You may recall Casey Davis, the county clerk for Casey County in Kentucky, who decided that his religious beliefs did not permit him to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples but, unlike the clerks in a neighboring county who resigned because of similar beliefs, Davis felt that he had every right to stay in office while not doing his job.
The governor of Kentucky Steve Brashear was having none of it and ordered Davis to issue licenses or resign but Davis is standing, or at least leaning, firm.
Davis said that he was disappointed with the governor and that he would continue to refuse to issue marriage licenses and would not resign.
He acknowledged that he is concerned about being sued or being charged with official misconduct but that he has learned “to lean on the Lord.”
Before entering the meeting with Beshear, Davis, with his wife of 23 years, Christy Davis, at his side, said he was willing to go to jail for his religious beliefs.
“If that’s what it takes to express freedom of religion, I’m willing to do this,” the clerk said.
Davis and others like him face lawsuits and contempt citations, not jail, at least not immediately. He and his supporters want the governor to call a special session of the legislature to address same-sex marriage issues, though what they can do in light of the definitive US Supreme Court ruling is not clear. Some seek to create an online licensing process so that those like Davis who have been washed in the blood of Jesus and are thus pure will not have to taint themselves by physically handling the forms.
Another county clerk named Kim Davis is also refusing to issue same-sex licenses leading to protests.
These religious people are weird.
self serving satanists gonna accomplish nothing of value to anyone
“These religious people are
weirdcruel .”How quickly the religious label themselves “martyrs” when they’re not even under threat, let alone suffering or facing death. Being fired or reprimanded for not doing their jobs is not “oppression”, it is something they agreed to when they were hired.
On the contrary, these are the types who would happily turn LGBTQ people into martyrs as some of their ilk did to Matthew Shepard. Those who pose the threat are not practicing “self-defense” nor “ethical defiance”.
But apparently, he’s not willing to go find a different job for his religious beliefs. Of course, if he simply changed jobs, he wouldn’t be able to leverage his martyrship into a nice career on the religious speaking circuit.
I think this Christian wannabe martyrdom that seems to be a common desire among the fringe is actually a lot more understandable than it appears at first. It’s simple, really. They’re so obviously wrong they’re having problems even selling the idea to themselves.
What do you do at that point? Just admit you’re not a very good person and move on? Yeah, that doesn’t happen very often. Rather than deal with a very sobering mea culpa like that it’s much easier to copy the traits of the good guys and just pretend they fit you. The “martyrs” get so much support because there are others like them just desperate to sell themselves on the idea that they’re actually good people and they’re not just being bigoted assholes.
People who “lean on the Lord” often describe their faith as a pillar, but at this point it becomes obvious that it’s a crutch.
thebookofdave:
They’re free to lean on that crutch, too (though I might use my Free Speech to point and laugh sometimes).
It’s just when they use it to beat other people over the head and take their equal rights that it’s so unacceptable!
I would hope none of the government agencies sue, prosecute, or jail these assholes. Just fire them from their jobs and move on. Best with a minimal of exposure.