Now We Wait

The Supreme Court sits here.

Today the Supreme Court concluded two days of oral arguments involving gay marriage.  Now we will have to wait, apparently for about three months, to learn the outcome of the cases about Prop 8 and DOMA.  I think it is likely that the Court will find some middle ground which pleases no one — by, say, ruling Prop 8 unconstitutional but limiting the impact of its decision to California; and by tossing DOMA on the junk pile, but without giving gay and lesbian couples full marital rights.  If so, they will simply guarantee that the issue will return to the Court in a year or two.

One thing is sure: gay marriage is here to stay.  And in time it will become so common that only aging crabby religious types will rant and rave.  And before long they will die off and find themselves in a heaven where their opinions don't count and the population is more diverse than they ever imagined.

One issue must be dealt with apart from whatever the Court decides.  The State cannot tell the Church to whom it must offer the Sacraments.  Denominations and congregations will have to muddle through that problem on their own.  And that's as it should be. •••