Conservative Christian: We Can Only Blame Ourselves If Gay Marriage Wins at Supreme Court

By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter Monday, June 24, 2013

The executive director of the Manhattan Declaration, a movement of Christians from various denominations with traditional values working to preserve the sanctity of life, marriage and religious liberty, says conservatives will only have themselves to blame if gay marriage becomes legalized in America.

"If the Supreme Court rejects the time-honored purpose of marriage, it will be because the court – like many of our friends, neighbors and colleagues – has lost the meaning of marriage and its civic importance," wrote Eric Teetsel, commenting ahead of two gay marriage rulings expected by the high court this month. "We will have no one to blame but ourselves. It will be our fault for failing to nurture and protect marriage, for looking the other way as rampant divorce, infidelity and sexual impurity chipped away at our moral authority."

The Manhattan Declaration, which affirms marriage as a union between a man and a woman, has been signed by more than half a million Americans. While most U.S. states and mainstream churches uphold the traditional definition of marriage, same-sex couples are now allowed to get married in 12 U.S. states, as well as D.C.

This week, the Supreme Court is set to rule on two major gay marriage cases, California's Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act, which could potentially have far-reaching consequences for the future of marriage in America.

"Whatever the results, it will not mean the end of our work to rebuild a culture of marriage and family," Teetsel said about the upcoming ruling.

"It took generations to erode marriage and family, with disastrous consequences. Restoration may take just as long," he continued. "No matter this week's rulings, we will rededicate ourselves to renewing in American culture the profound beauty, mystery and holiness of faithful marriage. We will be patient in the light of any setbacks. And, in the end, we will succeed – if we do not give up."

Earlier in June at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's "Road to Majority 2013" conference, Teetsel participated on a panel with Jonathan Last, Dr. Diane Medved, and Ryan Anderson, a William E. Simon Fellow in Religion and a Free Society.

When asked why, looking at public opinion polls, the pro-life movement has been gaining support while traditional marriage has been losing it, Anderson told The Christian Post that the victims of abortion are more easily seen than those negatively affected by same-sex marriage.

Anderson argued that social science research on same-sex parenting will serve to show why traditional marriage needs to be upheld, even though it is still in the early stages.

Teetsel did not immediately respond to a request for further comments.