- Social:
Catholics for the Common Good
Chairman of Catholics for the Common Good and author of Getting the Marriage Conversation Right: A Guide for Effective Dialogue
PROFILE
William May
Guest
FROM William May
Which Way, L.A.?
Will California's Proposition 8 Survive the US Supreme Court? Much has changed since Proposition 8 passed in 2008 and polls show that if it were on the California ballot now, it would be likely to fail. Today, at the US Supreme Court , Justice Anthony Kennedy, often the decider between his four liberal and four conservative colleagues, acknowledged that Prop 8 has taken the court into "uncharted waters." Liberal Justice Sonya Sotomayor posed the question, "If the issue is letting the States experiment and letting the society have more time to figure out its direction, why is taking a case now the answer?" We search for answers to that and other questions.
Which Way, L.A.?
Same-Sex Marriage, Gender and the Prop 8 Ruling Same-sex marriage has become a national issue since federal Judge Vaughn Walker overturned Proposition 8 , in which California voters banned a practice that had only been legal for a few months. One aspect of Walker's ruling that has been overlooked is the role played by the women's movement. We hear from two journalists and a well-known scholar who's married to another man, but still says the judge's decision was too much, too soon.
To the Point
Same-Sex Marriage, Tradition and the Status of Women If women are equal under the law, then a ban on same-sex marriage is legalized discrimination . That was part of last week's ruling against Proposition 8 in California. Federal Judge Vaughn Walker relied more on the women's movement than he did on gay rights. Are his arguments likely to fly in the US Supreme Court? Is marriage a union of equals? What about the basic traditions of major religions? Are voters wrong to assert those values over the strict rules of law? Should the tyranny of the majority prevail over minority rights? Should such decisions be made by judges or by the political process? We look at some of the basic disputes set off by Walker's decision as it begins the long road through the federal courts.
Recommended
To the Point
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?
To the Point
What is Trump's plan for Middle East peace? On his first foreign tour, President Trump has promised "peace" between Israel and the Palestinians. Are there any details for re-starting talks that have been stalled for the past three years?
To the Point
The Trump agenda: where's the beef? President Trump says big things are happening. After celebrating a House bill on health care, he doesn’t yet have Senate agreement. With James Comey’s public testimony scheduled tomorrow, the President today tweeted his selection of a new FBI Director. Is the Chief Executive all style and no substance? Later, terror attacks in Iran and conflicting claims about who’s behind them.