Kim Davis. A Rowan County clerk in Kentucky. A person who believes that marriage is between one man and one woman. Is now in jail for that belief.
One man and one woman. Two men. Two women. One man and many woman. Many men and one woman. Whatever your view, is it really right to jail someone for holding a different belief on this issue.
Regardless of Ms Davis’ previous history of marriage and whether that view has changed, whether she has been married or divorced, committed adultery, or lived in sin against God and her fellow man, her current belief is that marriage is between one man and one woman. Should she really be in jail for believing this?
Regardless of whether you think she is crazy, or has her own agenda, and despite her ability or inability to manage staff or follow correct procedure within the Kentucky State jurisdiction, should she really be behind bars over this issue?
Regardless of the agenda of the people who sought to be married by her, or the Judge who locked her up, whether those supporters laughed and jeered and mocked when the order was made, do we really lock those up who disagree with us?
Regardless of whether she is on the right or the left side of politics, or whether the judge was biased, has religious liberty been so whittled away that jail is now a way of forcing people to comply with a so called ‘majority’ viewpoint?
This issue is so much more complicated than a blog post like this. But it is also so simple (or perhaps so laughable, if there wasn’t a person incarcerated for holding the belief that marriage is between one man and one woman).
It is so simple because jail is not the answer. Criminalising religious belief (as opposed to criminal behaviour) is not the answer. Perhaps she could face disciplinary action. Perhaps she could be fired from her job. Perhaps she could be sued (like the florists and cake makers have been). But putting her behind bars is not the answer.
What is the answer? I don’t know, but this definitely isn’t.
What do you think?
