued an order today blocking San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom from issuing same-sex marriage licences.
The decision came as Massachusetts lawmakers gave preliminary approval to a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage but allowing civil unions, which grant nearly all the rights and benefits of marriage.
San Francisco, under Newsom's order, issued the first officially sanctioned marriage licences to same-sex couples in American history on February 12. More than 3,700 ceremonies have been conducted since then. A week later, New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid intervened to stop a clerk in Bernalillo, N.M., who began issuing licences to same-sex couples. These developments and others came after the Massachusetts high court struck down a ban on same-sex marriage in November in a ruling to be implemented in mid-May.
The Florida-based Liberty Counsel on behalf of Campaign for California Families filed suit against Mayor Newsom last month with the State Superior Court in a case scheduled to be heard on March 29. The California Supreme Court has stayed that hearing, however.
CCF contends Newsom violated nine state civil laws, a statewide voter initiative known as Proposition 22 and a criminal law.
One fears this is only a minor hiccup in plans by homosexual activists to get civil unions and/or homosexual marriage regularised worldwide. But it might give pro-marriage advocates a breathing space to gather more support to stem the tide.
