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Showing posts with label Same Sex Marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Same Sex Marriage. Show all posts

Friday, December 19, 2025

Cardinal Dolan Destroys Archdiocese of NY

Cardinal Timothy Dolan: A Tenure Marked by Controversy and Decline in the Archdiocese of New York


 Introduction

Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, born on February 6, 1950, in St. Louis, Missouri, has been a prominent figure in the American Catholic Church for decades. Ordained a priest in 1976, he rose through the ranks, serving as auxiliary bishop of St. Louis, archbishop of Milwaukee from 2002 to 2009, and then as archbishop of New York starting in 2009. Elevated to cardinal in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI, Dolan has been known for his jovial personality, media presence, and efforts to engage with contemporary society. However, his leadership of the Archdiocese of New York, one of the largest and most influential dioceses in the United States, has been fraught with criticisms. Detractors argue that under his watch, the archdiocese has experienced significant decline, marked by church and school closures, mishandling of sexual abuse scandals, liturgical irregularities, discriminatory policies, and a perceived softening on key moral issues. This essay examines these claims, drawing on documented events and statistics to assess how Dolan's tenure may have contributed to what some see as the "ruining" of the archdiocese. Spanning from his installation in 2009 to his retirement in 2025, this period saw profound changes in the Church amid broader societal shifts, including secularization, demographic changes, and legal reforms in New York.


Dolan's arrival in New York was initially met with optimism. He succeeded Cardinal Edward Egan, inheriting a diocese serving approximately 2.8 million Catholics across 296 parishes in Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, and seven upstate counties. The archdiocese boasted a robust network of institutions, including schools, charities, and seminaries. Yet, over the next 16 years, critics contend that Dolan's decisions exacerbated existing challenges, leading to institutional shrinkage and eroded trust among the faithful. This analysis will explore key areas of contention: financial and structural decisions resulting in closures, liturgical affronts, responses to sexual abuse, treatment of whistleblowers, deaconate policies, seminarian declines, stances on social issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, bishop appointments, euthanasia legalization, relations with controversial priests, allowances for gay pride activities in parishes, statistical evidence of decline, public optics issues, and handling of wayward priests. While Dolan has defended his actions as necessary adaptations, the cumulative impact paints a picture of a leadership style that prioritized pragmatism over tradition, alienating conservative Catholics while failing to stem broader losses.


 Church and School Closures Amid Fundraising Appeals

One of the most visible signs of decline under Dolan has been the widespread closure of churches and schools, often justified by financial constraints and shifting demographics. In 2014, Dolan announced a major restructuring plan called "Making All Things New," which merged 110 parishes into 55, effectively closing dozens of worship sites. This move was presented as a way to consolidate resources and better serve the faithful, but it displaced communities and erased historical landmarks. For instance, some churches were shuttered entirely except for occasional events, leaving parishioners without local access to sacraments. Many of these churhces were leveled and turned into apartments. Take St. Augustine, St. Francis of Assisi and Our Lady of Pity in the Bronx as examples.  So the archdiocese became a landlord for tenants instead of a source of faith and hope.  The focus shifted from spirituality to the mundane.  Critics argue this contradicted the spirit of Vatican II's emphasis on community-based worship, as parishes are meant to be vibrant centers of faith life.


School closures have been equally devastating. In 2023, Dolan oversaw the shuttering of 12 Catholic schools in New York City, citing enrollment declines and financial unsustainability. Earlier, in 2018, seven schools were closed, affecting thousands of students and families who relied on these institutions for affordable, values-based education. These decisions came despite annual fundraising efforts like the Cardinal's Annual Stewardship Appeal, which promised to support parishes and schools. Parishes were instructed to promote the appeal, including through videos featuring Dolan, often played during or around Mass times. This practice raised eyebrows, as it interrupted the sacred liturgy, potentially violating Vatican II's Sacrosanctum Concilium, which prohibits additions or removals from the approved rites to preserve the integrity of worship. Such appeals, while common, were seen by some as commercializing the Mass, turning it into a fundraising platform rather than a pure act of devotion. Despite pledges that donations would bolster local institutions, closures continued, leading to accusations that funds were mismanaged or redirected to other priorities, such as legal settlements for abuse claims. Many of the Catholic schools shuttered are not being rented out to the Public School system, again, the archdiocese has become a landlord instead of a source to educate children with faith-filled education. 


The irony is stark: while parishes broadcasted Dolan's messages assuring support for education and community, the archdiocese proceeded with closures, eroding trust. In 2025, amid ongoing economic pressures, more schools faced viability studies, with additional closures announced independently.


 Poor Response to Sexual Abuse Claims

Dolan's handling of sexual abuse allegations has been a flashpoint of criticism, echoing broader Church scandals. Prior to New York, as archbishop of Milwaukee, he authorized payments of up to $20,000 to abusive priests to encourage their departure, a practice experts noted was common but controversial, as it could be seen as hush money. In New York, similar issues arose. In 2018, Dolan released a list of credibly accused clergy, including auxiliary bishop John Jenik, but critics argued this was reactive, coming amid public pressure rather than proactive reform.


The archdiocese faced lawsuits under New York's Child Victims Act, leading to a $300 million fund in 2025 for victims, funded by budget cuts and asset sales. However, groups like the Center for Constitutional Rights condemned Dolan's appointment in 2009, citing his Milwaukee record of failing to report admissions by offenders. In 2018, amid the Pennsylvania grand jury report, Dolan called the scandals a "disaster," but his responses were deemed insufficient by survivors who sought greater transparency and accountability. This perceived leniency fostered a culture where abuse claims were not aggressively pursued, further damaging the archdiocese's reputation and contributing to declining participation.


 Dismissal of Seminarian Whistleblower

A particularly egregious incident involved the dismissal of seminarian Anthony Gorgia who was accepted to St. Joseph's Seminary but was sent to Pontifical North American College in Rome to study. Gorgia reported witnessing a priest kissing another man Pontical North American College (see: https://saveourseminarians.wordpress.com/). Gorgia, a whistleblower, was expelled in 2020, allegedly for "slow progress in human formation," but critics, including commentators like Gene Gomulka, argued it was retaliation for exposing homosexual activity. This case highlighted Dolan's alleged tolerance for misconduct while punishing those who speak out, contradicting Church teachings on integrity in formation. Such actions discouraged reporting, perpetuating a toxic environment in seminaries and contributing to vocational crises. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyCiI5kPTkI)


 Deaconate Policy and Exclusion of the Poor

Dolan's policies for permanent deacons have been criticized for favoring wealthy men over the poor, contradicting Pope Francis's vision of a "Church of the poor for the poor." While the archdiocese's program emphasizes service to the needy, requirements mandate job stability and sufficient income to support families, effectively excluding unemployed or benefit-dependent men. This creates a "club" of affluent deacons, unlike early Church figures like St. Stephen, who served the marginalized and who were poor themselves. By prioritizing an economic test, Dolan's administration overlooked devout men on SNAP or HRA benefits, limiting diversity and authenticity in diaconal ministry. It is no suprised that the majority of permanent deacons are white affluent men, many who are laywers, doctors and businessmen.  


 Decline in Seminarians and Admission Standards

Seminarian numbers plummeted under Dolan, with priests halving since 1970, a trend accelerating in New York. In 2009, the archdiocese had robust enrollment, but by 2025, recruitment efforts yielded mixed results, with fewer ordinations. Critics allege Dolan allowed candidates with neurotic tendencies or homosexual orientations, contrary to Vatican guidelines, though direct evidence is limited.  We only have accounts from other seminarians, priests and parishioners who have witnessed and/or experienced bad behavior. The overall decline reflects broader issues like scandal fatigue and cultural shifts.


 Ignoring Key Social Issues

Dolan has been accused of soft-pedaling on abortion and same-sex marriage. While he lobbied against abortion expansions and criticized the 2019 Reproductive Health Act, some felt his responses were tepid as opposed to the late Cardinal O'Connor who was willing to be arrested to defend life. On same-sex marriage, legalized in 2011, he opposed but admitted the Church was "outmarketed." His decision to allow LGBT groups in the 2015 St. Patrick's Day Parade was seen as capitulation. Under his watch, New York passed extreme abortion laws and, in 2025, legalized euthanasia for terminally ill, with Dolan opposing but critics saying too late. 


 Bishop Appointments and Demographics

Despite Hispanics comprising a growing demographic, Dolan appointed mostly white auxiliaries, with Bishop Joseph Espaillat as a Dominican Latino in 2022, seen by some as tokenism. This overlooked the archdiocese's shifting population, alienating minorities. Where are the African American bishops, the Puerto Rican bishops, the Mexican bishops?


 Softness on Controversial Priests

Dolan was lenient with defrocked priest Frank Pavone, initially supporting before cutting ties in 2014 over financial issues, but not addressing his extremism sooner. With Fr. James Martin, Dolan endorsed his LGBT outreach, sending greetings to conferences.  Martin was never rebuked for his statements and stance that has caused scandal and is in odds with Catholic teaching on homosexuality. 


 Gay Pride in Parishes

Parishes under Dolan hosted pride events, displaying flags and celebrating Masses, seen as endorsing sin.  Such parishes like St. Francis of Assisi and St. Paul in Manhattan are examples.  


 Statistical Shrinkage

In 2009, the archdiocese had around 584 diocesan priests, 296 parishes, and over 200 schools. By 2025, priests numbered fewer at about 236, parishes stabilized at 296 but with mergers, schools dropped to 153 with 50,000 students, reflecting decline. Deacons and religious also decreased, mirroring local trends. At one point the Catholic population in the archdiocese was 2.8 million and is down to 2.6 million. 


 Bad Optics and Personal Conduct

Dolan's photos with Rockettes in revealing attire raised modesty concerns. Anecdotes of invasive embraces made some uncomfortable, though not formally documented as widespread complaints. The cardinal was even mocked on social media for violating the personal space of a religious sister who has a face of discomfort in photos.  He also has a tendency of being too touchy-feely, placing his elbow and weight on the shoulders of otheres and placing his arm around people.  



You can see the video of the Cardinal here with Sister Mary Juan visibly uncomfortable:




Here you can see reaction from Catholics and non-Catholics who felt the cardinal oversteeped persaonal bounderies with the religious sister:




 Lack of Response to Wayward Priests

In the Miqueli scandal, Dolan was accused of knowing about embezzlement and misconduct but responding slowly, with clergy covering up. Parishoners at St. Frances de Chantal had to organize themselves to seek justice from the alleged theft and sexual coverup.  Miqueli would die years later at his home in New Jersey where he allegedly lived with a muscular boyfriend without any punishment.  See: Facebook


Other controversies

Other controversies surrounding Dolan are the funeral for a trans activist that was done without proper vetting. The "canonization" of Charlie Kirk by Dolan who compared him to St. Paul bringing the Sister of Charity to condemn his statement (see: Sisters of Charity nuns criticize Cardinal Dolan's comments likening Charlie Kirk to a saint).  The lack of response regarding the Met Gala where Catholic vestments were mimicked and displayed in vulgar manners.

 Dolan vs Hispanic Catholics in Yonkers

In a controversial move just before his replacement as Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan issued a new decree aiming to merge or effectively close St. Mary’s Church (Church of the Immaculate Conception) in Yonkers, the city's oldest Roman Catholic parish founded in 1848. This decree revives a previous attempt that was successfully appealed by the largely Hispanic parishioners to the Vatican, resulting in a rare revocation—the first for the New York Archdiocese and only the ninth in modern U.S. Catholic history. Despite the Vatican's restoration of the parish, Dolan had refused to appoint a pastor, and the new decree eliminates Spanish-language masses while citing demographic shifts like "white flight to the suburbs" alongside increased Hispanic immigration. The church, operating at 80% capacity, has long served as a vital resource for immigrants, providing food, clothing, and outreach.

The article here (Cardinal Dolan Takes a Final Shot at Yonkers and its Hispanic Community | Yonkers Times) portrays Dolan's action as a parting affront to Yonkers and its Hispanic community, highlighting a history of tension, including a dismissed Archdiocese lawsuit against the city after it granted the church landmark status. Parishioners, supported by groups like St. Mary’s Friends, Inc., plan to appeal the latest decree to the Vatican again, questioning its validity under Canon Law. This comes amid broader changes, with Pope Leo XIV replacing Dolan with Bishop Ronald Hicks effective February 2026, and the new pope's vocal criticism of U.S. immigration policies contrasting with Dolan's perceived silence on the issue.

Conclusion

Dolan's tenure, ending in 2025, left the Archdiocese of New York smaller and more divided. While he navigated complex challenges, criticisms of mismanagement, moral compromises, and institutional losses suggest a legacy of decline. His successor faces the task of rebuilding.



