The Issuance of PA Same-Sex Marriage Licenses Declared Illegal by Court Order

PHILADELPHIA – Last week, Sam Rohrer, President of the Pennsylvania Pastors’ Network (PPN, www.papastors.net) praised the decision of Judge Dan Pellegrini to cease the issuance of illegal same-sex marriage licenses in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Earlier this summer, the PPN held a press conference at the State Capitol in Harrisburg to denounce Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s statement that she would refuse to defend Pennsylvania’s marriage law, apparently believing herself to be above the laws she personally disagrees with, as well as her own oath of office. Kane’s comments and blatant refusal to fulfill her oath of office paved the way for random acts of lawlessness from other public officials, by openly showing contempt and a refusal to obey laws she personally dislikes.

Following Kane’s example of disregarding the law, Montgomery County Register of Wills, D. Bruce Hanes began issuing marriage licenses to more than 170 homosexual couples, which is in clear violation of Pennsylvania law and the legal definition of marriage in the Commonwealth. This situation was also addressed at the PPN press conference in July.

The actions of these two elected officials reveal a growing and troubling tendency among those in public office to hold themselves above the law by refusing to abide by duly enacted laws.  Sam Rohrer, however, isn’t surprised.  “Acts like these occur whenever individuals reject the premise that Truth exists and place their opinions above the law. Once people and a culture reject the reality of Absolute Truth, a breakdown in law predictably results. God makes this universal fact clear throughout the Bible. William Penn made it clear – right here in Pennsylvania – that a free republic could only exist if the people and those in office governed themselves according to the 10 Commandments of God (Higher Law). Our Founders knew that without the submission to Higher Law, tyranny and bondage result. What we’re seeing here in Pennsylvania and in similar actions across the nation, is lawlessness that if left unaddressed will result in the loss of freedom for all.”.”

Rohrer added, “While Judge Pellegrini is to be applauded for his ruling that respects current state law, his own personal views notwithstanding, other judges have not shown such judicial restraint in respecting the boundaries of their office.” 

 “At the end of the day, an applied Biblical worldview is the only worldview that has the potential to renew our nation. From the views of William Penn and the Holy Experiment of self-government according to the Bible, to the signers of the Declaration of Independence, these men risked their lives because they recognized this Biblical worldview. These pertinent views include the concept that there is God, that He created man in His image and gave him unalienable rights, that government is to be limited and all in government are under authority to Higher Law (God Himself) and that we will all give account one day to God as the Great Judge of the Universe. These are the Biblical beliefs that transcended backgrounds, ethnicities, and politics. It is the Bible that can unite us in a deep and intrinsic understanding of the value and dignity of each and every human life – a principle deeply etched in our nation’s founding documents.  Any society that rejects a Biblical worldview is headed in one direction and one direction only; lawlessness.  Whether we choose to admit it or not, we are seeing clear evidence of a trend in the actions of US Executive Branch and Justice Department, the CA Legislature and Executive Branch, AG Kathleen Kane and Bruce Hanes.  Without an appropriate act of the Legislatures to further discipline these clear violations of the oath of office, blatant acts of lawlessness will only increase.”

The Pennsylvania Pastors’ Network is a group of biblically faithful clergy and church liaisons whose objective is to build a permanent infrastructure of like-minded clergy who affirm the authority of Scripture, take seriously Jesus’ command to be the “salt and light” to the culture, encourage informed Christian thinking about contemporary social issues; examine public policy issues without politicizing their pulpits and engage their congregations in taking part in our political process on a non-partisan basis.

The Pennsylvania Pastors’ Network is a state chapter affiliate of the American Pastors’ Network.  The American Pastors’ Network is a Ministry Program Affiliate of Capstone Legacy Foundation (a 501 C3 non-profit organization). To contact them visit. www.papastors.net or call 610.584.1225.