On one side of this debate over a county clerk’s refusal to issue marriage licenses to gay couples is a former Republican southern governor, Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, who says the dispute proves that government is trying to “criminalize Christianity.”
On the other side is a sitting governor, Republican John Kasich of Ohio, who says the county clerk must follow the law, which requires her to issue the licenses to those who ask for them, regardless of their sexual orientation. Both men are running for president of the United States.
I’ll stand with Gov. Kasich.
Rowan County (Ky.) Clerk Kim Davis is in a federal lockup for refusing to do her job. Kasich doesn’t like that she’s in jail. Frankly, I don’t like it, either. I just wish Davis would resign her public office on the grounds that she cannot perform the duties required of her. If she wants to stand behind her Christian belief, that’s fine with me … and she’s totally within her rights as a U.S. citizen to do so.
As for Huckabee and his overheated response to the Davis brouhaha, well, no one is “criminalizing” anyone for their beliefs. He should know better than to mutter such demagoguery.
All public officials swear to uphold the law, which states that gay people are entitled to get married. They need a license to do so. That means county clerks are required to issue them.
If you can’t do the job because of your religious beliefs, then quit.
There will be no criminal charges filed, Ms. Davis. Honest.