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In a unanimous ruling on Thursday, the US Supreme Court stood up for religious liberty and said "no" to the LGBTQ folks who were---through the city of Philadelphia, trying to force a religious adoption agency to violate their deeply held Christian beliefs and place foster children in same-sex couples homes---or be shut down.
Christian leaders are praising the Court's ruling.
Be informed, not misled.
The US Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the city of Philadelphia can't exclude a Catholic charity from its foster program because the organization won't place children with same-sex couples because of their deeply held religious beliefs.
The unanimous decision reversed a judgment of a three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Chief Justice John Roberts---who has been a tremendous disappointment to many of us, delivered the court's opinion, concluding that "the City has burdened the religious exercise of Catholic Social Services (CSS) through policies that do not meet the requirement of being neutral and generally applicable."
He said, "Government fails to act neutrally when it proceeds in a manner intolerant of religious beliefs or restricts practices because of their religious nature."
Roberts also noted, "The refusal of Philadelphia to contract with CSS for the provision of foster care services unless it agrees to certify same-sex couples as foster parents cannot survive strict scrutiny, and violates the First Amendment."
The city was ordered to "make an exception" as they do with many other contracted organizations, who are exempted for different reasons.
When it comes to the LGBTQ agenda, exemption is not an option until all other options are exhausted.
Christian leaders praise the ruling.
Brian Burch, President of Catholic Vote, said in a statement, "Today, the Supreme Court rightly affirmed that the Constitution guarantees faith-based agencies freedom from government harassment and discrimination because of their religious beliefs about marriage."
Ashley McGuire, a senior fellow with The Catholic Association, also hailed the ruling:
"Today's ruling prohibits government sanctioned discrimination against religious adoption and foster care agencies because of their beliefs about marriage...But those agencies have become the latest victims of woke culture as activists seek to push them out of the adoption and foster care space because of their religious values."
McGuire also noted that "Those efforts are rooted in an anti-Catholic bigotry that refuses to tolerate pluralistic views and beliefs."
While that's probably true, the issue is much bigger than anti-Catholic bigotry. It's a rejection of God's model for marriage, family, and human sexuality.
Kelly Shackelford, president, and CEO and chief counsel at First Liberty Institute, called the ruling a "tremendous victory for religious liberty...Punishing religious organizations for acting consistently with their sincerely held religious beliefs is wrong."
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said, "The Supreme Court reaffirmed religious liberty at a time of 'growing hostility."
And he said,
"Increasingly, the Left refuses to tolerate the slightest deviation from their political orthodoxy regardless of who suffers as a result. While we stop to celebrate and thank God that the Supreme Court reaffirmed religious liberty today, we are fully aware and prepared for the attacks of the Left on this fundamental, God-given freedom to continue unabated."
Justice Alito expressed some concern.
Although Alito concurred with the judgment, he expressed concern that the Supreme Court decision will not have a lasting impact on the dispute between Philadelphia and CSS.
He said, "The city has been adamant about pressuring CSS to give in, and if the City wants to get around today's decision, it can simply eliminate the never used exemption power."
Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch agreed with him.
Alito said, "Not only is the Court's decision unlikely to resolve the present dispute, it provides no guidance regarding similar controversies in other jurisdictions."
Takeaway.
Celebrate. This was a win for righteousness. But the war rages on because it is a spiritual, not a political war.
Like the abortion industry, the LGBTQ people and their surrogates in government will continue. This is not merely about a political or even personal view the Left holds---it's a view that holds them.
Romans chapter 1 speaks directly to that issue.
This is also a reminder that we, as biblical believers, are called to be informed and vigilant.
Be informed: 1 Thessalonians 5:6
"Therefore let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch and be sober."
Be vigilant: 1 Peter 5:8
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."
Be diligent: Deuteronomy 4:9
"Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them to thy sons and thy sons' sons."
Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.