Posted on 07/26/2015 5:16:42 PM PDT by NRx
Linda Summers, a former deputy clerk in the Harrison County, Indiana Superior Court Clerk's Office, last week filed a federal court lawsuit alleging violation of her First Amendment free exercise rights. religious discrimination in employment. The Louisville Courier Journal reports that after the U.S. Supreme Court denied review of a case from Indiana upholding marriage equality, County Clerk Sally Whitis sent an e-mail to all employees telling them that even if it conflicted with their religious beliefs, they were required to process licenses for same-sex couples. Summers responded with a hand-delivered letter asking that she not be required to do so based on her religious beliefs. She was fired for insubordination. The lawsuit seeks damages and a change in employment practices.
UPDATE: Despite the Courier Journal's quote from plaintiff's counsel that the lawsuit is "just a generic First Amendment free exercise case", now that I have a copy of the complaint it appears that the suit is based on Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Here is the full text of the complaint in Summers v. Whitis, (SD IN, (filed 7/17/2015).
Obama’s America.
You must assist in abortion practices even if it goes against your religious beliefs.
You have to have insurance that covers contraceptives even if it goes against your religious beliefs.
You have to bake cakes and issue licenses for fake gay mirages even if it goes against your religious beliefs.
What the HELL don’t they get about religious beliefs not being infringed by government.
If we cannot live and practice and NOT be forced to be involved in sinful behaviors, our practice of religion is being infringed.
We are being tested.
Thanks to sodomite Obama, sodomite Roberts. The list goes on. God’s judgment and wrath will trump all. God bless this woman for standing on faith and rejecting a perverse agenda.
It says “Congress shall make no law” however if nine people in black robes make a law without authority how will that play out in their court?
The First Amendment clearly protects religious freedom by name, it does not say anything about sodomy as a right.
That is where the President says we are not enforcing that law, that the court cannot create law.
That is also where Congress takes the matter out of the Courts jurisdiction via a law. Also citing the Court is not permitted to create law.
There is a “reasonable accommodation” requirement for religious beliefs. Before firing this clerk, they must determine that there is no accommodation possible in doing the job.
Succinct and well said. I hope at least one person on our side said such a clear sentence somewhere in their arugment, even though it apparently didn’t land on 5 of the bastards.
Well since we are on this topic. Watch how this newly married gay couple get offended by a local community paper and even defend Vladimir Lenin.
http://bigjollypolitics.com/reader-leader-dare-publish-letter-disrespecting-vladimir-lenin/
As far as I know that has never happened up on the Hill. The current Resident does not enforce many laws made by Congress but does enforce those made by “his” courts.
The court made a “ruling” which applies ONLY to the litigants involved. This “ruling” has no effect on present state-enacted same sex marriage laws.
It does not please me at all to say that of course, but the person working the job as an agent of the state must be able to do so regardless of religious beliefs.
If they cannot issue the license then they can be fired or transferred to another job if possible.
Linda is a cousin on my fathers’ side and Sally a cousin from mothers. Several others in the office were available to serve the couple but I understand Sally insisted Linda do it. Kind of a personality conflict....seemed avoidable. Linda’s not the type to back down.... we’ll see how this plays out.
Matthew 6:24
No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
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