Ten years after the Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision, state legislators are struggling to restrict same-sex marriage. Conservative lawmakers are introducing bills to limit or redefine marriage, but these efforts are largely symbolic. These attempts face significant legal hurdles due to the existing legal precedent. LGBTQ+ rights advocates are actively working to protect the rights of same-sex couples and counter these legislative efforts.
5 days ago
A decade after the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, which established same-sex civil marriage nationwide, state legislators in several states are attempting to reignite the debate 2. In 2025, lawmakers introduced resolutions urging the Supreme Court to overturn the Obergefell decision 2.
These efforts have faced significant challenges despite being introduced in states with overwhelming Republican supermajorities 2. For instance, resolutions passed the House chambers in Idaho and North Dakota, but both ultimately failed in their respective state senates 2. In most other states where they were introduced, these resolutions died in committees 2.
Republican lawmakers involved in these initiatives, such as Idaho Rep. Heather Scott, North Dakota Rep. Bill Tveit, and South Dakota Rep. Tony Randolph, expressed frustration with the lack of progress in their state senates 2. They cited reasons including "timidity" from Republican operatives, "liberal politicians masquerading as conservatives," and a general reluctance among some Republican leadership to engage with the issue 2.
The national pro-family group MassResistance is leading the current push for these resolutions, with field director Arthur Schaper expressing optimism and a commitment to "doubling down on this fight" 2. Schaper plans to reintroduce resolutions in 2026 in states where they were carried this year and aims to expand efforts to additional states like Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, and Kansas 2.
Proponents view these resolutions as a crucial first step, serving to lay out facts, allow legislators to take a stand, and formally alert the Supreme Court of state-level opposition to the Obergefell decision 2. They believe resolutions can pave the way for future legislation and are vital for "starting the conversation" about state sovereignty and the definition of marriage 2.
While recent polling indicates a majority of Republicans oppose same-sex marriage, approximately 41% of Republicans support it 2. Furthermore, about two-thirds of the country's voters as a whole support same-sex marriage, contributing to the difficulty in securing broader legislative backing for these resolutions 2. Lawmakers like South Dakota's Tony Randolph noted concerns among some Republicans about potential public backlash, suggesting that even in "red" states, the political landscape is not as uniformly conservative as it might appear 2.
What is the Church's teaching on the nature of marriage?
The Catholic Church teaches that marriage is a covenant established by God, forming an intimate communion of life and love between a man and a woman , . This covenant is inherently ordered towards the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of children , , .
Marriage is instituted by the Creator with its own special laws , . It is a partnership of the whole of life, established by the irrevocable consent of both spouses who freely give themselves to each other , . Key characteristics of marriage, as willed by God, include sexual complementarity and fruitfulness . The union of a man and a woman is meant to be a participation in God's work of creation, as indicated by the blessing "Be fruitful and multiply" (Gen 1:28) .
For baptized persons, Christ the Lord raised marriage to the dignity of a sacrament , , , . This means that Christian marriage is an efficacious sign of the covenant between Christ and the Church , . It reflects God's everlasting love for His creation and serves as a model for relationships within the Church . The Sacrament of Matrimony is a reality that endures throughout life as long as both husband and wife are alive, creating a bond that cannot be dissolved by any human power .
The Church emphasizes that this singular union of a man and a woman requires complete fidelity from the spouses and the indissoluble unity of the bond . This indissolubility is affirmed by Jesus Christ: "What God has joined together, let no man put asunder" (Mark 10:9) . The union is not primarily of the body, but even more profoundly a union of the heart, its affections, and love .
Marriage is considered the "nursery of Christianity," populating the earth with the faithful until the number of the elect in Heaven is complete . It is a pathway to holiness for all members of a family, and Christian homes are encouraged to be centers of prayer and hospitality . The Sacrament also strengthens couples who receive the gift of children, enabling them to welcome them into the life of faith . The Christian family is called the "domestic Church," a microcosm of the universal Church .
Pope John Paul II stressed the importance of understanding Christian marriage as both a natural institution and a sacramental reality, urging for better pre-marital instruction to form couples in this vocation .