All Saints Church Statement on Supreme Court Marriage Equality Rulings

At All Saints Church we rejoice that today the Supreme Court Justices ruled on the just side of history in affirming the dignity of LGBT families and affirming the reality that Prop 8 served no purpose other than to discriminate against gay couples -- thereby violating our Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.

And by striking down Section 3 of DOMA, we celebrate the fact that thousands of married lesbian and gay couples – including the forty-six couples married  at All Saints in 2008 -- will be better able to protect one another and their children because they will no longer face legal federal discrimination and obstruction in their care for one another. 

“Today’s victory is a result of years of hard work by same-sex couples, their families, allies, and advocates to create the climate for the Court’s ruling,” said All Saints rector Ed Bacon. “All Saints Church has been privileged to be a partner in this struggle for justice and equality for over twenty years.”

“The truth is that when gay people share in the freedom to marry, it makes families stronger, which makes communities, states, and our nation stronger. I am confident that here at All Saints Church in Pasadena we know it has made our church stronger.”

When Proposition 8 passed in 2008, the vestry of All Saints Church unanimously adopted the following resolution:

 

WHEREAS, our active participation in the discriminatory system of civil marriage is

inconsistent with Jesus’ call to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect

the dignity of every human being; and

WHEREAS, All Saints Church is called to make the sacrament of marriage equally

available to all couples, regardless of their sexual orientation;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Rector, Wardens and Vestry do declare

that the sacramental right of marriage is available to all couples, but that the clergy of All

Saints Church will not sign civil marriage certificates so long as the right to marry is

denied to same-sex couples.

 Soon same-sex couples will be able to marry legally in 13 states and Washington, DC. More than 93 million Americans – nearly a third of the population – live in a jurisdiction with the freedom to marry.

Today we celebrate with those who now have the freedom to marry and we look forward to being able to offer both equal blessing and equal protection to the couples coming to us for marriage at All Saints Church.

Yet we know that the struggle for equality is far from over. We know that there are millions of others across the country who will still be treated as second-class citizens. And we know that today’s two steps forward on marriage equality come on the heels of yesterday’s one step back on voting rights. Therefore, we will continue to work with partners across the country until equality is a reality for every American as we live out God’s values of love, justice and compassion.

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At 12:10pm on Wednesday, June 26 Ed Bacon will address the Supreme Court rulings in his sermon at the Noon Eucharist. All are welcome. Due to construction in the church building, the service will take place in the FORUM ... downstairs in Regas House.

132 North Euclid Avenue | Pasadena CA 91001