Supreme Court’s gay marriage ruling sparks mixed reactions from religions

UncleVinny [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
UncleVinny [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Unitarians, atheists, reform and conservative Jews as well as United Church of Christ have applauded the ruling, while others oppose.

There’s been a variety of reactions by American religious groups following the Supreme Court’s decision to legalize same-sex marriage.

Unitarians, atheists, reform and conservative Jews as well as United Church of Christ have applauded the ruling, while Southern Baptists, Mormons and others have voiced their opposition. Many mainline churches have either avoided taking a clear stance on the decision or remained silent.

According to Religion News Service’s Tobin Grant, the reactions reflect the views that the followers of various religious groups have on same-sex marriage and homosexuality in general.

Public agreement with the Supreme Court’s ruling has been common among groups in which homosexuality is widely accepted

Those who have been mum or haven’t made statements represent groups in which there are differences among opinions with the exception of the Catholic Church, whose bishops have stood firm in opposing same-sex marriage although many American Catholics accept it. The strongest public disagreement has come from groups in which homosexuality isn’t accepted.

Where Major Religions Stand on Same-Sex Marriage

According to updated data presented by the Pew Research Center today, same-sex marriage is sanctioned by the Presbyterian Church, Conservative and Reform Jewish Movements, Society of Friends (Quaker), Unitarian Universalist Association of Churches, United Church of Christ, the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church, which allows each priest to determine whether or not to marry same-sex couples. The Episcopal Church sanctions blessings of same-sex unions.

Same-sex marriage is prohibited by American Baptist Churches, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), Islam, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Orthodox Jewish Movement, the Roman Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the United Methodist Church. Buddhism and Hinduism have no clear position.

Resources

Follow the Conversation on Twitter