 References and Sources


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78. NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade Finally Ends Discriminatory Ban on… - https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/nyc-st-patricks-day-parade-finally-ends-discriminatory-ban-on-lgbt-groups


79. Cardinal backs St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee as gay ban is lifted - https://www.catholicsun.org/2014/09/03/cardinal-backs-st-patricks-day-parade-committee-as-gay-ban-is-lifted/


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82. Catholics battle over inclusion of LGBT groups in St. Patrick's Day ... - https://uscatholic.org/news_item/catholics-battle-over-inclusion-of-lgbt-groups-in-st-patricks-day-celebrations/


83. NY bishops 'extraordinarily troubled' by Gov. Hochul's decision to ... - https://www.osvnews.com/ny-bishops-extraordinarily-troubled-by-gov-hochuls-decision-to-legalize-assisted-suicide/


84. NY bishops 'extraordinarily troubled' by Gov. Hochul's decision to ... - https://www.americamagazine.org/news/2025/12/18/new-york-bishops-assisted-suicide-hochul/


85. NYS Bishops' Statement on Gov. Hochul's Plan to Sign Assisted ... - https://www.nyscatholic.org/posts/nys-bishops-statement-gov-hochuls-plan-sign-assisted-suicide-bill


86. Cardinal Dolan urges New York lawmakers: 'Prevent, don't assist ... - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/264451/cardinal-timothy-dolan-urges-new-york-lawmakers-prevent-dont-assist-suicide-in-op-ed


87. Timothy Cardinal Dolan and the Bishops of New York State released ... - https://www.facebook.com/thegnewsroom/posts/timothy-cardinal-dolan-and-the-bishops-of-new-york-state-released-a-statement-af/1466594972137651/


88. NY bishops 'extraordinarily troubled' by Gov. Hochul's decision to ... - https://www.ncronline.org/news/ny-bishops-extraordinarily-troubled-gov-hochuls-decision-legalize-assisted-suicide


89. Statement of Cardinal Dolan and the NYS Bishops on State ... - https://archny.org/statement-of-cardinal-dolan-and-the-nys-bishops-on-state-sanctioned-suicide-bill/


90. New York Catholic bishops denounce governor's decision to ... - https://catholicvote.org/new-york-catholic-bishops-denounce-governors-decision-to-legalize-physician-assisted-suicide/


91. Cardinal Dolan slams NY assisted suicide bill that turns 'healers into ... - https://thecatholicherald.com/new-york-cardinal-opposes-state-sanctioned-assisted-suicide


92. Cardinal Dolan: New York Suicide Bill a 'Terrible Idea,' Turns ... - https://www.ncregister.com/cna/cardinal-dolan-says-cardinal-dolan-new-york-suicide-bill-turns-doctors-into-killers


93. Cardinal Timothy Dolan cuts ties with anti-abortion crusader Frank ... - https://www.ncronline.org/news/parish/cardinal-timothy-dolan-cuts-ties-anti-abortion-crusader-frank-pavone


94. Cardinal Timothy Dolan cuts ties with anti-abortion crusader Frank ... - https://www.reddit.com/r/Catholicism/comments/2ph7rd/cardinal_timothy_dolan_cuts_ties_with/


95. Legionaries of Christ reverse decision to honor Father Frank Pavone ... - https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2021/01/14/legionaries-christ-reverse-honor-father-frank-pavone-239725/


96. Cardinal Dolan Severs Ties With Fr. Frank Pavone's Priests For Life - https://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2014/12/cardinal-dolan-severs-ties-with-fr-frank-pavones-priests-for-life/


97. Cardinal cuts ties with Priests for Life, says reforms in group needed ... - https://catholicphilly.com/2014/12/news/national-news/cardinal-cuts-ties-with-priests-for-life-says-reforms-in-group-needed/


98. The Vatican's action against Frank Pavone: overdue yet unexplained - https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/vaticans-action-against-frank-pavone-overdue-yet-unexplained/


99. A Catholic priest put an aborted fetus on the altar in an appeal for ... - https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2016/11/07/a-catholic-priest-put-an-aborted-fetus-on-the-altar-in-an-appeal-for-donald-trump/


100. [PDF] Bishop Zurek's “Never” and “Now” Pro-life Leader Frank Pavone - https://frankpavone.com/pdf/neverandnow.pdf


101. Priests for Life head says Vatican didn't tell him directly he was laicized - https://catholicreview.org/priests-for-life-head-says-vatican-didnt-tell-him-directly-he-was-laicized/


102. Cardinal Timothy Dolan cuts ties with anti-abortion crusader Frank ... - https://www.bishop-accountability.org/2014/12/cardinal-timothy-dolan-cuts-ties-with-anti-abortion-crusader-frank-pavone/


103. Bishop John P. Dolan to LGBTQ Catholics: "I wish to reaffirm your ... - https://outreach.faith/2023/07/bishop-john-p-dolan-to-lgbtq-catholics-i-wish-to-reaffirm-your-sacred-identity/


104. Father James Martin: My experience at the Synod - Outreach.faith - https://outreach.faith/2023/10/father-james-martin-my-experience-at-the-synod/


105. Pope Francis, Cardinal Dolan send greetings to Father Martin's ... - https://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=59030


106. Cardinal Dolan: All Are Welcome, But. . . - New Ways Ministry - https://www.newwaysministry.org/2013/04/26/cardinal-dolan-all-are-welcome-but/


107. Cardinal Dolan endorses Fr. James Martin's new LGBT activism group - https://www.christianforums.com/threads/cardinal-dolan-endorses-fr-james-martin%25E2%2580%2599s-new-lgbt-activism-group.8253723/


108. Father James Martin Explains His Vision Regarding 'LGBT' Catholics - https://www.ncregister.com/news/father-james-martin-explains-his-vision-regarding-lgbt-catholics


109. Fr. James Martin, SJ - Timothy Cardinal Dolan greets priests from ... - https://www.facebook.com/FrJamesMartin/photos/a.10154720793656496/10154720794741496/?id=46899546495


110. Why is someone like James Martin not reprimanded? (see his recent ... - https://www.reddit.com/r/Catholicism/comments/141nu43/why_is_someone_like_james_martin_not_reprimanded/


111. New executive director joins outreach initiative for LGBTQ Catholics - https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2024/02/06/jesuits-outreach-james-martin-247182/


112. Father James Martin Chosen by Pope to Participate in Synod at ... - https://thetablet.org/father-james-martin-chosen-by-pope-to-participate-in-synod-at-vatican/


113. New York Priest Celebrates 'Pride Mass' Outside of Gay Monument - https://www.ncregister.com/news/pride-mass-stonewall-lgbt-catholic-church-new-york


114. mass-during-citys-pride- weekend/?utm_source=lsncathfb - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SignoftheCrossMedia/posts/traditional-catholics-pushback-against-new-york-catholic-parish-offering-lgbt-ma/1025054396490509/


115. New York Priest Celebrates 'Pride Mass' Outside of Gay Monument ... - https://www.reddit.com/r/Catholicism/comments/1drd11u/new_york_priest_celebrates_pride_mass_outside_of/


116. Gay groups in St. Patrick's parade all right with Cardinal Dolan - https://www.ncronline.org/news/people/gay-groups-st-patricks-parade-all-right-cardinal-dolan


117. Catholic Gay Pride Banner Controversy - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQMk_bME5R8


118. Gay Catholics & Catholic Lesbians – Church of St. Francis Xavier, NY - https://sites.bc.edu/here-to-stay/gay-catholics-catholic-lesbians-church-of-st-francis-xavier-ny/


119. NY cardinal: Parade decision is matter of gay identity vs action - https://angelusnews.com/local/la-catholics/ny-cardinal-parade-decision-is-matter-of-gay-identity-vs-action/


120. Video: LGBTQ Catholics celebrate Mass outside Stonewall Inn - https://religionunplugged.com/news/2019/6/28/lgbtq-catholics-celebrate-mass-outside-stonewall-inn


121. Waving Rainbow Flags at Pride Mass in NYC - Joseph Sciambra - https://josephsciambra.com/waving-rainbow-flags-at-pride-mass-in-nyc/


122. N.Y. cardinal's support for gays in parade irks conservatives - https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/faith/2014/09/05/n-y-cardinal-s-support/23587272007/


123. Cardinal Dolan's legacy at retirement: 'The ultimate happy warrior of ... - https://nypost.com/2025/12/18/us-news/cardinal-dolans-legacy-at-retirement-the-ultimate-happy-warrior-of-the-catholic-church/


124. My friend Timothy Cardinal Dolan was a gift to this city - https://www.aol.com/articles/friend-timothy-cardinal-dolan-gift-214558932.html


125. Cardinal Dolan's legacy at retirement: 'The ultimate happy warrior of ... - https://nypost.com/2025/12/18/us-news/cardinal-dolans-legacy-at-retirement-the-ultimate-happy-warrior-of-the-catholic-church/?utm_campaign=nypost&utm_medium=referral


126. Cardinal Dolan leaves behind a legacy of compassion and a ... - https://www.aol.com/articles/cardinal-dolan-leaves-behind-legacy-222132873.html


127. Radio City Rockettes lead biblical animals through the streets of NYC - https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12704049/Christmas-Radio-City-Rockettes-animals-NYC-blessed.html


128. Card. Dolan dances with the Rockettes - Tradition In Action - https://www.traditioninaction.org/RevolutionPhotos/A741-Rockettes.htm


129. Cardinal Dolan, menagerie bless Radio City's Christmas show - https://pagesix.com/2019/11/05/cardinal-dolan-menagerie-bless-radio-citys-christmas-show/


130. Timothy Cardinal Dolan added a... - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TimothyCardinalDolan/photos/d41d8cd9/417425626497429/


131. 39 Photos & High Res Pictures - Getty Images - https://www.gettyimages.com/editorial-images/entertainment/event/cardinal-dolan-blesses-the-christmas-spectacular-starring-the-radio-city-rockettes-living-nativity-animals/776229052


132. About - Archdiocese of New York - https://archny.org/about/


133. Archdiocese announces the closing of North Catholic and Cardinal ... - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1434456940102314/posts/2484012678480063/


134. For Catholic Schools, Crisis and Catharsis - The New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/education/18catholic.html


135. Dolan's first year tending New York Catholics - https://nypost.com/2010/04/04/dolans-first-year-tending-new-york-catholics/


136. Category Browse | Data Archive - https://www.thearda.com/data-archive/browse-categories?cid=C-B-B-C


137. [PDF] The Archdiocese Of New York: Transition From Urban Powerhouse ... - https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2141&context=gc_etds


138. Archdiocese of New York - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archdiocese_of_New_York


139. Pope Leo replaces New York's Cardinal Dolan in shake-up of US ... - https://wkzo.com/2025/12/18/pope-leo-replaces-new-yorks-cardinal-dolan-in-shake-up-of-us-church/


140. Ronald Hicks, the new archbishop of of New York, has a ... - NPR - https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5648171


141. Making All Things New Decisions Announced - https://archny.org/making-all-things-new-decisions-announced/


142. A second woman has accused ACNA Archbishop Steve Wood of ... - https://www.facebook.com/ReligionNewsSvc/posts/a-second-woman-has-accused-acna-archbishop-steve-wood-of-sexual-harassment-addin/1451740136954542/


143. Robert S. v New York Archdiocese :: 2025 - Justia Law - https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2025/2025-ny-slip-op-51293-u.html


144. 5 things to know for Dec. 9: Supreme Court, Boat strikes, Clergy ... - https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/09/us/5-things-to-know-for-dec-9-supreme-court-boat-strikes-clergy-abuse-japan-earthquake-jimmy-kimmel


145. The Archdiocese of New York said it was raising $300 million as it ... - https://www.facebook.com/nytimes/posts/breaking-news-the-archdiocese-of-new-york-said-it-was-raising-300-million-as-it-/1246227940693000/


146. New York archdiocese could get priest sex abuse czar - NBC News - https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/independent-investigator-recommends-catholic-church-s-archdiocese-new-york-hire-n1060356


147. The U.S. Moves to End Gender-Related Care for Minors - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/briefing/trump-gender-related-treatments-brown-shooting-investigation.html


148. AP News Summary at 8:21 a.m. EST | National News | wdrb.com - https://www.wdrb.com/news/national/ap-news-summary-at-8-21-a-m-est/article_d333733c-43b8-5f6d-9404-d30016643888.html


149. AP News Summary at 12:32 p.m. EST | National | wandtv.com - https://www.wandtv.com/news/national/ap-news-summary-at-12-32-p-m-est/article_a59f12a5-5dd4-5b70-8dce-b61b29627e08.html


150. AP News Summary at 12:20 p.m. EST - Mankato Free Press - https://www.mankatofreepress.com/news/state_national_news/ap-news-summary-at-12-20-p-m-est/article_7f76019b-7ee8-5459-8011-845754192935.html


151. Tag: Texas - NBC 5 Chicago - https://www.nbcchicago.com/tag/texas/


152. Bronx priest steps down after allegations of stealing money for drug ... - https://abc7ny.com/post/bronx-priest-steps-down-after-allegations-of-stealing-money-for-drug-fueled-lifestyle/1121155/


153. Catholic Church Faces Another Scandal - Dumas & Vaughn - https://dumasandvaughn.com/1527/


154. NY Archdiocese Responds to Allegations of Priest's Scandalous ... - https://www.ncregister.com/news/ny-archdiocese-responds-to-allegations-of-priest-s-scandalous-actions


155. Priest Accused of Using Donations for S&M Kink - https://www.courthousenews.com/priest-accused-of-using-donations-for-sm-kink/


156. Former Staten Island priest once accused of “sex-master” antics now ... - https://www.silive.com/news/2019/03/former-si-priest-once-accused-of-sex-master-antics-now-suspended-by-catholic-church.html


157. Bronx parish pastor resigns amid widely publicized scandal - https://www.ncronline.org/bronx-parish-pastor-resigns-amid-widely-publicized-scandal


