“Sad day –sad, sad, day—for Floridians and United States.”

Unless you are one of the couples who have been denied marrying the person you love for decades. Then it’s really just about the happiest of days

I don’t know why you pin your emotional state on the status of other people’s relationships but you might want to re-think that one. It doesn’t seem healthy.

Words have meanings.
Actions have consequences.
The writers of the 14th did not limit the scope of effect.
Those who approved the 14th didn’t insist it be changed.
Those who swore to uphold the Constitution — even as amended — swore they did so without mental reservation.
All honest people are bound by their word.

David for honest people

Sure it does.

That is much of what it was formed to do. Not a particular action, of course, but any disputes between state laws and the supreme governing law of the USA. When we formed the USA, we agreed federal law overrode lower laws unless otherwise stated. Well, actually, state power overrode federal unless otherwise stated, but the 14th flipped the order regarding civil rights.

David for truth

“§ 1871. The real object of the amendment was, not to countenance, much less to advance Mahometanism, or Judaism, or infidelity, by prostrating Christianity; but to exclude all rivalry among Christian sects, and to prevent any national ecclesiastical establishment, which should give to an hierarchy the exclusive patronage of the national government.”

“Thus, the whole power over the subject of religion is left exclusively to the state governments, to be acted upon according to their own sense of justice, and the state constitutions; and the Catholic and the Protestant, the Calvinist and the Armenian, the Jew and the. Infidel, may sit down at the common table of the national councils, without any inquisition into their faith, or mode of worship.”

Under the Constitution the States and local governments were allowed and did have say in such matters. I’m sure you’ll say “but the 14th amendment”. The 14th amendment was written to protect the rights of former slaves not to nullify the original intent of the 1st amendment.

The sad fact is some rulings are about what some judges want the law to say and not what the law actually meant.

The “establishment of religion” clause of the First Amendment means at least this: Neither a state nor the federal government can set up a church. Neither can pass laws which aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another. Neither can force nor influence a person to go to or to remain away from church against his will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion. No person can be punished for entertaining or professing religious beliefs or disbeliefs, for church attendance or non-attendance.

No tax in any amount, large or small, can be levied to support any religious activities or institutions, whatever they may be called, or whatever form they may adopt to teach or practice religion. Neither a state nor the Federal Government can, openly or secretly, participate in the affairs of any religious organizations or groups and vice versa. In the words of Jefferson, the clause against establishment of religion by law was intended to erect “a wall of separation between church and State.”