[Conscience of a Conservative]

I would imagine the cook would be allowed to forego handling the pork, and would be assigned some other job that day.

But that’s not quite what’s going on here. This clerk is not only not handling marriage licenses herself, she’s preventing anyone else in the county clerk’s office from doing so.

So, a more analogous situation would be this: Suppose a devout muslim became head of a count DMV office, and had a religious belief that women should not be permitted to drive. Would it be OK if women could not obtain drivers licenses at that DMV office?

[Leaning Right]

This clerk is not only not handling marriage licenses herself, she’s preventing anyone else in the county clerk’s office from doing so.

Now, that's an interesting point. And it certainly complicates the issue.

[MortMan]

To accept that KY law now requires giving same-sex marriage licenses, one has to accept that the SCOTUS ruling did not invalidate existing KY law, but rather rewrote it.

In other words, the court acted as a legislature for the state of KY.

[DiogenesLamp]

So, a more analogous situation would be this: Suppose a devout muslim became head of a count DMV office, and had a religious belief that women should not be permitted to drive. Would it be OK if women could not obtain drivers licenses at that DMV office?

I don't recognize you people anymore. Why are there so many of you who focus on the command structure of this government rather than the natural law foundation of it?

We have become new Rome, and everyone is fine with Caligula appointing a Horse to the Senate. Not a one of you "do her job" types seems to recognize the ridiculousness of applying perversion to legality, nor the fact that this was done by Diktat by Kooks on the Court with absolutely no support in the legal foundations of this Nation.

They "made up" this law that all of you are so intent on getting someone to enforce.

[Leaning Right]

I thought a little more about your interesting post #8. You've got me wavering, just a bit. But just for kicks, let me throw out this hypothetical. Suppose a devout Muslim was the manager of a government cafeteria. And suppose he, as a matter of course, refused to have any pork products in his cafeteria. No bacon for breakfast, no BLT sandwiches for lunch, etc.

Would he get an exemption, because otherwise no devout Muslim could ever become a manager there. Or would he be forced to resign? It's probably the latter, but in today's environment one never knows.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: This clerk is not only not handling marriage licenses herself, she’s preventing anyone else in the county clerk’s office from doing so.

So, what’s her problem? Is it because she has to SIGN the marriage license?

Why can’t there be a compromise that allows somebody else to sign it?

[ctdonath2]

Well, that’s basically an elected official understandably deciding that a law, which she and her office are otherwise obligated to follow, is illegal/immoral and that as administrator it is proper for her to refuse carrying it out via her subordinates.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a bright line dividing your drivers’ license example from, say, facilitating genocide (as a clear real-world extreme case).

[SoothingDave]

But that’s not quite what’s going on here. This clerk is not only not handling marriage licenses herself, she’s preventing anyone else in the county clerk’s office from doing so. So, a more analogous situation would be this: Suppose a devout muslim became head of a count DMV office, and had a religious belief that women should not be permitted to drive. Would it be OK if women could not obtain drivers licenses at that DMV office?

Exactly.

This foolish crusade this woman is on is exposing a split between those who believe in the Rule of Law and those who simply believe they should be able to live in a land that follows their "Christian" rules.

No counter-examples will they hear. It's all about them being sure they know what God wants and to hell with law and our due processes.

I'm a Christian, but I recognize that when placed in a situation like this, if one really feels that strongly, one needs to resign with honor. Have no part of it. Kick the dirt off your sandals.