Rowan Clerk refuses Same Sex Marriage License

[jedimaster91]

While I am uncomfortable with "da gubmint" forcing someone to do something against their religious beliefs, if you work for a government entity, either suck it up and do your job or quit. It's that simple.

[Gravekeeper]

While I am uncomfortable with "da gubmint" forcing someone to do something against their religious beliefs, if you work for a government entity, either suck it up and do your job or quit. It's that simple.

Furthermore, she's an elected official. Which means she actively ran for government office in a secular government whose very foundation is the separation of church and state. >.>

[NorthernZel]

If the person says, "I'm sorry, I can't do this because of $belief, let me pass you on to the next clerk who will be happy to help you," I don't really have a problem with it. It's stupid, but people are allowed to be stupid.

If the person says, "I'm sorry, I can't do this because of $belief and because I'm the only one authorized to do this, it sucks to be you," they deserve to be fired for failure to perform their duties.

Fun fact, that's EXACTLY what the rules are over here when it comes with same-sex CHURCH weddings (same-sex civil unions have been legal here since 1989).

A priest is rightfully entitled to deny to perform a same-sex wedding due to religious beliefs. But in that case, he or she IS OBLIGATED to refer to another priest that would be more than happy to perform the ceremony.

[KabeRinnaul]

If the person says, "I'm sorry, I can't do this because of $belief, let me pass you on to the next clerk who will be happy to help you," I don't really have a problem with it. It's stupid, but people are allowed to be stupid.

While to some extent I get the argument about people being able to pass off the marriage licenses to someone else who's working there, I have trouble agreeing with it when you look at the big picture.

Every time I see that suggestion, I can only think of this scene: https://www.simpsonsworld.com/video/...e/294786627843

My bigger concern would be the offices where Pam says she can't because it's against her beliefs, so go ask Sandy, but it's against her beliefs, so go ask Mary, but it's against her beliefs... Sorry you had to wait in line five times, but looks like it's against the beliefs of the whole office! Try the next county over.

[Kheldarson]

And Supreme Court has denied her request for a stay: http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/R...vice=phone&c=y

[Gravekeeper]

And Supreme Court has denied her request for a stay: http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/R...vice=phone&c=y

Lawl. I'm not surprised and neither should she be. But she probably is. ;p

[Greenday]

And Supreme Court has denied her request for a stay: http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/R...vice=phone&c=y

If you refuse to do your job, you don't deserve your job.

[s_stabeler]

and now she's decided to continue refusing to issue marriage licenses. Despite the fact that a judge specifically ordered her to start issuing licenses again. I'm beginning to think she's hoping that she will be fired, so she can try to be something of a martyr- or claim discrimination in the hope of getting a ruling that clerks can't be stopped from refusing licenses on religious grounds.

[the_std]

I can't help but feel like she's being directed in her actions by someone wanting to use her grandstanding for their own gain. Political, ideological, religious, something. This just all feels like she's following someone else's orders. This is just pure speculation on my part, of course.

[Daskinor]

She is being represented by the Liberty Counsel, who mainly sit around all day in there fortress of doom coming up with anti gay legislation and litigating against gay rights.

Those lawyers are pulling her strings setting her up as some kind of martyr. For either, another go in the supreme court. OR Donations.

Otherwise since she is an elected official(because Kentucky is weird), she simply can not be fired. She needs to be arrested and replaced, or removed from office through official means. And no one wants to kick that hornets nest.

Everyone is hoping now she will give up. But in a couple of days I think she will be held in contempt with a daily fine.

[Greenday]

Pretty sure she is in contempt of court. Just jail her ass, slap down the religious zealots, and move on with our lives.

[s_stabeler]

problem. Contempt of Court- at least civil contempt, which is the one where a judge just slaps you with it- has to be coercive- to get you to actually comply with the court order in this case- not punitive. For it to be punitive, she would ahve to be charged with criminal contempt, and go through a full trial. ( basically, the legal theory is that since the sanction is automatically lifted upon compliance in civil contempt, it doesn't need the same due process requirements. ( so, in this case, she would be free of sanctions by just allowing one couple to marry)

[Gravekeeper]

She has to stand before a judge on Thursday and explain why she should not be held in contempt. Also, its come out now that she only "found" her "Christian faith" 4 years ago. >.>

[Rapscallion]

Yeah, I saw that about the faith discovery four years ago, which does sort of decimate the claims that she had four husbands against biblical teaching etc. I find it cleaner to stick to the facts - she's ignoring the law for her own ethics and shouldn't be doing that job.

Rapscallion

[Kara_CS]

She said she is ready to "face her judgment." She wants to go to jail. She is actively, blatantly building a case for a discrimination lawsuit for having her "freedom of religion" violated. It will fail, but it won't matter because the picture of her being escorted out of her office in handcuffs will be all over Fox "news" and will spark her GoFundMe retirement account. She is grandstanding her way to false martyrdom for personal gain.