Clergy Sue for Homosexual Marriage Rights

The “hot topic” of same-sex marriage is heating up in more surprising ways (Washington Post, April 28, 2014). “A church and a coalition of local clergy are challenging North Carolina’s gay marriage ban by making a novel argument: that it violates freedom of religion” (FindLaw.com, April 30, 2014). “While many congregations have been reluctant to address or change their policies on same-sex marriage, the United Church of Christ (UCC) has supported same-sex marriage since 2005” (ibid.). UCC clergy claim the state ban denies them the right to practice as their conscience dictates. 

While the Bible condemns homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22; Romans 1:26-28), Bible prophecies indicate that at the end of the age “the law will perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders” (Ezekiel 7:26). This lawsuit shows how religious leaders are increasingly rejecting God’s law in favor of the “idols in [their] heart” and are causing people to “stumble into iniquity” (Ezekiel 14:4). As a result of these sinful actions, God prophesied that many will “bear their iniquity” and reap the consequences of their sin (vv. 10-14). These consequences are described in our sobering article entitled “Vile Passions.”