"Permitting same-sex marriage reduces structural stigma associated with sexual orientation," said study leader Julia Raifman, of Johns Hopkins University. There may be something about having equal rights - even if they have no immediate plans to take advantage of them - that makes students feel less stigmatized and more hopeful for the future."

The group explains that it seeks to "create a world where gender or sexual identity are not barriers to living the whole, full lives that we are called to by God."

Christians in liturgical traditions apply ashes made from palm branches blessed on Palm Sunday, placing them on the heads of participants to the accompaniment of the words "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" or "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return".

Various other evangelical denominational leaders, authors, seminary presidents, and ministry leaders—among them National Association of Evangelicals President Leith Anderson, New York Times bestselling author Ann Voskamp, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Daniel Akin, and Open Doors USA President and CEO David Curry—also affirmed the letter. The full text of the letter, with the list of its signatories, is available at worldrelief.org/refugee-letter.

This Second Civil War, fortunately, differs in another critically important way: It has thus far been largely nonviolent. But given increasing left-wing violence, such as riots, the taking over of college presidents' offices and the illegal occupation of state capitols, nonviolence is not guaranteed to be a permanent characteristic of the Second Civil War.