Just over a decade ago marriage equality found its way to the United States. 11 years later, despite (dwindling) protests from some Christians, more than half of the United States allows for same-sex couples to marry. Experts speculate, come this June, marriage equality will be federal law.

Like it or not.

Still, not everyone acknowledges the inevitable. There are futile attempts to push back on equality. The newest one, The Two Shall Become One Flesh: Reclaiming Marriage IS signed by almost 50 prominent evangelicals and Catholics. David Gibson reported on an advanced copy of the manifesto for RNS saying it reads like “a declaration of war.” The proclamation has just been released on conservative publication First Things for the general public.

But in my review of the manifesto, I’m left with more questions than answers.

What’s the point?

It doesn’t provide any new arguments against same-sex marriage. It’s not like anyone has forgotten the stance taken by the Catholic Church and a majority of evangelical denominations on this issue. The text only serves to reiterate a viewpoint that has already been explained time and time again. The reason for its publication eludes me— and prompts my second question.

Who is this for?

The document was published in a conservative journal with an audience who will only be enthusiastically nodding their heads to every sentence. There isn’t really anyone who hasn’t heard at the focal points of these document. The document says the statement is written for Christians by Christians. Have conservatives not felt their argument was clearly laid out before?

Where’s the proof?

I’ve never been one to take things at face value. I’ve always been inquisitive, even as a child, I would continually ask questions. I didn’t want to be told what to do or what to think. I wanted to be told why I shouldn’t do something or why I should agree with something. I insisted on reasons or facts backing it.

The manifesto offered none of that. It mentions “studies” with no actual citations.

For example, the document claims that marriage is an essential component to the well-being of society without every giving explanation as to how.

The document goes on and on about 50 years of trends in divorce and abortion rates and out of wedlock births. Although no links are given to the source of these grim numbers, it really doesn’t matter.

Even if those statistics are accurate – they are irrelevant to making a case against marriage equality. If anything, it only proves the so-called demise of marriage has been happening way before marriage equality came about.
How is marriage equality worse than divorce and cohabitation?

Perhaps the most egregious statement of them all is where the authors claim that same-sex marriage is worse than divorce or cohabitation.

“An easy acceptance of divorce damages marriage; widespread cohabitation devalues marriage,” says the document. “But so-called same-sex marriage is a graver threat, because what is now given the name of marriage in law is a parody of marriage.”

The authors take it upon themselves to create a hierarchy of sin that isn’t found in scripture. But that’s truly what the marriage debate is about. Those Christians who truly believe that LGBT individuals who are in committed monogamous relationships that are sexually intimate are sinning and that sin is somehow worse in the eyes of the God. It’s worse than adultery, divorce, or those who engage in premarital sex.

In a way, they have idolatrized the LGBT question putting it on a pedestal above all other “sins.” In theory, no sin is greater in the eyes of the Lord. The way the First Things manifesto crowd responds to LGBT topics shows they don’t quite agree with the bible on this.

If they did, they would have manifestos condemning those who are divorced or commit adultery. We don’t see manifestos signed by religious leaders across denominations on any other topics.

No, this is the one that brings everyone together.

Which again, is futile, because come this June the U.S. Supreme Court is likely to bring everyone together under one constitutional view – that marriage is a civil right.