If the Supreme Court rules in favor of gay marriage, opponents and the rest of society will have to "move forward," says Sen. Lindsey Graham.
The South Carolina Republican made the comments during an appearance on Boston Herald Radio, and said he's not convinced the court will rule that bans on same-sex marriage are unconstitutional.
"Well, can you be for traditional marriage? Yes. Am I for traditional marriage? Yes, I believe marriage has stood the test of time between a man and a woman, ordained by God, and that's — most societies have been organized around that concept," said Graham, who is expected to announce a presidential bid.
"Things are changing, so at the end of the day, being for traditional marriage without animosity is where I stand. If the Supreme Court rules sometime this year that same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional, then that will be a defining moment in that debate. It will be time for us to move forward as a society.
"I just don't see how you get a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman ratified by three-fourths of the states, given the way the lay of the land is today," Graham added.
"So, the court's gonna hear the case. People who are social conservative, hold your head up high. Be proud of speaking for the unborn. I'm a pro-life guy with exceptions of rape and incest. When a woman is raped, it is not the will of God, it is a crime, and the perpetrator should be punished accordingly. The woman will make that decision about what to do after being the victim of a crime."
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In February, Graham's close friend and fellow Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona
said Graham can't be counted out if he decides to enter the presidential race.
"I think Lindsey Graham will do very well in debates in New Hampshire. He will shine in the town hall meeting," McCain said.
The
Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in a case that could nullify same-sex marriage. Currently it is legal in 36 states plus the District of Columbia.
Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy could hold the deciding votes in the case that has already split the nation.
Public support for gay marriage has risen over the past decade, according to the results of a
study released last month.
Conservative commentator
Glenn Beck has predicted that half of the churchgoers in America would stop attending church within five years if the court legalized gay marriage.
"If gay marriage goes through the Supreme Court and gay marriage becomes fine and they can put teeth in it — so now they can go after the churches — 50 percent of our churches will fall away, meaning the congregations," Beck said last week on his radio show.
"Within five years, the congregations, 50 percent of the congregants, will fall away from their church because they won't be able to take the persecution."
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