SAN FRANCISCO (BP)--The California Supreme Court May 15 issued a much-anticipated and landmark decision by ordering the state to legalize "gay marriage," making it the second in the nation to do so and also setting up a dramatic cultural and political battle in November, when a constitutional marriage amendment likely will appear on the ballot.
The 4-3 ruling won't fully take effect for 30 days, and pro-family groups were promising to ask the court to stay its decision until citizens vote in November. That marriage amendment, sponsored by the group ProtectMarriage.com, would reverse the court's ruling.
But despite the fact the ruling wasn't yet in effect, same-sex couples in San Francisco and throughout the state celebrated outside courthouses, pledging to get "married" in one month.
The decision was handed down more than four years after Massachusetts' highest court also struck down that state's marriage laws. But the California ruling –- coming in the nation's most populous state –- easily is the biggest win yet for homosexual activists.
The court struck down Proposition 22, a law passed in 2000 to prohibit "gay marriage" and protect the natural definition of marriage. Voters approved it by a margin of 61-39 percent. Read More
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Timeline: 'Gay marriage' decisions
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--Six state supreme courts within the past five years have ruled on the issue of "gay marriage." Following is a timeline of those decisions:
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'Baptism Assistance Project' offered
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)--With nearly half of the 43,000 churches in the Southern Baptist Convention baptizing three or fewer people, according to 2007 statistics, the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, the North American Mission Board and state and local Baptists are partnering to reverse the trend.
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Evangelists ready to boost baptisms
FORT WORTH, Texas (BP)--Some believe the falling number of baptisms in many of the 43,000 churches in the Southern Baptist Convention is partially due to the trend of fewer, shorter or no revival meetings. Some say the full-time vocational evangelist is a dying breed.
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Indy's John Newland is 2nd VP nominee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)--John Newland, senior pastor of Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis, will be nominated for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, John Rogers of Indianapolis announced May 14.
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NARAL endorses Obama, opposes McCain
Longtime music prof Hugh McElrath dies
Pollock services slated Saturday
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