I thanked God yesterday when the United States Congress passed the Respect for Marriage Act, a bipartisan bill ensuring same-sex marriage receives federal protection. In our time of deep political division, this is an extraordinary accomplishment on an issue that not-so-long-ago was one of the core battles in our culture wars. Now, same-sex couples need not depend on the shaky protections of a 2015 Supreme Court ruling, but have the full protection of federal legislation. As a church who enthusiastically practices marriage equality, this is a moment to celebrate.

It is a legislative win, however, with an asterisk. Even now, the Supreme Court is considering whether to allow discrimination against same-sex couples based on "religious freedom," and sadly, the Respect for Marriage Act does not explicitly prohibit such behavior. It's a concession that helped gain the necessary votes in the Senate, but it means there is still more work to do. We can make no allowances for any form of discrimination in our society. Just as there is no legitimate "religious freedom" exception for racial discrimination, so there should be no exceptions for discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation. One day, much as we look back with abhorrence at our ancestors' complicity in Jim Crow, our descendants will look back and wonder how we could allow for discrimination against LGBT persons.

But for now, I hope you share my relief and joy at another step in the direction of equality for all. In our world filled with seemingly intractable problems, this is a reminder that progress is possible, or as Dr. King famously said, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. May the Lord bless our efforts to move even further down that arc.

Father Casey