Marriage equality opponents have launched a
prayer campaign as the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati
takes up cases challenging gay marriage bans in 4 states.
Next Wednesday, a three-judge panel
will hear oral arguments in six cases challenging marriage bans in
Kentucky (two cases), Michigan, Ohio (two cases) and Tennessee –
the most marriage cases that any federal circuit court has ever heard
in a single day.
The Sixth Circuit is the third appeals
court to review challenges to state bans since the U.S. Supreme
Court's decision last year striking down a key provision of the
Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which led to the federal government
recognizing the legal marriages of gay couples.
The Cincinnati-based Citizens for
Community Values (CCV), which organized the initiative that in 2004
added the ban to Ohio's constitution, said in an email to supporters
that “God's design for marriage is under attack!” and set out a
4-day prayer schedule which starts Sunday and culminates with a
prayer vigil for the judges outside the courthouse on Wednesday.
The group called
on followers to “pray for clarity of thought and persuasive
speech for the attorneys defending marriage in order that the
arguments against marriage will be refuted, confused thinking will be
exposed, and that all the judges' doubts regarding marriage will be
removed.”
“Pray for those engaged in all manner
of sexual sin that God will deliver them from their sexual bondage
and restore purity.”
Oral arguments begin at 1 PM at the
Potter Stewart Courthouse in Cincinnati.