WASHINGTON — The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. pealed its bells yesterday for nearly an hour in celebration of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a key section of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).
Dean Gary Hall issued a statement yesterday praising the court for its ruling, and explaining why the Cathedral was clanging its bells to mark the occasion.
“We are ringing our bells at the Cathedral to celebrate the extension of federal marriage equality to all the same-sex couples modeling God’s love in lifelong covenants,” he said. “Our prayers for continued happiness are with them and with all couples who will be joined in matrimony in the years to come, whether at Washington National Cathedral or elsewhere.”
Hall stated that he believes Christians should welcome same-sex “marriage,” and that doing so would serve to demonstrate one’s faith in Christ.
“Today’s rulings advance civil marriage equality, but they should also serve as a call for Christians to embrace religious marriage equality. Countless faithful Christians have lived out their lives in committed same-sex relationships, and we have seen the fruits of their fidelity in our families, our congregations and our communities. If we use this historic moment to see more clearly how their faithfulness contributes to the common good, we will better be able to walk with our LGBT sisters and brothers as an act of Christian faith.”
At noon yesterday, the Washington Ringing Society pealed the bells in the ‘Gloria in Excelsis’ central tower, as did Episcopalians, Methodists and Presbyterians in the city, according to CBS News.
Hall also scheduled a special prayer service Wednesday evening at the Cathedral, inviting homosexuals throughout Washington to attend. Prior to the service, a number of ministers from the nation’s capital participated in a press conference to speak about why they believe that homosexuals should be allowed to marry. Linda Kaufman of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Dwayne Johnson of Metropolitan Community Church, Rabbi Jessica Oleon of Temple Sinai and Dr. Dennis Wiley of Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ were among those present.
However, as previously reported, a number of other Christian groups across the country issued statements yesterday expressing mourning and disappointment that our nation is further turning away from God and His Law.
Michael Marcavage of the Philadelphia-based evangelistic ministry Repent America called the ruling “an act of high treason against the holy, Most High God.”
“The reason why Christians fought to oppose attempts to redefine the Biblical institution of marriage is because we love God and our neighbor,” he said. “We love children and don’t want them to be raised in a nation that teaches them that it is permissible to live however one pleases. If God is not the standard of absolute truth, then who is?”
“Romans 13 declares that those in civil government are to be ministers of God for good, not evil,” Marcavage continued. “Despite the court’s ruling, it is not — and never will be — a marriage before God, but only a mirage.”
Rusty Thomas of Elijah Ministries in Waco, Texas likewise condemned the decision as being an offense against God.
“Our nation’s rulers keep poking their fingers in the eye of our holy God and they are going to find out the hard way that the Supreme Court is not supreme,” he said. “There is a court above them, where every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
“Even though our political leaders may reject Him and defy Him, God is the ultimate sovereign wherefrom all authority is derived,” said Joe Glover of Family Policy Network in Forest, Virginia. “Even in the wake of such an offensive and immoral Supreme Court decision, the Christian’s primary duty has not changed. … [We] will continue to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and unbelieving nation. We will do so on every battle front, including that of homosexuality.”
Photo: Mina Elias
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