Mat Staver, founder of the Christian
conservative Liberty Counsel, warned Thursday that churches will be
forced to marry gay couples if the Supreme Court strikes down state
bans on gay marriage.
“We're witnessing an aggressive
movement targeting Christianity and our values, especially marriage,”
Staver
said during a “Freedom Call” radio bulletin. “We must
realize that the war over marriage goes to the core of our religious
freedom.
“If same-sex marriage becomes a civil
right, then churches will be forced to obey an unjust law that
violates their core beliefs or face going to jail. All Christians
will be forced to take sides on this issue and either compromise
religious beliefs or mount a principled resistance to unconscionable
government edicts.”
Staver said his group's legal team
stood ready to assist Christians “facing the onslaught of the
radical pro-homosexual community or government agencies pursuing the
same goal.”
The Supreme Court, however, is
only considering whether civil marriage laws unconstitutionally exclude
gay couples. While many couples may choose to hold a religious
ceremony, it is not a requirement. Several denominations have decided on their own to recognize such unions.