Westboro Baptist Church Appeals Denied Motion To Intervene In Kansas Marriage Case

A federal judge has slapped down the Westboro Baptist Church’s request to intervene in a Kansas same-sex marriage case. The WBC is appealing.

Late last month the Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, which calls itself God Hates Fags, filed a motion to join Gov. Sam Brownback, Attorney General Derek Schmidt, and the State of Kansas in defending a ban on same-sex marriage in federal court.

A federal court judge has responded firmly, denying the motion. The WBC has now filed an appeal.

As The New Civil Rights Movement reported, the WBC’s court filing calls same-sex marriage “the number one moral issue facing this nation,” and says it is “constitutional folly to suggest that a sinful-behavior-based union should be a union that is afforded civil rights and granted the imprimatur of respectability by a license from the government.” It also warns the government that legalizing same-sex marriage “violates its duty of religious neutrality; and puts itself in the position of imposing sin on the citizens, to the great detriment and harm of the health and welfare of the citizenry.” Westboro Baptist Church claims it “has a vital interest in what the courts rule regarding this issue, as it directly impacts their religious practices.”

“Same-sex marriage will destroy Kansas,” the WBC’s brief states. “If this Court requires Kansas officials to treat what God has called abominable as something to be respected, revered, and blessed with the seal-of-approval of the government, that will cross a final line with God. The harm that will befall this state, when the condign destructive wrath of God pours out on Kansans is the ultimate harm to the health, welfare and safety of the people.”

In his response, United States District Judge Daniel Crabtree notes that because the WBC “has not carried its burden to show that the current defendants will not represent its interest adequately, the Court denies WBC motion to intervene as a matter of right without reaching the remaining factors.”

But the WBC’s two-page appeal to the 10th Circuit is anything but convincing.

Meanwhile, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late Friday denied the State’s request for an emergency stay pending appeal on the Kansas ruling, meaning same-sex couples can begin marrying Tuesday after 5:00 PM or Wednesday, barring any further interventions.

 

Image via Twitter
Judge Crabtree’s response and WBC’s appeal via Equality Case Files