SACRAMENTO, August 11, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The California Supreme Court said Wednesday that it would not hand down a ruling on the constitutionality of same-sex “marriage.” The decision means the issue remains open – a ruling welcomed by a pro-family group that is pushing for a constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex “marriage” for the state.
Executive Director of Campaign for California Families, Randy Thomasson, told the Associated Press, “It’s very good that the high court declined to hear this case.” Thomasson had asked the court not to rule on the issue. “The high court should never turn marriage upside down and inside out.”
The ruling means that the case will be sent back to San Francisco’s 1st District Court of Appeal, where a decision is not likely for months. A constitutional amendment to permanently ban same-sex “marriage” could go to voters as soon as next year.
Last August, the same court unanimously ruled that the marriage licenses granted to thousands of same-sex couples by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom were illegal and thus null. Last week, the Supreme Court ordered that private companies grant same-sex “domestic partners” spousal benefits.
The spousal benefit case revolved around a suit instigated by a lesbian, B. Birgit Koebke, who wanted spousal benefits to apply to her same-sex partner, thereby affording her the benefit of free golf at her country club.
“[A] business that extends benefits to spouses it denies to registered domestic partners engages in impermissible marital status discrimination,” Justice Carlos R. Moreno wrote in the unanimous opinion of the court, according to a Baptist Press report. “… [A] chief goal of the Domestic Partner Act is to equalize the status of registered domestic partners and married couples.”
The pro-family coalitions –www.ProtectMarriage.com and www.VoteYesMarriage.com– are fighting to have a same-sex “marriage” constitutional amendment placed on the ballot in 2006.
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