158. NY Archdiocese clergy covered for priest who allegedly stole $1M - https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2020/10/20/ny-archdiocese-covered-priest-who-allegedly-stole-1-m-investigation-finds/5868491002/


159. Another Catholic Scandal? | HuffPost Religion - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/another-catholic-scandal_b_8837572


160. Exclusive Tell-all Interview—nyc Gay Priest Embezzlement Scandal - https://www.bishop-accountability.org/news2016/03_04/2016_03_05_ChurchMilitant_ExclusiveTellall.htm


161. Disgraced ex-Bronx priest cleared of charges of using $1M in church ... - https://www.nydailynews.com/2017/10/30/disgraced-ex-bronx-priest-cleared-of-charges-of-using-1m-in-church-funds-for-sm-sex/


162. New NY archbishop — a Chicago priest, missionary, bridge builder - https://www.ncronline.org/news/new-ny-archbishop-chicago-priest-missionary-bridge-builder-reflects-pope-leos-style


163. Pope's naming of New York archbishop signals continued challenge ... - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/18/pope-new-york-archbishop-trump-immigration


164. Pope replaces New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan with little-known ... - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/pope-replaces-yorks-cardinal-timothy-125346143.html


165. Pope Leo appoints pro-migrant archbishop of New York, signaling ... - https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/18/us/ronald-hicks-pope-archbishop-new-york-intl


166. Pope Leo Appoints Bishop Ronald Hicks to Succeed Timothy Dolan - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/us/bishop-ronald-hicks-cardinal-timothy-dolan-archbishop-new-york.html


167. Pope Leo appoints pro-migrant archbishop of New York, signaling ... - https://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/comments/1ppo9rs/pope_leo_appoints_promigrant_archbishop_of_new/


168. Pope Leo replaces Cardinal Dolan with a not-so-popular Illinois ... - https://m.economictimes.com/news/international/us/pope-leo-replaces-cardinal-dolan-with-a-not-so-popular-illinois-bishop-who-is-this-new-archbishop-of-new-york/articleshow/126059308.cms


169. Pope Leo Names Pro-Migrant Archbishop for New York ... - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aYNbpkNWiE


170. Pope replaces Dolan with Spanish-speaking bishop in New York - https://www.axios.com/2025/12/18/pope-leo-hicks-new-york-archbishop-cardinal-dolan


171. Pope replaces New York's Cardinal Dolan with pro-migrant bishop - https://www.vtcng.com/state_and_world/world_news/pope-replaces-new-yorks-cardinal-dolan-with-pro-migrant-bishop/article_ebfef005-033e-57a9-9fc0-bb72c1d2c829.html


172. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2025/12/archdiocese-of-ny-300-million-abuse.html


173. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2025/09/deification-of-charlie-kirk-blasphemy.html


174. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2025/01/cardinal-dolan-vs-vp-vance.html


175. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2024/02/trans-funeral-organizer-we-want-apology.html


176. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2024/02/trans-desecrate-st-patricks-cathedral.html


177. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2018/05/met-gala-heavenly-bodies-fashion-and.html


178. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2016/01/alleged-pee-drinking-gay-priest-spotted_19.html


179. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2015/12/50-shades-of-pray-priest-hunk-dolan-oh.html


180. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2014/12/rogue-priest.html


181. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2014/09/cardinal-dolan-parade-gays-my-thoughts.html


182. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2014/09/catholic-league-out.html


183. https://www.sacerdotus.com/2014/09/rainbow-beats-green.html


184. Cardinal Dolan Takes a Final Shot at Yonkers and its Hispanic Community | Yonkers Times

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Wednesday, November 12, 2025

The Silent Shepherds: Bishop Strickland's Cry in the Wilderness and the Fractured Voice of the American Episcopate

The Silent Shepherds: Bishop Strickland's Cry in the Wilderness and the Fractured Voice of the American Episcopate

In the grand halls of the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, where the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) convened its fall general assembly on November 11-14, 2025, a moment unfolded that encapsulated the profound tensions roiling within the Catholic Church in America. Bishop Joseph Strickland, the emeritus bishop of Tyler, Texas—removed from his see by Pope Francis in 2023 for his unyielding fidelity to traditional doctrine—rose to speak. His voice, steady yet laced with urgency, cut through the chamber as he addressed a scandal that had ignited fury among faithful Catholics: the recent confirmation of ABC news anchor Gio Benitez, who lives openly in a same-sex "marriage," overseen by none other than the prominent Jesuit priest Fr. James Martin, SJ. Strickland's intervention lasted barely 47 seconds, a fleeting plea for his brother bishops to confront this public defiance of Church teaching. But in a scene that will haunt the annals of ecclesiastical history, his words were met not with debate, not with affirmation, not even with rebuke—but with silence. The chair moved swiftly to the next agenda item, as if the emperor's new clothes had never been mentioned at all.

This was no isolated slight. It was the latest chapter in a saga of marginalization for Strickland, a bishop who has become a lightning rod for those yearning for doctrinal clarity amid a sea of ambiguity. His brief remarks—"I don't know how many of us have seen on social media... Priests and others gathered, celebrating the confirmation of a man living with a man openly. And it just needs to be addressed... We need to address this"—echoed the frustrations of countless laity who see in such events not pastoral outreach, but a betrayal of the sacred deposit of faith. The confirmation rite, held in New York under the auspices of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, featured Fr. Martin alongside the pastor, Fr. Eric Andrews, a Paulist priest, administering the sacrament to Benitez in what appeared to be a jubilant affirmation of his lifestyle. Social media footage showed the group posing triumphantly before the Blessed Sacrament, a visual that struck many as a mockery of the very Eucharist it purported to honor.

Strickland's courage in naming this elephant in the room—Fr. Martin's role in what he and others perceive as a normalization of grave sin—deserves not just admiration, but emulation. Yet, his brother bishops, ensconced in their collars and crosiers, chose the path of least resistance: indifference. This is not mere oversight; it is a symptom of a deeper malaise, a disconnect between the shepherds and the immutable teachings of the Church they are sworn to guard. In an era when the world clamors for the Church to bend to cultural winds, moments like this reveal a hierarchy adrift, torn between the timeless truth of Christ and the fleeting applause of modernity. This blog post delves into that chasm, exploring the event itself, the unyielding doctrine it contravenes, the figure of Fr. Martin at its epicenter, and the cognitive dissonance that plagues the faithful. At its heart lies a simple truth: Bishop Strickland was not just brave; he was right. And in ignoring him, the USCCB has ignored not only him, but the voice of the Church eternal.


 The Incident: A Confirmation That Confounds the Faithful

To understand the gravity of Strickland's intervention, one must first grasp the provocation. Gio Benitez, a well-known face on Good Morning America, entered the Catholic Church through a rite of confirmation on All Saints' Day, November 1, 2025, at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Manhattan. The ceremony was no quiet affair; it was livestreamed and shared widely, drawing cheers from progressive Catholic circles and outrage from traditionalists. Benitez, married to his husband since 2022, received the sacrament from Fr. Andrews, with Fr. James Martin—perhaps the most visible advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the American Church—present and participating in the celebration. The group, including Martin, later received Holy Communion, posing for photos that framed the moment as a triumph of "inclusion."

For Catholics steeped in the faith, this was seismic. Confirmation is not a mere formality; it is a sacrament that seals the Christian with the Holy Spirit, strengthening them for witness to the Gospel. To administer it to someone in a public state of objective mortal sin—living in a same-sex union that the Church deems gravely disordered—without any apparent call to repentance, strikes at the core of sacramental integrity. Canon Law is unequivocal: those who obstinately persist in manifest grave sin may not be admitted to the sacraments (Canon 915). Yet here, in the heart of Dolan's archdiocese, the rite proceeded, blessed by priests who have made inclusion their banner.

Bishop Strickland, attending the USCCB meeting as a bishop emeritus with full rights to speak, could no longer hold his peace. During a discussion on pastoral priorities, he seized the floor. His words were measured, almost plaintive: a reference to the viral images, a nod to the priests involved, and a direct challenge: "We need to address this." The chamber fell quiet. No bishop rose in support. No one invoked doctrine. Instead, Bishop James Massa interjected with an "infomercial" about a faith and science symposium, and Archbishop Timothy Broglio, presiding, pivoted seamlessly to immigration messaging. It was as if Strickland had spoken in tongues.

This snub was not lost on observers. Social media erupted, with faithful Catholics decrying the "cowardice" of the assembly. "Bishop Strickland is the only one with a spine," tweeted one prominent lay commentator. Videos of the moment spread like wildfire, amassing millions of views and fueling podcasts, articles, and homilies across the traditional Catholic world. For many, it recalled Strickland's earlier prophetic stands: his 2018 USCCB floor speech questioning why bishops allowed priests to contradict Church teaching on homosexuality (widely seen as aimed at Martin), or his 2023 removal by Pope Francis after years of outspoken criticism of perceived heterodoxy. In Baltimore, history repeated, but with a crueler twist—the lone voice silenced not by expulsion, but by erasure.

Why did this happen? The answer lies in the uncomfortable reality of episcopal collegiality in crisis. The USCCB, meant to be a synod of successors to the apostles, has increasingly functioned as a bureaucratic machine, prioritizing consensus over confrontation. To address the Benitez confirmation would mean scrutinizing Dolan's oversight, Martin's influence, and the broader drift toward accommodation. Easier to let it slide, to focus on safer topics like synodality or climate. But in doing so, the bishops forfeit their mandate. As St. Augustine warned, "Bad shepherds drive out the flock." And the flock is watching, wounded and wandering.


 The Church's Unchanging Teaching: A Rock Amid Shifting Sands

At the root of this scandal is a fundamental rupture: the chasm between eternal doctrine and ephemeral practice. The Catholic Church has spoken with crystalline clarity on homosexuality for millennia, rooted in Scripture, Tradition, and natural law. Homosexual acts are not a matter of opinion or cultural evolution; they are "intrinsically disordered," a phrase that, while jarring to modern ears, encapsulates a profound anthropological truth.

The foundational text is the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), promulgated by St. John Paul II in 1992 and reaffirmed under subsequent pontiffs. Paragraph 2357 states: "Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that 'homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered.' They are contrary to the natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. Under no circumstances can they be approved." This is no innovation; it echoes the Bible's witness—from the destruction of Sodom (Genesis 19:1-11) to St. Paul's condemnation of same-sex relations as contrary to God's design (Romans 1:24-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:10).

Earlier magisterial documents reinforce this. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's 1975 Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics (Persona Humana) affirms that "homosexual activity is not a complementary union" but "deprives human sexuality of its essential subordination to the welfare of the children." The 1986 Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons) doubles down: "Although the particular inclination of the homosexual person is not a sin, it is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as objectively disordered." These acts, it warns, "can never be approved" and lead to a "grave depravity."

Even Pope Francis, often caricatured as a revolutionary, upholds this in Amoris Laetitia (2016), paragraph 250: "The Church furthermore affirms that unions between people of the same sex cannot be considered on the same footing as matrimony between man and woman." His 2023 response to the dubia of five cardinals reiterated that the Church cannot bless "irregular" unions, as blessings presuppose alignment with God's will. The 2021 Responsa ad dubia from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith clarified that blessings for same-sex couples must not resemble sacramental rites, lest they imply approval.

This teaching is not born of animus but of a vision of human flourishing: sexuality as a divine gift ordered to spousal love and procreation, mirroring the Trinity's self-giving communion. To call it "disordered" is to say it deviates from this telos, much as a misfiring engine deviates from its purpose. Persons with same-sex attraction—whom the Church calls to chastity and respect (CCC 2358-2359)—are not condemned but invited to heroic virtue, uniting their trials to Christ's cross. Yet, when sacraments are administered without repentance, this merciful call becomes a snare.

The Benitez confirmation flouts this. By confirming a man in a public same-sex union, the rite implicitly endorses the union as consonant with faith—a contradiction in terms. Strickland's plea was a defense of this doctrine, urging bishops to reaffirm what the Church has always taught. Their silence? A tacit permission for confusion.


 Fr. James Martin: Bridge-Builder or Demolisher?

No figure embodies this disconnect more than Fr. James Martin, SJ, whose ministry has made him a celebrity in Catholic and secular media alike. Ordained in 1999, Martin rose through Jesuit ranks as a writer and editor for America magazine, blending humor, social justice, and a folksy style that endeared him to many. But it was his 2017 book Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity that catapulted him to prominence—and controversy. The tome, inspired by Pope Francis's "Who am I to judge?" remark, calls for dialogue, using language from CCC 2358 to advocate "respect, compassion, and sensitivity." Yet, critics argue, it omits the crucial caveats: the intrinsic disorder of acts and the call to chastity.

Martin's influence peaked under Francis, who appointed him a Vatican communications consultant in 2017. He has keynoted synods, advised on LGBTQ+ outreach, and amassed over 300,000 Twitter followers. His Outreach initiative, launched in 2022 under the Jesuit conference, aims to support LGBTQ+ Catholics, hosting conferences with speakers like Bishop John Stowe and Sr. Jeannine Gramick—figures who have faced Vatican scrutiny for blurring doctrinal lines.

