By Fred Jackson, Jody Brown, and Bill Fancher
June 27, 2003

(AgapePress) - Both critics and supporters of Thursday's Supreme Court ruling legalizing homosexual sex appear to agree on one thing: the decision holds the potential for far-reaching effects on the nation's culture.

Legal analysts on both sides of the debate seem to be struck by the language the six justices used in their decision. Basically, they called homosexual sex a "privacy" issue in which the government has no right to interfere. That opens the door, many argue, to legalizing just about any deviant sexual behavior.

The justices also endorsed the idea that the prevailing public opinion of the day ought to hold sway over how the Constitution is interpreted. [See Earlier Article on Court Ruling]

A variety of pro-family groups have been quick to denounce the ruling. Dr. D. James Kennedy of Coral Ridge Ministries calls it a "declaration of secular supremacy" -- a decision, he says, that overturns a 3,000-year-old legal and moral tradition and one the nation will come to regret "most grievously."

Kennedy expects homosexual activists to charge forward now to demand any restrictions against them be lifted, including those regarding military service, homosexual adoption, and homosexual marriage. He also expects a major push to restrict the free-speech rights of those who oppose homosexuality.

Dr. Kennedy's ominous warning may already be approaching reality. The legal director for Lambda Legal, a homosexual advocacy group, says discrimination regarding marriage and military service will now be targeted by homosexual activists. Attorney Ruth Harlow says by "knocking out both sodomy laws and the justification of morality," the high court's decision makes it more difficult to defend "those discriminatory schemes."

Harlow tells Cybercast News Service that even though the ruling was based on the "right of privacy," it also "very strongly recognizes gay people's equal humanity" and guarantees them equal rights under the Constitution.

Judgment of God
Robert Knight of the Culture and Family Institute says the decision is just another example of the nation's courts chipping away at society's morals and values.

"It takes a lot to turn a God-fearing nation like America into Sodom, but the court seems determined to do that -- and this is a giant step in that direction. The court is basically saying Americans cannot defend themselves against the onslaught of homosexual activism, and that we all have to submit to it or be on the wrong side of the law."

Robert Knight

Knight is convinced that as a result of the court decision, children will be taught in schools that homosexual sodomy is normal and healthy, and the equivalent of marital sex.

"How can they do otherwise when the court is saying that any distinctions in the law regarding these practices are unconstitutional?" he asks. "It also will jeopardize laws against prostitution, incest, and bigamy -- because if the consent of the partners involved and the idea of privacy trumps all other considerations, I don't see how these other laws can stand."

Will America face God's judgment as a result of the decision? Knight has this response:

"I can't imagine God will be happy with America if we put homosexual sex acts on par with marital sex. God created sex for marriage and marriage only, and attempts to legitimate it outside marriage not only hurt people, but they are spitting in the face of God."

Lou Sheldon of Traditional Values Coalition says the country could very well be judged as a nation.

"If the righteous don't rise up and speak out loud and clear, then we casting ourselves against the Word of God," Sheldon says, "and woe unto that person who does that."

Many pro-family leaders are saying the ruling should galvanize Christians to become involved in the fight to save traditional families in America. Many are urging support of legislation calling for a Federal Marriage Amendment. Such legislation is currently before the U.S. House.

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