Republican presidential candidates Rick
Santorum and Mike Huckabee are among the more than 50,000 people who
have signed a pledge promising to disobey a Supreme Court ruling
striking down state bans on gay marriage.
The nation's highest court is within
days of handing down a ruling in a case challenging bans in Ohio,
Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan. The decision could lead to
nationwide marriage equality.
Launched in March, the Defend Marriage
pledge was co-authored by Rick Scarborough, a prominent evangelical
pastor.
(Related: Rick
Scarborough pledges to “burn” fighting gay marriage.)
“We will view any decision by the
Supreme Court or any court the same way history views the Dred
Scott and Buck v. Bell decisions,” the pledge states.
“Our highest respect for the rule of law requires that we not
respect an unjust law that directly conflicts with higher law. A
decision purporting to redefine marriage flies in the face of the
Constitution and is contrary to the natural created order. As people
of faith we pledge obedience to our Creator when the State directly
conflicts with higher law. We respectfully warn the Supreme Court not
to cross this line.”
Allowing gay couples to marry
undermines the institution and hurts children, the pledge argues:
“Authorizing the legal equivalency of marriage to same-sex couples
undermines the fundamental rights of children and threatens their
security, stability and future.”
“Neither the United States Supreme
Court nor any court has authority to redefine marriage and thereby
weaken both the family and society,” it adds.
According to its website, more than
50,000 people have signed the pledge, including GOP presidential
candidates Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.
(Related: Only
insincere candidates would sing NOM's anti-gay marriage pledge, AFER
says.)