In the Benitez case, Martin's presence was emblematic. Photos show him beaming alongside the confirmand, his social media posts framing the event as a "joyful" milestone. For supporters, this is mercy incarnate; for detractors, it's a sleight of hand, elevating accompaniment over conversion. Strickland has long targeted Martin: In 2018, at the USCCB, he decried bishops hosting priests who "do not believe" the Church's teaching on homosexuality. In 2021, he urged Martin to preach the "full message" at an LGBTQ+ retreat. And in 2023, post-removal, Strickland called Martin's Pride Month tweets "sacrilegious."

Martin's defenders decry this as homophobia, but the charge rings hollow. Strickland affirms the dignity of all, including those with same-sex attraction. His ire is for Martin's selective catechesis: emphasizing welcome while eliding sin and repentance. This is no minor omission; it fosters the very scandal that drove McCarrick's downfall and the abuse crisis. When a priest like Martin—blessed with platforms denied to most—presents homosexual unions as normative, he sows seeds of heresy. The Church's documents demand more: truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

Martin's arc mirrors the broader progressive wing: earnest intent, but at the cost of fidelity. His bridge, intended to span divides, has become a ramp to relativism, where doctrine dissolves into dialogue. Strickland's confrontation was a call to rebuild on rock, not sand.


 The Great Disconnect: Bishops Adrift from the Barque of Peter

The USCCB's silence on Strickland's plea reveals a profound disconnect: bishops, ordained to teach, sanctify, and govern, increasingly prioritize image over integrity. This is not new—recall the 2018 Pennsylvania grand jury report exposing abuse cover-ups, or the McCarrick scandal that implicated the hierarchy's complicity. Yet, on homosexuality, the fracture is acute. While laity polls show 60-70% of U.S. Catholics support same-sex "marriage" (Pew, 2023), the Magisterium stands firm. Bishops, caught between Gallup and the Gospel, opt for ambiguity.

Consider the landscape: Progressive prelates like Cardinals Cupich and McElroy push "inclusion" initiatives, hosting LGBTQ+ Masses that skirt canonical boundaries. Traditional voices like Strickland or Bishop Thomas Paprocki issue clarion calls, only to be sidelined. The 2021-2024 Synod on Synodality amplified this, with U.S. reports urging "LGBTQ+ inclusion" without doctrinal qualifiers. Meanwhile, Vatican documents like Fiducia Supplicans (2023) permit non-liturgical blessings for couples—promptly twisted to "bless" unions, despite clarifications.

This disconnect breeds hypocrisy. Bishops decry abortion (rightly) but hesitate on sodomy; they champion migrants but ignore the spiritual peril of unchaste unions. The result? A Church that preaches justice abroad while tolerating injustice at home. As the 1986 CDF letter warned, "Special concern and pastoral attention should be directed toward those who promote an unacceptable concept of the homosexual person and homosexual union."

Strickland embodies the alternative: a bishop who, like Athanasius contra mundum, stands alone if need be. His 2024 open letter outside the USCCB—"What will it take for more than a few bishops to finally speak up?"—echoes this. Removed for "reckless" criticism, he remains a bishop, his pectoral cross a symbol of undimmed authority.


 Cognitive Dissonance: The Faithful in Turmoil

For the average Catholic, this is no abstract debate—it's existential agony. We are taught in catechism class, confirmed in youth group, that homosexuality is intrinsically disordered, acts gravely sinful. Yet, Sunday homilies laud "love is love," and Fr. Martin tweets rainbows over the Sacred Heart. Parishes host "Pride" events; schools fly flags contradicting Persona Humana. The dissonance is deafening: How can the Church that birthed saints like Catherine of Siena now bless what it once condemned?

This hypocrisy erodes trust. A 2024 CARA study found 40% of young Catholics view the Church as "unwelcoming" to LGBTQ+ persons—not for doctrine, but for perceived judgment. Yet, the real wound is inversion: doctrine becomes "hate," mercy "license." Faithful families grapple: How to affirm a child's dignity while upholding truth? Converts like Benitez enter amid fanfare, but without the full Gospel, they risk eternal peril.

Psychologically, it's trauma. Cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger, 1957) explains the strain: conflicting beliefs breed anxiety, resolved by rationalization or rejection. Many resolve by leaving—U.S. Catholic retention hovers at 30% (Georgetown, 2023). Others cling, like the 200 who rallied with Strickland in 2023, praying rosaries outside the Marriott.

The hypocrisy peaks in sacraments: Confirmation for the unrepentant, Communion for the "married" gay man. This isn't inclusion; it's profanation, echoing Judas's kiss.


 Bishop Strickland: Prophet in Exile

Amid this fog, Bishop Strickland shines. Born in 1958 in Texas, ordained in 1985, he shepherded Tyler for 14 years with zeal: building schools, fostering vocations, tweeting truth bombs. His 2023 removal—after backing Vigano's accusations and decrying "false messages" from Rome—made him a martyr for orthodoxy. Yet, he persists: leading rosaries, writing letters, confronting at USCCB.

In Baltimore 2025, his 47 seconds were prophetic, echoing Elijah's solitude (1 Kings 19). Brave? Undeniably—he risked further isolation. Right? Absolutely, as canonists note: such confirmations demand investigation. His fidelity honors the apostles' charge: "Guard what has been entrusted to you" (1 Timothy 6:20).

Strickland's example calls all: laity to pray, priests to preach, bishops to lead. As he told LifeSite in 2021, "It's not 'my truth' but Jesus'."


 A Call to Renewal: Rebuilding on the Rock

The USCCB's silence is a clarion call for renewal. Bishops must reclaim their voice, enforcing canon law with charity. Pope Francis's call for "synodality" demands listening—to doctrine first. Laity, emboldened by Strickland, must demand accountability: petitions, rallies, faithful voting.

Ultimately, hope lies in Christ, who promised the gates of hell shall not prevail (Matthew 16:18). The Church is holy, not despite sinners, but through them—purified in fire. May Strickland's cry awaken sleeping shepherds, mending the disconnect, healing dissonance, restoring hypocrisy to humility.

In the words of St. John Henry Newman: "To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often." But change without truth is chaos. Let us pray for bishops who change the world by unchanging fidelity.




 References


- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition (Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997), paragraphs 2357-2359.

- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Persona Humana: Declaration on Certain Questions Concerning Sexual Ethics (Vatican, December 29, 1975).

- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (Vatican, October 1, 1986).

- Pope Francis, Amoris Laetitia (Vatican, March 19, 2016), paragraph 250.

- Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Responsa ad dubia on the blessing of same-sex unions (Vatican, October 21, 2021).

- United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Fall General Assembly Minutes, Baltimore, MD, November 11-14, 2025 (unofficial transcripts from attendee reports).

- Catholic News Agency, "Ousted Bishop Strickland Leads Rosary Outside USCCB Meeting," November 13, 2025.

- LifeSiteNews, "Bishop Strickland Stands Up at USCCB: Calls Out Fr. James Martin," November 12, 2025.

- Michael Haynes, Twitter post, November 12, 2025.

- AKA Catholic, "Where Have All the Heroes Gone?" November 13, 2025.

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Thursday, June 26, 2025

The 10-Year Anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges: Reflecting on the Case, Its Ramifications, and the Case for Reversal

The 10-Year Anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges: Reflecting on the Case, Its Ramifications, and the Case for Reversal

