Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Same-Sex Couples

On Thursday, July 8th, U.S. District Judge Joseph L. Tauro ruled that the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. President Clinton signed DOMA into law in 1996 after it passed the House by a vote 342-67 and the Senate by a vote of 85-14. Judge Tauro holds that through DOMA, the federal government violates the 10th Amendment by defining marriage as between one man and one woman, a right he believes belongs exclusively to the states.

The state had argued the law denied benefits such as Medicaid to gay married couples in Massachusetts, where same-sex unions have been legal since 2004.

Tauro agreed, and said the act forces Massachusetts to discriminate against its own citizens.

“The federal government, by enacting and enforcing DOMA, plainly encroaches upon the firmly entrenched province of the state, and in doing so, offends the Tenth Amendment. For that reason, the statute is invalid,” Tauro wrote in a ruling in a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Martha Coakley. (Associated Press)

There has been concern that Department of Justice has not defended DOMA wholeheartedly. This concern is supported by the fact that President Obama has publicly opposed DOMA, and has even referred to it as the “so called Defense of Marriage Act.” Click here to read more on this story.

Another Legal Victory for Traditional Marriage

There are currently three federal lawsuits filed by gay activists to repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that, if won, would require the United States Government to recognize gay marriages. Two of the three court cases directly challenge proposition 8. One of these cases, Smelt vs. United States,  got tossed out by a federal judge today on the basis that the defendants, a legally married gay couple from California, have no legal standing or “injury” as they were married before the enactment of Proposition 8, which the California State Supreme Court recently held that such marriages would remain intact.

Christian Leaders Push Immigration Reform as Faith Issue

By William Wan

The teleconference by the group, Christians for Comprehensive immigration Reform, featured heavyweights in the arena of faith and politics, including three members on the President’s new faith-based advisory council. Since Obama’s June 17 meeting on immigration so far looks like it’s invitation only for member of Congress, the group’s goal was to weigh in on the debate ahead of time.

One of the speakers, Rev. Jim Wallis, president of progressive and social justice group Sojourners, made this argument, “This is a faith issue. Not just a political issue.” Wallis referred to biblical passages where Jesus tells his followers that when they treat strangers with kindness, they are treating Jesus himself with kindness. “The stranger in case of undocumented immigrants is not being treated that well right now,” Wallis said.

Rev. Sam Rodriguez, president of the national Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said that after bailing out industries like banks and automakers, Obama and his administration should show similar grace to immigrants who are trying to support their families. Rodriguez said Obama needs to deliver on promises he made to the Latino community during his campaign.

The coalition issued a statement signed by 28 Christian organizations and 40 some leaders advocating things like reduced waiting times for separated families to be reunited, a legal process for immigrants already in the country to earn citizenship, dealing with the root causes in countries where immigrants come from.

By William Wan  |  June 10, 2009; 3:05 PM ET

Pro-Life Americans Outnumber Pro-Choice

For the first time in 15 years, Gallup Polls has found a majority of Americans self report as pro-life, up sharply from just one year ago. The annual Values and Beliefs survey found 51% of Americans say they support life while 42% claim they are pro-choice.

In another poll conducted by the Polling Company for Americans United for Life, 68% of respondents said they knew someone personally who had had an abortion, and believe that abortion hurts women.

Nomination of Sotomayor

THE NEW YORK TIMES

May 27, 2009

Obama Hails Judge as ‘Inspiring’

By PETER BAKER and JEFF ZELENY

President Obama announced Tuesday that he would nominate Sonia Sotomayor, a federal appeals judge in New York, to the Supreme Court, choosing a daughter of Puerto Rican parents who was raised in a Bronx public housing project to become the nation’s first Hispanic justice.

In making his first pick for the court, Mr. Obama emphasized Judge Sotomayor’s “extraordinary journey” from modest beginnings to the Ivy League and now the pinnacle of the judicial system. Casting her as the embodiment of the American dream, he touched off a confirmation battle that he hopes to wage over biography more than ideology.

Judge Sotomayor’s past comments about how her sex and ethnicity shaped her decisions, and the role of appeals courts in making policy, generated instant conservative complaints that she is a judicial activist. Senate Republicans vowed to scrutinize her record. But with Democrats in reach of the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster, the White House appeared eager to dare Republicans to stand against a history-making nomination at a time when both parties are courting the growing Hispanic vote.

“When Sonia Sotomayor ascends those marble steps to assume her seat on the highest court of the land,” Mr. Obama said as he introduced her in the East Room of the White House, “America will have taken another important step towards realizing the ideal that is etched above its entrance: Equal justice under the law.”