Julie Shilling, 4th Period. Following the laws of the United States or letting personal religion decide what laws to follow? 9-6-15.

Kim Davis is a Kentucky county clerk.  One of her jobs is to issue marriage licenses to people of her county.  She has had several gay couples come into her clerk’s office seeking marriage licenses since Kentucky law now permits same sex marriage.  Each time a gay couple arrives, she denies them a marriage license stating that giving them that license offends her religious beliefs.  Lawsuits were filed demanding that Ms. Davis follow the law and issue the licenses.  She refused.  The judge in one of the lawsuits reminded her that she took an oath under god that she would follow the rule of law and support that law.  She could not pick and choose what laws she would follow.  She continued to argue that her religious beliefs were more important than any law.  The judge gave her a chance to follow the law or be in contempt of court.  She chose to follow her religious beliefs and the judge jailed her for contempt.  She stays in jail.  The judge told her 5 clerks that if they did not issue licenses, they would also be jailed.  They have agreed to issue licenses.  Ms. Davis says those are not valid unless she signs them.  She has not given up her fight and remains jailed.  The judge in the case noted that when working for the government, all people take an oath, under God, to follow the rules of law.  He has noted she is breaking that oath.  He also notes that she could avoid this dispute by following the law or getting a job where she does not have to take an oath. 

The judge has been saying that Ms. Davis can have any religious beliefs she wants, but she still has a job to do as a clerk.  She gave an oath that she would carry out her job.  Her job requires her to issue marriage licenses to all people, whether she wants to or not.  The judge says that oaths, made under God, mean something, and she has to follow the oath she gave.  She swore to God that she would follow the laws of the country and now she says her religion prevents her from doing her job.  She needs to make a choice.  If she wants to be a clerk then she should know that she may have to do things she doesn’t like.  If it really offends her, then she needs to know that this job might not be for her.  When she started the job, she had to know her oath meant something.  She can’t act surprised now that she is asked to follow a certain law especially when a court is telling you to follow the law. 

https://www.metroweekly.com/2015/09/kim-davis-chooses-to-stay-in-jail-snubbing-court/