On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark 5-4 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide by ruling that state bans on such unions violated the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. As we mark the 10-year anniversary of this decision in 2025, it’s an opportune moment to revisit the case, analyze its societal and legal impacts, and argue why it should be reconsidered, both from a legal perspective and through the lens of Catholic Church teachings, which hold that marriage is an immutable institution between one man and one woman.
The Case: Obergefell v. Hodges
Obergefell v. Hodges consolidated lawsuits from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee, where same-sex couples challenged state bans on marriage or the recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages. The lead plaintiff, Jim Obergefell, sought to have his Maryland marriage to John Arthur recognized on Arthur’s Ohio death certificate after Arthur’s death from ALS. Ohio’s ban on same-sex marriage, enacted by voters in 2004, prevented this recognition. Similar issues arose in other states, where couples argued that denying marriage licenses or recognition violated their constitutional rights.
The Supreme Court, in a majority opinion written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, held that the right to marry is a fundamental right “inherent in the liberty of the person” and protected by the Due Process Clause. Additionally, the Equal Protection Clause was interpreted to prohibit states from denying same-sex couples the same marital rights as opposite-sex couples. The decision overturned state laws and constitutional amendments defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman, mandating that all states license and recognize same-sex marriages. Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan joined the majority, while Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Scalia, Thomas, and Alito dissented.
Ramifications of the Decision
The Obergefell decision had sweeping legal, social, and cultural effects:
  1. Legal Impact: The ruling nullified state-level bans on same-sex marriage, ensuring that same-sex couples could marry in all 50 states and access the same legal benefits—such as inheritance, tax advantages, and parental rights—as opposite-sex couples. It also required states to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. By 2025, an estimated 823,000 same-sex couples have married, generating significant economic activity, including $1.58 billion in wedding-related revenue.
  2. Social Acceptance: The decision reflected and accelerated growing public support for same-sex marriage. By 2025, 68% of Americans supported same-sex marriage, up from 60% in 2015, though support among Republicans has declined from 55% in 2021 to 41% in 2025. The ruling normalized same-sex unions in media, culture, and daily life, with same-sex couples appearing routinely in television, movies, and suburban communities.
  3. Religious Liberty Concerns: Critics, including the National Catholic Register and Christianity Today, warned that Obergefell could conflict with religious liberty. Dissenting justices, such as Chief Justice Roberts, argued that the decision could marginalize those with traditional views on marriage, potentially forcing religious institutions or individuals to act against their beliefs. For example, some counties in Alabama and Texas still resist issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing religious objections.
  4. Political Backlash: The decision sparked ongoing resistance. In 2025, eight states introduced resolutions urging the Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell, and the Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly to call for its overturn, inspired by the successful reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
The Argument That Obergefell Made No Difference and Destroyed Social Norms
While Obergefell expanded legal access to marriage, critics argue it has not fundamentally improved societal outcomes for same-sex couples in ways that justify its disruption of traditional norms. Marriage rates among same-sex couples have grown, but the broader social fabric has been strained by redefining an institution historically understood as a sacred union between a man and a woman. Critics contend that the decision undermined the intrinsic meaning of marriage, reducing it to a contract devoid of its complementary, procreative, and spiritual dimensions. Austin R. Nimocks of the Alliance Defending Freedom argued that the ruling silenced millions of Americans by removing the debate from democratic processes, effectively imposing a new definition of marriage by judicial fiat.
The traditional view holds that marriage is a stabilizing force rooted in the biological and social complementarity of men and women, fostering family structures oriented toward child-rearing. By extending marriage to same-sex couples, Obergefell is seen by some as eroding this foundation, leading to a broader cultural shift where marriage is increasingly viewed as a personal arrangement rather than a societal institution with objective norms. This shift, critics argue, devalues marriage’s unique role, potentially weakening family structures without providing measurable societal benefits, such as improved health or economic outcomes, that outweigh the cultural cost.
The Legal Case for Reversal
From a legal perspective, reversing Obergefell hinges on challenging its constitutional reasoning and leveraging shifts in judicial philosophy:
  1. Substantive Due Process Critique: The majority’s reliance on substantive due process to establish a fundamental right to same-sex marriage is contentious. Dissenting justices, including Scalia and Thomas, argued that the right to marry, while fundamental, does not extend to redefining marriage’s historical meaning. Chief Justice Roberts emphasized that the Constitution does not mandate a singular definition of marriage, and states should retain the authority to define it through democratic processes. The 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade, signaled a judicial skepticism toward expansive substantive due process claims, with Justice Thomas explicitly suggesting reconsideration of cases like * Howard University School of Law Library - A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States: Obergefell v. Hodges · Justia U.S. Supreme Court - Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015) The Brookings Institution - Obergefell v. Hodges: Same sex marriage and cultural jousting at the Supreme Court · Business LibreTexts - Obergefell v. Hodges 576 US ___(2015) Cornell Law School - Legal Information Institute - Obergefell v. Hodges · DigitalCommons at ONU - Obergefell v.
Federation of American Scientists - Obergefell v. Hodges: Same-Sex Marriage Legalized ... Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. ... John G. Roberts, Jr. (Show more) ... What to know about the Supreme Court ruling 10 years ago that legalized same-sex marriage in the US • June 22, 2025, 8:19 AM ET (AP) ...(Show more) Southern Baptist delegates at national meeting overwhelmingly call for banning same-sex marriage • June 10, 2025, 9:57 PM ET (AP) Show less · Obergefell v. Hodges, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled (5–4) on June 26, 2015, that state bans on same-sex marriage and on recognizing same-sex marriages duly performed in other jurisdictions are unconstitutional under the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S.
The two questions presented by the case—the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans (the “marriage question”) and the constitutionality of bans on recognizing same-sex marriages (the “recognition” question)—were among various issues jointly presented in several related cases heard by a three-judge panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in August 2014. In a single opinion issued in November, the panel held (2–1), among other things, that the Fourteenth Amendment as well as the Supreme Court’s own precedents were not inconsistent with state laws and constitutional amendments that defined marriage as a legal relation between one man and one woman only or that denied legal effect to same-sex marriages performed out-of-state. The plaintiffs in the cases immediately filed for certiorari with the Supreme Court, which was granted in a consolidated case, Obergefell v. Hodges, in January 2015, limited to the marriage and recognition questions.
Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy asserted that the right to marry is a fundamental right “inherent in the liberty of the person” and is therefore protected by the due process clause, which prohibits the states from depriving any person of “life, liberty, or property without due process of law.” By virtue of the close connection between liberty and equality, the marriage right is also guaranteed by the equal protection clause, which forbids the states from “deny[ing] to any person…the equal protection of the laws.” Kennedy then argued at length that “the reasons marriage is fundamental,” including its connection with individual liberty, “apply with equal force to same-sex couples.” Such considerations, he concluded, compel the court to hold that “same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry.” His opinion was joined by Justices Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor.
A first premise of the Court’s relevant precedents is that the right to personal choice regarding marriage is inherent in the concept of individual autonomy. . . . Like choices concerning contraception, family relationships, procreation, and childrearing, all of which are protected by the Constitution, decisions concerning marriage are among the most intimate that an individual can make. Indeed, the Court has noted it would be contradictory “to recognize a right of privacy with respect to other matters of family life and not with respect to the decision to enter the relationship that is the foundation of the family in our society.” . . . A second principle in this Court’s jurisprudence is that the right to marry is fundamental because it supports a two-person union unlike any other in its importance to the committed individuals. . . . Marriage responds to the universal fear that a lonely person might call out only to find no one there.
Although the policy arguments for extending marriage to same-sex couples may be compelling, the legal arguments for requiring such an extension are not. The fundamental right to marry does not include a right to make a State change its definition of marriage. And a State’s decision to maintain the meaning of marriage that has persisted in every culture throughout human history can hardly be called irrational. In short, our Constitution does not enact any one theory of marriage. The people of a State are free to expand marriage to include same-sex couples, or to retain the historic definition. Today, however, the Court takes the extraordinary step of ordering every State to license and recognize same-sex marriage. Many people will rejoice at this decision, and I begrudge none their celebration. But for those who believe in a government of laws, not of men, the majority’s approach is deeply disheartening.
Supporters of same-sex marriage have achieved considerable success persuading their fellow citizens—through the democratic process—to adopt their view. That ends today. Five lawyers have closed the debate and enacted their own vision of marriage as a matter of constitutional law. Stealing this issue from the people will for many cast a cloud over same-sex marriage, making a dramatic social change that much more difficult to accept. The majority’s decision is an act of will, not legal judgment. The right it announces has no basis in the Constitution or this Court’s precedent.
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Obergefell v. Hodges | 576 U.S. 644 (2015) | Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center - supreme.justia.com Content: Obergefell v. Hodges: Under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, all states must license a marriage between two people of the same sex and recognize such a marriage if it was lawfully licensed and performed in another state.
OBERGEFELL et al. v. HODGES, DIRECTOR, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, et al. certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the sixth circuit · No. 14–556. Argued April 28, 2015—Decided June 26, 2015[1] Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The petitioners, 14 same-sex couples and two men whose same-sex partners are deceased, filed suits in Federal District Courts in their home States, claiming that respondent state officials violate the Fourteenth Amendment by denying them the right to marry or to have marriages lawfully performed in another State given full recognition. Each District Court ruled in petitioners’ favor, but the Sixth Circuit consolidated the cases and reversed. Held: The Fourteenth Amendment requires a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-State.
In Obergefell, District Judge Black issued a temporary restraining order, which the state did not appeal, and planned oral arguments on whether a permanent injunction should be granted. Unfortunately, Arthur died before arguments were held, and the state moved within a week to dismiss the case as moot. Black denied the motion and ruled two months later that Ohio must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states on death certificates. He also issued an order in Henry v. Wymyslo that required states to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, although he stayed the enforcement of his ruling with respect to matters other than the birth certificates sought in this specific case. All four of these cases were appealed to the Sixth Circuit, which reversed the trial court decisions in each of them and reinstated the state bans on same-sex marriage.
Dow, 216 N. J. 314, 79 A. 3d 1036 (2013) SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES _________________ Nos. 14–556, 14-562, 14-571 and 14–574 _________________ JAMES OBERGEFELL, et al., PETITIONERS 14–556v. RICHARD HODGES, DIRECTOR, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, et al.; VALERIA TANCO, et al., PETITIONERS 14–562v. BILL HASLAM, GOVERNOR OF TENNESSEE, et al.; APRIL DeBOER, et al., PETITIONERS 14–571v. RICK SNYDER, GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN, et al.; AND GREGORY BOURKE, et al., PETITIONERS 14–574v. STEVE BESHEAR, GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY on writs of certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the sixth circuit [June 26, 2015] Chief Justice Roberts, with whom Justice Scalia and Justice Thomas join, dissenting. Petitioners make strong arguments rooted in social policy and considerations of fairness. They contend that same-sex couples should be allowed to affirm their love and commitment through marriage, just like opposite-sex couples.
Under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, all states must license a marriage between two people of the same sex and recognize such a marriage if it was lawfully licensed and performed in another state. ... In Ohio, John Arthur was suffering from the latter stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a terminal illness. Recognizing the need to make critical end-of-life decisions, Arthur sought to have the Ohio Registrar identify his partner, James Obergefell, as his surviving spouse on his death certificate so that Obergefell could receive the benefits due to a spouse. Arthur and Obergefell had married in Maryland two years earlier. The Registrar planned to certify Obergefell as Arthur's spouse on the death certificate, believing that discrimination against same-sex couples was unconstitutional. The state of Ohio prohibited same-sex marriage, however, and its Attorney General's Office mobilized to defend that ban.
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Obergefell v. Hodges - A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States - HUSL Library at Howard University School of Law - library.law.howard.edu Published: 2023-05-31 20:00 EDT Content: This guide focuses on the civil rights that various groups have fought for within the United States.
Obergefell v. Hodges coverage on SCOTUSBlog: Post includes links to opinion, docket, and blog coverage. ... This interactive map of the United States from the Washington Post provides links to relevant stories and outlines the changing landscape of same-sex marriage. 1970 - A same-sex couple in Minnesota applies for a marriage license. They are denied and their case goes to the state Supreme Court. 1973 - Maryland becomes the first state to ban same-sex marriage · 1976 - a non-church sanctioned gay wedding makes news · 1983 - 'spousal' rights of same-sex couples become an issue - a lesbian couple is confronted with the spousal rights issue when one of them is in a car accident and the other is denied the right to care for her. 1984 - Berkeley, CA passes the nation's first domestic partnership law · 1987 - first mass same-sex wedding ceremony - occurs on the National Mall - nearly 2000 same-sex marriages take place ·
2014 - Oregon, Pennsylvania, Kansas, and South Carolina legalize same-sex marriage. The Presbyterian church votes to allow same-sex ceremonies. The U.S. Supreme Court decides a case that allows for same-sex marriage in 5 states (VA, OK, UT, WI, and IN) but declines to make a blanket statement for all states. 2015 - The U.S. Supreme Court makes same-sex marriages legal in all 50 states in Obergefell v. Hodges. It is only fitting to end this timeline with the following quote from that decision: “No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage.
Same-sex marriage has been controversial for decades, but tremendous progress was made across the United States as states individually began to lift bans to same-sex marriage. Before the landmark case Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___ (2015) was decided, over 70% of states and the District of Columbia already recognized same-sex marriage, and only 13 states had bans. Fourteen same-sex couples and two men whose same-sex partners had since passed away, claimed Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee violated the Fourteenth Amendment by denying them the right to marry or have their legal marriages performed in another state recognized. · All district courts found in favor of the plaintiffs. On appeal, the cases were consolidated, and the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed and held that the states' bans on same-sex marriage and refusal to acknowledge legal same-sex marriages in other jurisdictions were not unconstitutional.
Efforts to quantify the impact of Obergefell include a June 2016 report drafted by the Williams Institute: UCLA School of Law. According to the report, "weddings by same-sex couples have generated an estimated $1.58 billion boost to the national economy, and $102 million in state and local sales tax revenue since the U.S. Supreme Court's decision extending marriage equality nationwide in June 2015." Over 130,000 same-sex couples married, bringing the total of same-sex couples in the U.S. to nearly 500,000. ... No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideal of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage.
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Obergefell v. Hodges | Summary, History, Ruling, & Facts | Britannica - www.britannica.com[](https://www.britannica.com/event/Obergefell-v-Hodges) (http://www.britannica.com[](https://www.britannica.com/event/Obergefell-v-Hodges)) Published: 2025-06-10 20:00 EDT Content: Obergefell v. Hodges, legal case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled (5–4) on June 26, 2015, that state bans on same-sex marriage and on recognizing same-sex marriages duly performed in other jurisdictions are unconstitutional under due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment.
