With the help of two elitist judges, two men got "married" in Polk County, Iowa, this morning.
On Thursday, Judge Robert Hanson struck down the state's 1998 Defense of Marriage Act. About two dozen homosexual couples obtained marriage licenses before Hanson issued a stay on his ruling around noon today. In the meantime, Judge Scott Rosenburg agreed to sign an "emergency" waiver allowing one of the couples to marry today rather than wait three days, as required by law.
"There seems to be no end to the judicial arrogance being displayed in Iowa this week," said Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst for Focus on the Family Action. "Now it appears that judges can not only write the marriage laws, but they can waive any 'inconvenient' laws otherwise required — one-stop shopping for radical social change."
Justices on the Iowa Supreme Court may refer the case to the state Court of Appeals or hear it themselves.
"Until the Iowa Supreme Court renders a final decision in this case, any same-sex 'marriages' that occur in Iowa run the risk that those nuptials will be rendered null and void," Hausknecht said.
Iowa Republican House Minority Leader Christopher Rants said Hanson's Thursday ruling illustrates the need for a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man, one woman.
"I can't believe this is happening in Iowa," Rants told The Associated Press. "I guarantee you there will be a vote on this issue come January," when the Legislature convenes.
Nearly all states have defined marriage as being solely between a man and a woman, and 27 states have such wording in their constitutions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Same-sex marriage is legal only in Massachusetts.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said an amendment is the only way to protect traditional marriage from "aberrant judges."
"I urge Iowans to pass a constitutional amendment protecting marriage, joining the majority of states that have already defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman in their state constitutions," he said. "Only state constitutional amendments and ultimately a federal constitutional amendment will ensure that marriage is fully protected."
