GOP Gov. Decides After 'Immense Struggle' Not to Appeal Striking of PA Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Christian Post ^ | 05/27/2014 | Anugr

[SeekAndFind]

Pennsylvania's Republican Gov. Tom Corbett decided not to challenge a federal judge's ruling overturning his state's same-sex marriage ban after an "immense struggle" due to "his religious beliefs based on his Catholic upbringing and teachings," an aide says.

"The governor personally struggled immensely with this decision," Corbett's chief of staff, Leslie Gromis Baker, tells Philly.com. "Prior to the opinion being released, the governor was conflicted between his personal and religious beliefs based on his Catholic upbringing and teachings, and the legal arguments that were made in Judge Jones' opinion."

"Given the high legal threshold set forth by Judge Jones in this case, the case is extremely unlikely to succeed on appeal," Corbett said in a statement Wednesday, the day after Judge John E. Jones III overturned the state's 1996 law defining marriage as between men and women.

"Therefore, after review of the opinion and on the advice of my Commonwealth legal team, I have decided not appeal," said Corbett, who's just won the GOP's primary in pursuit of a re-election bid. He added though that he personally believes "that marriage is between one man and one woman."

When the ruling came, Corbett was preparing to be re-nominated, the governor's aides were quoted as saying. After the primary-night party in Pittsburgh, Corbett took home the judgment and read it several times.

Judge Jones concluded in the 39-page decision, "That same-sex marriage causes discomfort in some does not make its prohibition constitutional. Nor can past tradition trump the bedrock constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection. Were that not so, ours would still be a racially segregated nation according to the now rightfully discarded doctrine of 'separate but equal.'"

Pennsylvania's Attorney General Kathleen Kane has also stated that she will not defend the gay marriage ban due to "the unconstitutionality of this law."

Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, sharply criticized Corbett.

"Marriage is a unique public good that deserves a vigorous defense; however Governor Corbett has refused to step up to the task, and chosen instead to defend himself and his political aspirations," Brown said in a statement. "Governor Corbett is abandoning marriage with this choice. He is also turning his back on the people of Pennsylvania and selling out his principles precisely when it is most necessary that he stand by them!"

Federal judges in many states have struck down state amendments and laws banning same-sex marriage as unconstitutional since the U.S. Supreme Court last June squashed a key part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA. They have revoked bans also in Michigan, Utah, Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia, and ordered Kentucky and Tennessee to recognize out-of-state gay marriages. However, in many cases, stays have been issued pending appeals.

Same-sex marriage is currently recognized in 19 states – California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington – and the District of Columbia.

[Genoa]

Spare us, RINO.

[capydick]

So much for States rights.........

[steve86]

No Catholic can preside over this. If can can’t continue fighting it, he must resign (or just admit he is no longer Catholic).

[frogjerk]

Satan: “Next!...”

[Dr. Thorne]

Here’s the immense struggle: “What impact will this have on my political career?”

[TitansAFC]

He's going to lose his Governor's race to Wolf, and good riddance to him. Let the Democrats be the Democrats - I'm tired of the Republicans being Democrats.

[Engraved-on-His-hands]

Repeal Lawrence v. Texas.

[lee martell]

A lot of us citizens still do not support this, but our elected judges and attorney generals refuse to uphold and defend the law. Meanwhile, the media serves as uninhibited cheerleader and lobbyist for this ‘cause’. A new definition of marriage exclusively for hetro-couples will need to be created. We were not prepared for this government imposed mandate.

[grania]

So few Republicans in office really support the interests of constitutional conservatives, except for a path to getting elected. It seems that as soon as they can, they find an excuse to betray their constituency.

It seems that PA and OH sheare more than a border....they share a problem. Both states have elected Republican US Senators and governors, hoping for some sanity. And, look what we get.

[frogjerk]

Luke 12:47-48

"Yet it is the servant who knew his Lord’s will, and did not make ready for him, or do his will, that will have many strokes of the lash; he who did not know of it, yet earned a beating, will have only a few. Much will be asked of the man to whom much has been given; more will be expected of him, because he was entrusted with more."

[Digger]

I know nothing about him but this guy sounds like a RINO & seems to be road kill. I’m really sick of these so-called catholics who refuse to stand for their beliefs.

[frogjerk]

A new definition of marriage exclusively for hetro-couples will need to be created.

It is not needed and already exists. Holy Matrimony. Live it and Preach it in Christ, Jesus.

[Yosemitest]

Piece of crap Republican DEMOCRAT IN HIDING Gov. Tom Corbett, you stinking RINO.
We WILL NOT forget ! ! !

This is what we get when we FAIL to OBEY God.
For it is written:

“ For whosoever shall commit ANY of these abominations,
even the SOULS that commit them
SHALL BE CUT OFF from among their people. ”

Those who support homosexuals are against our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
These anti Christ people only bring destruction on us ALL.
I have NO sympathy for homosexuals!

Homosexuality is a "Mark" of disobedience.

It was given by our Heavenly Father to test us
to see ... if we will OBEY our Heavenly Father,
and abide by His commandments, statues, and ordinances.

Someone once asked

"Why are they [homosexuals] all so angry?"

The answer is in the definition of "REPROBATE".

rep·ro·bate \ˈre-prə-ˌbāt\ a. [L. reprobatus, reprobo, to disallow; re and probo, to prove.]

1. Not enduring proof or trial; not of standard purity or fineness; disallowed; rejected.


Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. Jer. 6.




2. Abandoned in sin; lost to virtue or grace.

They profess that they know God, but in works deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. Titus 1.

3. Abandoned to error, or in apostasy. 2Tim. 3.

And the reason"why" is given in the Bible.

God has a cure for homosexuals.

But will we OBEY our Heavenly Father?

"Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect
that God is just,
that his justice cannot sleep forever."

[stevio]

Corbett sucks so bad. Raises the gasoline tax to build roads near Philly. Doesn’t push back on voter ID. Let’s this one go too. What’s the difference between him and Wolf?

[smoothsailing]

Hey Judge Jones, can I marry my pet turtle? How about my toaster oven, can I marry it?

Jones, you friggin retard.

[Buckeye McFrog]

What’s the difference between him and Wolf?

I fear we are about to find out. Wolf is WAAAAAAY out there on the Left. Corbett is running up the white flag on gay marriage. Wolf will probably conduct the forced busing of gay couples into your neighborhood to marry on your lawn. Corbett has largely held the line on taxes, aside from that stupid highway bill. Wolf is gonna tax everything that breathes and is not nailed down. Corbett is a putz, but Wolf is gonna be WAAAAAY worse!

[stevio]

I know what you’re saying, I’ll probably “hold my nose” and vote for Corbett in the fall. But damn.