National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Health Implications of the Supreme Court's Obergefell vs. Hodges Marriage Equality Decision · Constitution Center - Obergefell v. Hodges · IdeaExchange at UAkron - Obergefell v. Hodges: How the Supreme Court Should have Decided the Case (PDF) American Historical Association - Perspectives on History - Which History in Obergefell v. Hodges? Howard University School of Law Library - A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States: Obergefell v. Hodges · Justia U.S. Supreme Court - Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015) The Brookings Institution - Obergefell v. Hodges: Same sex marriage and cultural jousting at the Supreme Court · Business LibreTexts - Obergefell v. Hodges 576 US ___(2015) Cornell Law School - Legal Information Institute - Obergefell v. Hodges · DigitalCommons at ONU - Obergefell v.
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Obergefell v. Hodges | Constitution Center - constitutioncenter.org Content: National Constitution Center Supreme Court Case Library: Obergefell v. Hodges
Jim Obergefell and others sued for recognition of their same-sex marriages, which were legal in the states where they were married but illegal in other states. The denial of marriage impedes many legal rights and privileges, such as adoptions, parental rights, and property transfer. The Court has long held that marriage is a fundamental right. Here, the Court held that states must allow and recognize same-sex marriages under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. In his majority opinion, Justice Kennedy concluded that the fundamental right to marry cannot be limited to heterosexual couples. ... The identification and protection of fundamental rights is an enduring part of the judicial duty to interpret the Constitution. That responsibility, however, “has not been reduced to any formula.” Rather, it requires courts to exercise reasoned judgment in identifying interests of the person so fundamental that the State must accord them its respect.
A first premise of the Court’s relevant precedents is that the right to personal choice regarding marriage is inherent in the concept of individual autonomy. . . . Like choices concerning contraception, family relationships, procreation, and childrearing, all of which are protected by the Constitution, decisions concerning marriage are among the most intimate that an individual can make. Indeed, the Court has noted it would be contradictory “to recognize a right of privacy with respect to other matters of family life and not with respect to the decision to enter the relationship that is the foundation of the family in our society.” . . . A second principle in this Court’s jurisprudence is that the right to marry is fundamental because it supports a two-person union unlike any other in its importance to the committed individuals. . . . Marriage responds to the universal fear that a lonely person might call out only to find no one there.
Although the policy arguments for extending marriage to same-sex couples may be compelling, the legal arguments for requiring such an extension are not. The fundamental right to marry does not include a right to make a State change its definition of marriage. And a State’s decision to maintain the meaning of marriage that has persisted in every culture throughout human history can hardly be called irrational. In short, our Constitution does not enact any one theory of marriage. The people of a State are free to expand marriage to include same-sex couples, or to retain the historic definition. Today, however, the Court takes the extraordinary step of ordering every State to license and recognize same-sex marriage. Many people will rejoice at this decision, and I begrudge none their celebration. But for those who believe in a government of laws, not of men, the majority’s approach is deeply disheartening.
Supporters of same-sex marriage have achieved considerable success persuading their fellow citizens—through the democratic process—to adopt their view. That ends today. Five lawyers have closed the debate and enacted their own vision of marriage as a matter of constitutional law. Stealing this issue from the people will for many cast a cloud over same-sex marriage, making a dramatic social change that much more difficult to accept. The majority’s decision is an act of will, not legal judgment. The right it announces has no basis in the Constitution or this Court’s precedent.
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OBERGEFELL v. HODGES | Supreme Court | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute - www.law.cornell.edu[](https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/14-556) (http://www.law.cornell.edu[](https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/14-556)) Published: 2015-06-25 20:00 EDT Content: OBERGEFELL v. HODGES 772 F. 3d 388, reversed. ... NOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as is being done in connection with this case, at the time the opinion is issued. The syllabus constitutes no part of the opinion of the Court but has been prepared by the Reporter of Decisions for the convenience of the reader. See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 U. S. 321, 337. ... OBERGEFELL et al. v. HODGES, DIRECTOR, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, et al. No. 14–556. Argued April 28, 2015—Decided June 26, 20151 · Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The petitioners, 14 same-sex couples and two men whose same-sex partners are deceased, filed suits in Federal District Courts in their home States, claiming that respondent state officials violate the Fourteenth Amendment by denying them ...
OBERGEFELL v. HODGES 772 F. 3d 388, reversed. ... NOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as is being done in connection with this case, at the time the opinion is issued. The syllabus constitutes no part of the opinion of the Court but has been prepared by the Reporter of Decisions for the convenience of the reader. See United States v. Detroit Timber & Lumber Co., 200 U. S. 321, 337. ... OBERGEFELL et al. v. HODGES, DIRECTOR, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, et al. No. 14–556. Argued April 28, 2015—Decided June 26, 20151 · Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The petitioners, 14 same-sex couples and two men whose same-sex partners are deceased, filed suits in Federal District Courts in their home States, claiming that respondent state officials violate the Fourteenth Amendment by denying them the right to marry or to have marriages lawfully performed in another State given full recognition.
See, e.g., Mich. Const., Art. I, §25; Ky. Const. §233A; Ohio Rev. Code Ann. §3101.01 (Lexis 2008); Tenn. Const., Art. XI, §18. The petitioners are 14 same-sex couples and two men whose same-sex partners are deceased. The respondents are state officials responsible for enforcing the laws in question. The petitioners claim the respondents violate the Fourteenth Amendment by denying them the right to marry or to have their marriages, lawfully performed in another State, given full recognition. Petitioners filed these suits in United States District Courts in their home States. Each District Court ruled in their favor. Citations to those cases are in Appendix A, infra. The respondents appealed the decisions against them to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. It consolidated the cases and reversed the judgments of the District Courts.
In 2012, voters in Maine did the same, reversing the result of a referendum just three years earlier in which they had upheld the traditional definition of marriage. In all, voters and legislators in eleven States and the District of Columbia have changed their definitions of marriage to include same-sex couples. The highest courts of five States have decreed that same result under their own Constitutions. The remainder of the States retain the traditional definition of marriage. Petitioners brought lawsuits contending that the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment compel their States to license and recognize marriages between same-sex couples. In a carefully reasoned decision, the Court of Appeals acknowledged the democratic “momentum” in favor of “expand[ing] the definition of marriage to include gay couples,” but concluded that petitioners had not made “the case for constitutionalizing the definition of marriage and for removing the issue from the place it has been since the founding: in the hands of state voters.” 772 F.
The petitioners acknowledge this history but contend that these cases cannot end there. Were their intent to demean the revered idea and reality of marriage, the petitioners’ claims would be of a different order. But that is neither their purpose nor their submission. To the contrary, it is the enduring importance of marriage that underlies the petitioners’ contentions. This, they say, is their whole point. Far from seeking to devalue marriage, the petitioners seek it for themselves because of their respect—and need—for its privileges and responsibilities. And their immutable nature dictates that same-sex marriage is their only real path to this profound commitment. Recounting the circumstances of three of these cases illustrates the urgency of the petitioners’ cause from their perspective. Petitioner James Obergefell, a plaintiff in the Ohio case, met John Arthur over two decades ago.
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Obergefell v. Hodges - SCOTUSblog - www.scotusblog.com[](https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/obergefell-v-hodges/) (http://www.scotusblog.com[](https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/obergefell-v-hodges/)) Published: 2014-11-18 17:18 EST Content: A view from the Courtroom, Same-Sex Marriage Edition (Mark Walsh, April 28, 2015) No clear answers on same-sex marriage: In Plain English (Amy Howe, April 28, 2015) Live blog: Obergefell v. Hodges oral argument updates (Kali Borkoski, April 28, 2015) Same-sex marriage, in Plain English -- Part I (Amy Howe, April 27, 2015) Same-sex marriage: The decisive questions (Lyle Denniston, April 26, 2015) A reporter's guide to covering the same-sex marriage cases at the Supreme Court (Amy Howe, April 20, 2015) Preview on same-sex marriage -- Part IV, Supporting the state bans (Lyle Denniston, April 18, 2015) Commentary: The Supreme Court and marriage for same-sex couples — Part II (Michael Klarman, April 16, 2015) Commentary: The Supreme Court and marriage for same-sex couples -- Part I (Michael Klarman, April 15, 2015) Preview on same-sex marriage -- Part III, Supporting the couples (Lyle ...
A view from the Courtroom, Same-Sex Marriage Edition (Mark Walsh, April 28, 2015) No clear answers on same-sex marriage: In Plain English (Amy Howe, April 28, 2015) Live blog: Obergefell v. Hodges oral argument updates (Kali Borkoski, April 28, 2015) Same-sex marriage, in Plain English -- Part I (Amy Howe, April 27, 2015) Same-sex marriage: The decisive questions (Lyle Denniston, April 26, 2015) A reporter's guide to covering the same-sex marriage cases at the Supreme Court (Amy Howe, April 20, 2015) Preview on same-sex marriage -- Part IV, Supporting the state bans (Lyle Denniston, April 18, 2015) Commentary: The Supreme Court and marriage for same-sex couples — Part II (Michael Klarman, April 16, 2015) Commentary: The Supreme Court and marriage for same-sex couples -- Part I (Michael Klarman, April 15, 2015) Preview on same-sex marriage -- Part III, Supporting the couples (Lyle Denniston, April 15, 2015) Preview on same-sex marriage -- Part II, The states' views (Lyle Denniston, April 14, 2015) Preview on same-sex marriage -- Part I, The couples' views (Lyle Denniston, April 13, 2015) Lawyers for same-sex marriage plea named (Lyle Denniston, March 31, 2015) U.S.
Holding: The Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state. Judgment: Reversed, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Kennedy on June 26, 2015. Chief Justice Roberts filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Scalia and Thomas joined. Justice Scalia filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Thomas joined. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Scalia joined. Justice Alito filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Scalia and Thomas joined. Academic highlight: Yoshino on Obergefell v. Hodges (Amanda Frost, November 18, 2015) Symposium: In defense of Justice Kennedy's soaring language (Michael Dorf, June 27, 2015) Symposium: A landmark victory for civil rights (Erwin Chemerinsky, June 27, 2015) Symposium: A fair and proper application of the Fourteenth Amendment (Paul Smith, June 27, 2015) Symposium: Sometimes it takes unelected Justices, not the political process, to give Americans the law they really want (Steve Sanders, June 27, 2015) Symposium: Overruling Windsor (Kyle Duncan, June 27, 2015) Symposium: "Oh, well, we know better."
Symposium: Supreme Court should address the domestic-relations exception to federal jurisdiction in its marriage-case decision (Lawrence Joseph, January 17, 2015) Symposium: Original meaning, public deliberation, and marriage equality (William Eskridge, January 17, 2015) Symposium: Good faith and caution, not irrationality or malice (Andrew Brasher, January 16, 2015) Symposium: Let's be clear – the marriage bans are about animus (Steve Sanders, January 16, 2015) Symposium: Cert.
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Obergefell v. Hodges | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute - www.law.cornell.edu[](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/obergefell_v._hodges) (http://www.law.cornell.edu[](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/obergefell_v._hodges)) Content: National Catholic Register and Christianity Today, argued that there may be conflict between the ruling and religious liberty, mirroring the arguments of the dissent. To this day not all states, and definitely not all courts, view same-sex marriage as a settled issue. While the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage throughout the United States, as of June 21, 2017, nine counties in Alabama and Texas still do not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Those within these counties who wish to marry within the state must travel to another part of the state in order to obtain a license. Additionally, some counties may require at least one person to be a resident of the county in order to receive a marriage license. In fact, some argue that it’s increasingly apparent that marriage equality opponents have a long-term plan to roll back, and eventually reverse, the effect of the Obergefell ...
National Catholic Register and Christianity Today, argued that there may be conflict between the ruling and religious liberty, mirroring the arguments of the dissent. To this day not all states, and definitely not all courts, view same-sex marriage as a settled issue. While the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage throughout the United States, as of June 21, 2017, nine counties in Alabama and Texas still do not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Those within these counties who wish to marry within the state must travel to another part of the state in order to obtain a license. Additionally, some counties may require at least one person to be a resident of the county in order to receive a marriage license. In fact, some argue that it’s increasingly apparent that marriage equality opponents have a long-term plan to roll back, and eventually reverse, the effect of the Obergefell decision.
In early 2016, Arkansas asserted that the Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage decision did not require the state to list married same-sex parents on their children’s birth certificate. This argument is flawed: Obergefell compels states to extend “the constellation of [marital] benefits” to same-sex couples, and mandates equal treatment for “birth and death certificates.” And yet, Arkansas Supreme Court upheld the state’s refusal to extend these privileges to same-sex couples. On June 26, 2017 in Pavan v. Smith the Supreme Court of the United States reaffirmed Obergefell’ s core holding that states must extend all benefits and privileges of marriage to same-sex couples and reversed the decision of the Arkansas Supreme Court.
On November 6, 2014, in a decision styled DeBoer v. Snyder , the Sixth Circuit ruled 2–1 that Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage did not violate the U.S. Constitution. The court said it was bound by the U.S. Supreme Court's 1972 action in a similar case, Baker v. Nelson, which dismissed a same-sex couple's marriage claim "for want of a substantial federal question". Writing for the majority, Judge Sutton also dismissed the arguments made on behalf of same-sex couples in this case: "Not one of the plaintiffs' theories, however, makes the case for constitutionalizing the definition of marriage and for removing the issue from the place it has been since the founding: in the hands of state voters." Claimants from each of the six district court cases appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States. On November 14, 2014, plaintiffs in DeBoer v. Snyder , Obergefell v. Hodges , and Tanco v.
Obergefell v. Hodges is a landmark case in which on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States held, in 5-4 decision, that state bans on same-sex marriage and on recognizing same sex marriages duly performed in other jurisdictions are unconstitutional under the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
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Supremecourt - www.supremecourt.gov[](https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/21/21-476/227884/20220614132338901_42501%2520pdf%2520Goldstein.pdf) (http://www.supremecourt.gov[](https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/21/21-476/227884/20220614132338901_42501%2520pdf%2520Goldstein.pdf))
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Justice - www.justice.gov[](https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2015/06/26/obergefellhodgesopinion.pdf) (http://www.justice.gov[](https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2015/06/26/obergefellhodgesopinion.pdf)) Published: 2015-06-25 20:00 EDT
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How America Changed After the Supreme Court Legalized Same-Sex Marriage in Obergefell v. Hodges - The New York Times - www.nytimes.com[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/us/politics/gay-marriage-obergefell-hodges-anniversary.html) (http://www.nytimes.com[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/26/us/politics/gay-marriage-obergefell-hodges-anniversary.html)) Published: 2025-06-26 05:04 EDT Content: On the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationally, supporters say they are secure but also wary and watchful.
On the 10th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationally, supporters say they are secure but also wary and watchful. ... Supporters of same-sex marriage celebrated the Obergefell v. Hodges decision 10 years ago.Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times · By Adam Nagourney and Jeremy W. Peters · June 26, 2025Updated 12:42 p.m. ET ... Gay Americans and their allies have much to celebrate on Thursday, the 10th anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. Same-sex marriage has, by almost every indication, become ingrained in everyday American life. Since the decision, there have been 591,000 same-sex marriages, and today, nearly two-thirds of Americans approve of the policy. Same-sex couples are staples in contemporary movies and television shows, and reside, often with their children, in small towns, cities and suburbs all across America.
