A Coming W.Va. Battle in the Culture Wars

West Virginia's Supreme Court recently agreed to hear the appeal of a same-sex couple fighting to regain custody of a child they've raised since birth, and a pair of conservative Christian groups have weighed in against them.

The Family Policy Council of West Virginia, aided by the national Alliance Defense Fund, has filed a "friend of the court" brief arguing that "it is in the best interests of all children to be brought up, as natural children are, in a home with a married mother and father."

The state group has also been recruiting pastors and others to press the Legislature and Gov. Joe Manchin "to pass a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage," The Associated Press reported last year.

The Charleston Daily Mail earlier previewed the pending custody case, which arises from a Fayette County circuit judge's ruling against the couple.

MetroNews reported on this week's amicus brief, and also has audio.

Update: On a related note, The Charleston Gazette reports that a state senator plans to push this session for a West Virginia specialty license plate reading "In God We Trust."