“If you ask me, ‘Could this happen?’ — of course it could happen,” said Mr. Wolfson, who called from an airport on his way to Alabama for an event celebrating the anniversary of the marriage ruling. “Are there two votes on the Supreme Court to do this damage? Yes,” he said, mentioning Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. ... The difference between Obergefell and Roe, he said, was that public support for gay marriage had been building long before the court acted. “The court did not jump out ahead of public opinion,” he said. “We had won the freedom to marry in 37 states by the time of the ruling.” · Indeed, the contrast between what happened 10 years after Roe and 10 years after Obergefell is striking. “Constitutional amendments to effectively overturn Roe were regularly being introduced in Congress, and in 1983, a bipartisan amendment got 49 votes in the Senate,” Mr.
The pressure campaign to reconsider Obergefell is no surprise to gay rights advocates, who have spent decades in trench warfare on these issues. Still, the very nature of trying to reverse Supreme Court precedent is a long and grueling game. “There are some people who are trying to stir the pot,” Ms. Bonauto said. “And I don’t want to exaggerate their influence. Far from it. But we have to be watchful and wary.” · Adam Nagourney is a Times reporter covering government, political and cultural stories in California, focusing on the effort to rebuild Los Angeles after the fires. He also writes about national politics. Jeremy W. Peters is a Times reporter who covers debates over free expression and how they impact higher education and other vital American institutions. See more on: U.S. Politics, U.S.
James Obergefell, the plaintiff in the Obergefell v. Hodges case, spoke outside the Supreme Court in 2015.Credit...Olivier Douliery/Getty Images · Among Republicans, support for same-sex marriage has dropped significantly — to 41 percent last month, from 55 percent in 2021, according to a Gallup poll. The finding reflects the Republican move to the right, as well as what analysts said is a spillover from rising backlash to other L.G.B.T.Q. issues — in particular, the push for transgender rights. The Southern Baptist Convention, which is often seen as a strong indicator of conservative evangelical opinion, voted overwhelmingly earlier this month to call on the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell, citing inspiration from the successful effort to overturn Roe. That echoed a similar call from conservative activists in states like Michigan and Tennessee.
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United in Love: Understanding Obergefell v. Hodges and Marriage Equality in 2025 - Equality Ohio - equalityohio.org Published: 2025-03-11 05:58 EDT Content: Original Post: March 11, 2025, Last Updated: 03/11/2025 The start of 2025 has created a lot of uncertainty for LGBTQ+ Ohioans. The unprecedented number of executive orders directed at our […]
Original Post: March 11, 2025, Last Updated: 03/11/2025 The start of 2025 has created a lot of uncertainty for LGBTQ+ Ohioans. The unprecedented number of executive orders directed at our community and the implementation of SB 104 have significantly impacted trans youth healthcare and other essential rights. Many in our community have also shared their
A conversation with Al Gerhardstein, Lead Counsel for Jim Obergefell, Obergefell v Hodges ... The short answer is, “pretty secure” but not absolutely secure. · The longer answer is the power of precedent. · The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is not supposed to flip flop. The Court occasionally reverses prior decisions, but that is supposed to be a rare event, pursued slowly, with deliberation. For SCOTUS to overturn Obergefell, there would need to be a case in litigation that makes it all the way up to the Supreme Court, and is then granted—we have no indications that is occurring at this time. · For example, the courts issued many court decisions on limitations of reproductive rights, slowly building the case to reverse Roe v. Wade. After standing for 50 years, the SCOTUS decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health was decided.
They met in the early 1990s at a bar near the University of Cincinnati, quickly falling in love. Together, they built a life, working in IT consulting and sharing a deep bond. When Arthur was diagnosed with ALS, they made the decision to marry, traveling to Maryland—where same-sex marriage was legal—exchanging vows aboard a private plane on the tarmac. But Ohio refused to recognize their marriage. Before Arthur’s passing, the couple knew that the state would not list Jim as his surviving spouse. Determined to honor their love and demand justice, they took legal action—a fight that would ultimately transform the lives of millions of LGBTQ+ people across the United States. On June 26, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Obergefell v. Hodges in a landmark decision. The court’s decision affirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry and required states to license and recognize these marriages.
We are now 10 years into life after Obergefell. No serious momentum in the case law is currently building to reverse this decision. · We’d also like to note that, for parents, this is a good time to review Equality Ohio Legal Clinic’s Family Law Guide, and ensure that you have taken the preventative steps needed to ensure legal parentage of your children. You can also reach out to our legal clinic, or follow our Linktree and social media for legal event updates. · What about the wording of Justice Thomas in the Dobbs decision? In his concurring decision in Dobbs, Justice Clarence Thomas said that prior decisions based on the theory of substantive due process, including decisions overruling bans on contraception (Griswold v. Connecticut), oral and anal sex (Lawrence v. Texas), and gay marriage (Obgerfell v. Hodges), should be reconsidered. No other justice directly joined in his decision, and his words have no binding precedent.
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{{meta.pageTitle}} - www.oyez.org[](https://www.oyez.org/cases/2014/14-556) (http://www.oyez.org[](https://www.oyez.org/cases/2014/14-556)) Published: 2017-06-25 20:00 EDT
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Southern Baptists to Vote on Effort to Overturn Same-Sex Marriage - The New York Times - www.nytimes.com[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/us/same-sex-marriage-baptists-obergefell.html) (http://www.nytimes.com[](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/08/us/same-sex-marriage-baptists-obergefell.html)) Published: 2025-06-08 05:01 EDT Content: Motivated by their success in reversing Roe v. Wade, conservative Christian activists have a new target in Obergefell v. Hodges. They see early signs of promise.
Southern Baptists plan to vote this week on acting to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage 10 years ago this month. The step is part of a growing effort by evangelicals nationwide to reverse Obergefell, and coincides with a renewed campaign in state legislatures to challenge the widely accepted view that same-sex marriage has become an established civil right. While the Southern Baptist Convention has long opposed gay marriage, the vote at its annual meeting in Dallas will be the first time that the largest Protestant denomination in America will ask representatives of its tens of thousands of member churches to work to end it. Conservative Christian activists hope to build on their movement’s success in overturning Roe v. Wade, the now-defunct Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion, in 2022, and to apply the legal and political strategies that proved effective for that victory.
Earlier this year his group worked with legislators in Idaho on the language of a resolution that passed the Idaho House of Representatives calling on the Supreme Court to reverse Obergefell. Republican lawmakers, at times drawing on certain Christian principles, introduced similar measures calling for Obergefell’s reversal in states like Michigan, Montana and South Dakota, and partially passed them in North Dakota and Idaho. “That begins to show a sentiment from legislative officials, and it just begins to build a momentum,” Mr. Staver said. And while efforts like the S.B.C. measure and the resolutions in the states have been largely independent of each other, he said, “that momentum results in more coordination” between ideologically aligned groups, which was effective in overturning Roe. The Southern Baptist Convention, a largely conservative network of churches, has taken a rightward turn in recent years, particularly on issues of marriage, family and sex.
Of the nine Supreme Court justices, only Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas have suggested that the court should reconsider Obergefell, which was decided by a 5-4 majority. Chief Justice John Roberts, now a swing vote, issued a strong dissent in the Obergefell ruling. In his concurring opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson, the case that overturned Roe, Justice Thomas directly argued that the rationale the court used to negate a right to abortion should be used to overturn cases that established rights to same-sex marriage, consensual same-sex relations and contraception. ... Mathew Staver, a Southern Baptist and the chairman of the Liberty Counsel, has been trying for two decades to use the courts to stop gay marriage, ever since states began to legalize it in 2004.Credit...Brendan Farrington/Associated Press · Next month Mathew Staver, a Southern Baptist and the chairman of the Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal group, plans to ask the Supreme Court to hear a case about Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Kentucky who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2015.
An attempt to further expand restrictions on women in church leadership gained traction in 2023, but did not pass a second required vote in 2024. That effort is expected to be revived this week. Elizabeth Dias is The Times’s national religion correspondent, covering faith, politics and values. A version of this article appears in print on , Section A, Page 18 of the New York edition with the headline: Southern Baptists to Vote On Ending Gay Marriage. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe · See more on: Alliance Defending Freedom, Southern Baptist Convention, U.S. Supreme Court ... Sending Migrants to South Sudan: The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to allow speedy deportations of migrants to countries other than their own, despite a federal judge’s ruling that they must be first allowed a “meaningful opportunity” to object.
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Obergefell v. Hodges / Henry v. Hodges - Lambda Legal - lambdalegal.org Published: 2014-04-14 11:57 EDT Content: The landmark case that helped bring equal marriage nationwide. Henry v. Hodges sought recognition of out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples and their rights as parents to their children. Ohio refuses to even grant accurate birth certificates listing both parents for children born in Ohio to legally married same-sex couples. Ohio’s refusal to recognize legal marriages...
The landmark case that helped bring equal marriage nationwide. Henry v. Hodges sought recognition of out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples and their rights as parents to their children. Ohio refuses to even grant accurate birth certificates listing both parents for children born in Ohio to legally married same-sex couples. Ohio’s refusal to recognize legal marriages of same-sex couples from out of state forces the loving, committed couples to name only one parent on a child’s birth certificate. Plaintiffs include four married couples seeking both recognition of their marriages in Ohio as well as, most urgently, an order requiring the State to place the names of both parents on the birth certificates of their babies. Three of the couples conceived using donors and gave birth in Ohio hospitals. The fourth couple are married men living in New York City whose adopted son was born in Ohio.
November 6, 2014 The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld as constitutional bans on marriage rights for same-sex couples in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee, becoming the first federal circuit court after the Supreme Court’s watershed 2013 Windsor ruling to uphold such bans and departing from recent decisions from the 4th, 7th, 9th and 10th Circuits. November 14, 2014 Lambda Legal, the ACLU and private firm Gerhardstein & Branch filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ aberrant ruling upholding discriminatory bans on marriage rights for same-sex couples in Ohio and three other states. January 16, 2015 The U. S. Supreme Court grants review of this case, alongside other marriage equality and recognition cases from the 6th Circuit. The high court has set the stage for final resolution of the debate about marriage equality for same-sex couples across the country. April 28, 2015 Oral arguments held before the Supreme Court in the combined cases now known as Obergefell v. Hodges.
Brief Amici Curiae of 92 Plaintiffs in Marriage Cases (03/10/2015) Brief of Amicus Curiae Freedom to Marry (03/10/2015) ... Brief of Amicus Curiae President of the House of Deputies of the Episcopal Church, et al (03/10/2015) Brief of Employers as Amici Curiae Supporting Petitioners (03/9/2015) Brief of Members of Congress as Amici Curiae Supporting Petitioners (03/9/2015) Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae Supporting Petitioners (03/9/2015) Brief of Amici Curiae Kenneth B. Mehlman et al. Supporting Petitioners (03/6/2015) ... Your gift today keeps Lambda Legal's lawyers in courtrooms across the country fighting to strike down these morally wrong and legally unconstitutional laws, and we need your support now more than ever. ... Thank you for playing a leading role in an organization whose unstoppable future is inseparable from the movement for LGBTQ+ rights and everyone living with HIV!
Brief Amici Curiae of Historians of Marriage, et al (03/11/2015) Brief of Amicus Curiae The Organization of American Historians (03/11/2015) Brief of Amici Curiae NAACP in Support of Petitioners (03/11/2015) Brief Amicus Curiae of NFCRC in Support of Petitioners (03/11/2015) Brief of Prof.
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Health Implications of the Supreme Court's Obergefell vs. Hodges Marriage Equality Decision - PMC - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Content: The United States Supreme Court's Obergefell vs. Hodges groundbreaking marriage equality decision also created new terrain for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons regarding health, healthcare, and health benefits. This article ...
The United States Supreme Court's Obergefell vs. Hodges groundbreaking marriage equality decision also created new terrain for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons regarding health, healthcare, and health benefits. This article addresses the health implications of this decision by examining its impact on minority stress and stigmatization and health-related benefits. It also includes a discussion of several impending issues affecting LGBT health that remain after Obergefell. Key words: : benefits, health, LGBT, marriage, minority stress, Obergefell · On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court rendered its landmark Obergefell vs. Hodges decision, which recognized that all states (1) must recognize marriage between two same-sex individuals within their state; and (2) must recognize marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states.1 In addition to providing marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons, the Obergefell decision also affected issues related to health, healthcare, and health benefits for LGBT persons.
While sometimes referred to as a “gay marriage” decision, Obergefell affects all same-sex couples that seek marriage, including some couples in which one or both members are transgender. This decision affects these couples, too, because most states have tied legal marriage to state identification documents (e.g., birth certificates, drivers' licenses), and many couples with a transgender partner whose state documents identified both partners as the same gender were also denied marriage benefits prior to Obergefell. Even transgender persons who identified themselves in opposite-sexed partnerships were denied marriage if they lived in states that prohibited them from amending their gender on state documents (e.g., Ohio) or lived in states that required onerous medical procedures to modify their gender on state documents. Research suggests that denying marriage to same-sex couples may have had negative health implications for LGBT persons.
Moreover, research regarding long-term stress exposure suggests that chronic stress caused by discrimination may continue to linger—and in some cases—result in negative health consequences that may be irreversible. Research has documented that chronic stress can produce long-lasting changes in the brain, including structural changes and loss of brain volume in some regions, that are linked with anxiety, depression, and substance abuse.16,17 Research is still emerging in this field but suggests the importance of eradicating all forms of discrimination against LGBT persons—and sooner rather than later. While discrimination against LGBT persons will continue to negatively affect LGBT health, the Obergefell decision, however, moves LGBT persons one step closer to better health by affirming marriage equality and thus the dignity of LGBT couples to have equal rights as their opposite-sexed peers in this legal arena.
In addition to potentially improving mental and physical health by decreasing minority stress and stigmatization, the Obergefell decision indirectly affects the health of many LGBT persons by expanding federal and state health-related benefits. Obergefell followed an earlier Supreme Court decision—United States vs. Windsor18—that invalidated Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Section 3 defined marriage between a man and woman and thus precluded same-sex spouses from federal benefits. After Windsor, same-sex couples who lived in states with marriage bans but married elsewhere gained some federal benefits when they returned home. However, they were still denied all state benefits of marriage and some federal benefits that were tied to their residence, including spousal veterans' benefits and social security benefits. Only after Obergefell did all same-sex couples gain these rights if they chose to marry.
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Obergefell v. Hodges: Marriage Equality at the Supreme Court - GLAD Law - www.gladlaw.org[](https://www.gladlaw.org/cases/obergefell-v-hodges/) (http://www.gladlaw.org[](https://www.gladlaw.org/cases/obergefell-v-hodges/)) Published: 2025-06-04 22:50 EDT Content: Home » Obergefell v. Hodges: Marriage Equality at the Supreme Court · June 26, 2015: Victory
Obergefell v. Hodges and Henry v. Hodges were brought by Lambda Legal and private counsel in Ohio; and Tanco v. Haslam, were brought by NCLR and private counsel in Tennessee. On November 14, attorneys for Michigan couple April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case, seeking to overturn the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision upholding bans on marriage for same-sex couples in Michigan, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse are both nurses and are the mothers of four children they fostered and adopted and are fostering a fifth. They are devoted to each other, to their kids, and they should be able to marry. U.S. District Court Judge Bernard Friedman ruled in March 2014 that Michigan’s laws prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying are unconstitutional, following a two-week trial in which expert testimony was heard from the nation’s leading psychologists, sociologists, child welfare professionals, and historians.
Home » Obergefell v. Hodges: Marriage Equality at the Supreme Court ... June 26, 2015: Victory! In a blockbuster legal and cultural moment for the country, the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples in the United States, no matter where they live, have the same legal right to marry as different-sex couples. Learn more here. GLAD Civil Rights Project Director Mary L. Bonauto argued before the U.S. Supreme Court April 28, 2015 on behalf of same-sex couples who are challenged their states’ marriage bans. She stood on behalf of petitioners April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse in the Michigan case DeBoer v. Snyder and Timothy Love, Lawrence Ysunza, Maurice Blanchard and Dominique James in the Kentucky case Love v. Beshear (joined with Bourke v. Beshear) and same-sex couples across the country who were excluded from marriage. Douglas Hallward-Driemeier, partner at Ropes & Gray LLP, represented petitioners seeking recognition of their marriages.
In a departure from nearly 50 pro-marriage decisions across the U.S. since June 2013, a three-member panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals’ issued its opinion on November 6, 2014 reversing Judge Friedman’s ruling, along with similar rulings from Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee. ... Petition for Writ of Certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court · 6th Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling, November 6, 2014 · Brief of Amici Curiae 92 Plaintiffs in Marriage Cases in Alabama et al. in Support of Petitioners · Brief of Amici Curiae 167 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives et al. in Support of Petitioners · Brief of Amici Curiae 226 U.S. Mayors et al. in Support of Petitioners · Brief of Amici Curiae 379 Employers and Organizations Representing Employers in Support of Petitioners · Brief of Amici Curiae Anti-Defamation League et al. in Support of Petitioners ·
Brief of Amicus Curiae Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Support of Petitioners · Brief of Amici Curiae Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom, et al. in Support of Petitioners ... President Biden awards the medal to Americans whose dedication and sacrifice has made the country better. Read More · On issues impacting LGBTQ+ people, conversations with people with different viewpoints can have a powerful impact. Read More · 20 years ago, marriage equality seemed impossible. But we did it. And together, we will do the impossible again. Read More ... The Supreme Court’s ruling on health care for transgender youth is devastating. If you have questions about your rights, our legal infoline can help. Contact GLAD Law Answers today. X · We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.
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What to know about the Supreme Court ruling 10 years ago that legalized same-sex marriage in the US - apnews.com Published: 2025-06-25 22:49 EDT Content: A landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling 10 years ago this month, on June 26, 2015, legalized same-sex marriage across the U.S. The Obergefell v.
As he reflects of the decision’s 10th anniversary, Obergefell has worried aloud about the state of LGBTQ+ rights in the country and the possibility that a case could reach the Supreme Court that might overturn the decision bearing his name. Eight states have introduced resolutions this year urging a reversal and the Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly at its meeting in Dallas earlier this month in favor of banning gay marriage and seeing the Obergefell decision overturned. Meanwhile, more than a dozen states have moved to strengthen legal protections for same-sex married couples in case Obergefell is ever overturned. In 2025, about 7 in 10 Americans — 68% — said marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid, up from 60% in May 2015.
The Obergefell v. Hodges decision followed years of national wrangling over the issue, during which some states moved to protect domestic partnerships or civil unions for same-sex partners and others declared marriage could exist only between one man and one woman. In plaintiff James Obergefell’s home state of Ohio, voters had overwhelmingly approved such an amendment in 2004 — effectively mirroring the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which denied federal recognition of same-sex couples. That laid the political groundwork for the legal challenge that bears his name. Here’s what you need to know about the lawsuit, the people involved and the 2015 ruling’s immediate and longer term effects: ... Obergefell and John Arthur, who brought the initial legal action, were long-time partners living in Cincinnati. They had been together for nearly two decades when Arthur was diagnosed with ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, in 2011.
The lawsuit eventually titled Obergefell v. Hodges argued that marriage is guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution’s Fourteenth Amendment, specifically the due process and equal protection clauses. The litigation consolidated several lawsuits brought by same-sex couples in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee who had been denied marriage licenses or recognition for their out-of-state marriages and whose cases had resulted in conflicting opinions in federal circuit courts. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled the right to marry is fundamental, calling it “inherent in the liberty of the person,” and therefore protected by the Constitution. The ruling effectively nullified state-level bans on same-sex marriages, as well as laws declining to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions. The custody, property, tax, insurance and business implications of of the decision have also had sweeping impacts on other areas of law.
Demonstrators hold a rainbow pride flag outside the Supreme Court as justices deliberate Obergefell vs. Hodges, the case that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, in Washington, April 28, 2015. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File) Read More ... Same sex couples from Madison and surrounding counties celebrate as they get their marriage licenses and get married in Huntsville, Ala., Feb. 9, 2015, during a Wedding Week Huntsville event honoring the legalization of same-sex marriage. (Sarah Cole/The Huntsville Times via AP, File) Read More ... James Obergefell of the Human Rights Campaign speaks to a journalist as the campaign delivers copies of the “People’s Brief,” calling for full nationwide marriage equality, in Washington, March 6, 2015. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) Read More · What to know about the Supreme Court ruling 10 years ago that legalized same-sex marriage in the US ...
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Obergefell v. Hodges - ACLU of Ohio - www.acluohio.org[](https://www.acluohio.org/cases/obergefell-v-hodges/) (http://www.acluohio.org[](https://www.acluohio.org/cases/obergefell-v-hodges/)) Published: 2022-05-04 03:35 EDT Content: Two individuals, James Obergefell and John Arthur James filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriage on death certificates. The two were legally married in Maryland in 2013. Mr. Arthur, who suffered from a terminal illness, died several months after litigation began. Due to Ohio law, under both the Ohio Constitution and […]
Richard Hodges replaced Mr. Himes as Defendant after being appointed Director of the Ohio Department of Health in August 2014. On April 24, 2014 Appellee Obergefell filed the Appellee Brief. Appellant Himes filed a Reply Brief on May 12, 2014. During this period, numerous amicus briefs were filed to support each side. Oral arguments took place on August 6, 2014. On November 6, the Court of Appeals reversed the decision. Judge Sutton wrote the opinion of the court, in which Judge Cook joined. Judge Daughtrey dissented. On November 14, 2014, Obergefell filed a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari with the U.S. Supreme Court. On January 16, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an order granting certiorari and agreeing to hear the case. In its order, the Supreme Court consolidated this case with other Sixth Circuit cases challenging same-sex marriage restrictions.
The Court ordered that each party brief one of two issues that pertain to its respective case: 1) Whether the Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex; and 2) Whether the Fourteenth Amendment requires a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out of state. This case addresses the second question, and we filed our merit brief on February 27, 2015. The respondents’ briefs were filed on March 27, 2015, and our Reply brief was filed on April 17, 2015. The case was heard on April 28, 2015. On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court ruled in a landmark decision that the 14th Amendment requires all states to license marriages between same-sex couples and to recognize all marriages that were lawfully performed out of state.
Two individuals, James Obergefell and John Arthur James filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriage on death certificates. The two were legally married in Maryland in 2013. Mr. Arthur, who suffered from a terminal illness, died several months after litigation began. Due to Ohio law, under both the Ohio Constitution and the Ohio Revised Code, plaintiffs believed that state officials would refuse to indicate Mr. Arthur was married at the time of his death and that Mr. Obergefell was his spouse. The plaintiffs filed the case on July 19, 2013 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and the case was assigned to Judge Timothy S. Black. The original defendants were Governor John Kasich, Attorney General Mike DeWine and Registrar of the City of Cincinnati Health Department, Office of Vital Records, Dr.
In the amended complaint, the plaintiffs sought a declaration from the court that Ohio’s practice of denying recognition of marriages lawfully performed in other states on death certificates is unconstitutional and requested an injunction to stop this practice. On December 23, 2013, Judge Black held that Ohio’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states violates the substantive due process and equal protection rights of the parties to those marriages. Judge Black also declared the ban on recognizing same-sex marriages legally performed outside Ohio to be unconstitutional and prohibited the State from enforcing the ban on the plaintiffs. Wymyslo appealed the case to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. The state’s refusal to recognize same-sex marriages lawfully performed out of state on death certificates violates due process and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
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Obergefell v. Hodges - Ballotpedia - ballotpedia.org Published: 2015-07-01 20:00 EDT Content: Ballotpedia: The Encyclopedia of American Politics
The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Obergefell v. Hodges on April 28, 2015. The court limited the argument to two questions: Question #1: Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex? ... Question #2: Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state?[2] ... Reversing the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, the Supreme Court held on June 26, 2015, that same-sex marriage is a protected right under the Constitution. State bans prohibiting same-sex marriages were struck down, and all states must recognize same-sex marriages performed out of state. The 5-4 opinion was authored by Justice Anthony Kennedy, and Justices Ruth Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan joined.
On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court held in a 5-4 decision that same-sex marriage is protected under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. Consequently, same-sex marriage bans have been struck down as unconstitutional and same-sex marriages performed out-of-state must be recognized in other states.[1] Justice Anthony Kennedy authored the opinion and Justices Ruth Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan joined. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito each authored a dissent. This historic case, Obergefell v. Hodges, consolidated four same-sex marriage cases from Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan and Kentucky and picked up where the 2013 case United States v. Windsor left off. In Windsor, the court ruled that part of HR 3396 - Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional but did not address the constitutionality of same-sex marriage.
In so doing, the Court will have given – as it usually does – the majority of Americans the Constitution that they want. The ruling will be widely hailed as the Brown v. Board of Education of the gay rights movement. Yet, as with Brown, the Court will be reflecting public opinion more than it shaped it. Also as with Brown, the Court will be rendering a decision that would have been nearly inconceivable only a couple of decades before it happened."[4] Klarman's assertion that the Supreme Court would give "the majority of Americans the Constitution that they want" by ruling in favor of the couples reflects recent public opinion polls about same-sex marriage. Polls conducted by USA Today and The Washington Post with ABC News in April 2015 indicated that 6 in 10 Americans support same-sex marriage.[5][6] The Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Windsor led, in part, to many states legalizing same-sex marriage and set the stage for Obergefell v. Hodges.
Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner was less supportive of the decision, saying, "All human beings are created equal by God and thus deserve to be treated with love, dignity and respect. I am, however, disappointed that the Supreme Court disregarded the democratically-enacted will of millions of Americans by forcing states to redefine the institution of marriage. My views are based on my upbringing and my faith. I believe that marriage is a sacred vow between one man and one woman, and I believe Americans should be able to live and work according to their beliefs."[16] June 26, 2015: In Obergefell v. Hodges, the United States Supreme Court held in a 5-4 decision that same-sex marriage is protected under the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. Consequently, same-sex marriages bans were struck down as unconstitutional.[17] April 28, 2015: The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments in four same-sex marriage cases from Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan and Kentucky under the consolidated title Obergefell v.
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This map shows the impact of Obergefell v. Hodges on same-sex marriage : NPR - www.npr.org[](https://www.npr.org/2025/06/26/nx-s1-5445033/obergefell-legal-same-sex-marriage-us-map) (http://www.npr.org[](https://www.npr.org/2025/06/26/nx-s1-5445033/obergefell-legal-same-sex-marriage-us-map)) Published: 2025-06-26 05:01 EDT Content: "They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law," then-Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote in the June 26, 2015, ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. "The Constitution grants them that right."
"From 2014 to 2023, the percentage of cohabiting same-sex couples who were married grew by 21% in the South (38% to 59%)," the institute said in a report inspired by the Obergefell v. Hodges anniversary. As of this month, the U.S. had an estimated 823,000 married same-sex couples — more than twice as many as 10 years ago, the report states, citing data from the American Community Survey. Ten years after the ruling, legal standing for people who want to marry someone who isn't of the opposite sex still rests in the Supreme Court decision. In 2022, the Respect for Marriage Act became law, after gaining bipartisan support in Congress. The federal law redefines marriage as being "between two individuals," rather than a man and a woman. It also bars states from denying "any right or claim relating to out-of-state marriages on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin."
"They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law," then-Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote 10 years ago, in the Obergefell v. Hodges majority opinion. "The Constitution grants them that right." With those words, on June 26, 2015, same-sex marriage became legal in all U.S. states. The landmark 5-4 decision superseded what had been a patchwork of laws and court orders in which some states allowed gay marriages or same-sex civil unions, while others banned them and refused to recognize unions performed outside their borders. "The right to marry is a fundamental right inherent in the liberty of the person," the Supreme Court ruled. The dramatic shift was captured in a map NPR published in 2015, as the Supreme Court ruled that equal protections under the 14th Amendment require states to license and recognize same-sex marriages. ... Before the ruling, gay marriage was legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia.
But only 16 of those states had affirmatively legalized same-sex marriage; the rest had bans on the books that federal courts had found unconstitutional. The Supreme Court took up the Obergefell case after the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals sustained bans in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee in November 2014. Same-sex marriage was debated for decades, but few states acted to codify such unions, such as Hawaii's move to offer reciprocal beneficiary relationships in 1997. Then Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in 2004. "We felt we were married already," Marcia Kadish later told NPR, recalling how she and Tanya McCloskey became the first same-sex couple to marry under the state's law. "This was just making it legal." And in 2015, Obergefell arrived as a watershed moment. Immediately after the ruling, same-sex couples began getting married around the country.
But as with the abortion battle over Roe v. Wade, opponents of same-sex marriage say they want the Supreme Court to reconsider its Obergefell ruling. This year, state lawmakers in Idaho, Montana, Michigan, Oklahoma and other states have taken up resolutions calling for a high court review. ... Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, who dissented in the 2015 majority ruling, have suggested they're open to that idea. In 2020, as the court declined to hear a case brought by Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Kentucky, the pair show discontent over the decision. It waits to be seen if Obergefell vs Hodges is overturned.


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