Defiant Kentucky Clerk Jailed for Refusing to Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

[Thunderstorm]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/defiant-kentucky-clerk-to-appear-in-court-over-refusal-to-issue-same-sex-marriage-licenses-1441295805

I didn't see a thread for this article and I was surprised. I can only imagine how frustrating this is for the couples in that county. I hate to get to opinionated but the lady needs to do her job. She was elected by the citizens of that county to do her job, not to make up her own laws. I understand the whole religious freedom thing but that can only be taken so far. Religious fundamentalists must be stopped.

(It's ironic because clerk herself has been married four times AS IF DIVORCE IS MORE HOLY THAN GAY MARRIAGE).

[StoppingTom]

The judge who sentenced her even said he has religious beliefs of his own, but the law is the law and it needs to be followed.

Unfortunately, I'm sure a lot of intolerant (not all) Christians will spin this as "CHRISTIANS ARE BEING OPPRESSED IN THIS COUNTRY ZOH MAH GAWD"

[Bull]

While I respect religious belief I am of the opinion that when such belief keeps you from performing a constitutional function that you have taken an oath to uphold you must resign your position. No one is telling the lady her belief is wrong, just that she must follow the law she has vowed to uphold. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs, but must still follow the law of the land. Additionally, she has caused her deputies to not follow the law. As scripture says "Render to Caesar that which is Caesar's and to God that which is God's". If she continues to refuse to perform the duties of office she should be removed.

[Gwen]

I don't think it is opinionated that someone needs to do their goddamn job. This woman homophobic attitude is equal to a clerk refusing to scan items in a store since the customer is Asian. This kind of religious fundamentalism is a cancer that turns religion into a tool or sanctuary for bigots and hypocrites, they are getting a marriage license under the law not the Catholic church. Funny as well that you can only get married once under the Catholic church, for this lady apparently the lifetime bond of marriage under the eyes of God aren't important enough for her to follow the most basic of guidelines but she thinks she has righteous power to decide for other people... Just accept that government and religion are completely separate now and that is a GOOD thing, religion is something for the individual and their community not for you to force onto other people.

[Bull]

The judge who sentenced her even said he has religious beliefs of his own, but the law is the law and it needs to be followed.

Unfortunately, I'm sure a lot of intolerant (not all) Christians will spin this as "CHRISTIANS ARE BEING OPPRESSED IN THIS COUNTRY ZOH MAH GAWD"

Spin all they will it is NOT oppression, it is holding an elected leader to do the job and uphold the constitution.

[Babs]

If you sign up for a job like that, your religious beliefs don't mean shit. I don't think she should've been jailed though. Fired, yes. But not jailed.

[StoppingTom]

If you sign up for a job like that, your religious beliefs don't mean shit. I don't think she should've been jailed though. Fired, yes. But not jailed.

From what I remember, she was told repeatedly to stop by the police department, but obviously didn't. The judge chose jailing over fines/whatever because he knew people would crowdsource money for her so the punishment would be meaningless.

[phuckphace]

:lol3:

more meaningless culture war sparring, nothing to see here.

[Porpoise101]

If you sign up for a job like that, your religious beliefs don't mean shit. I don't think she should've been jailed though. Fired, yes. But not jailed.
She can't be fired because she is an elected official. Instead she must either resign or be jailed in contempt of court.

[PinkFloyd]

If you sign up for a job like that, your religious beliefs don't mean shit. I don't think she should've been jailed though. Fired, yes. But not jailed.

This. So mush this. It's established that this woman was in the wrong and proved that she was unable to perform her job duties as an elected official. I personally don't believe she deserves jail time, because jail is for criminals like thieves and drunk drivers and etc. Then again... She did sign a contract that sad soothing like this: "If you don't do what the constitution says, we're gonna throw your ass in jail." So yeah, I'm torn in half on this. I guess all that matters is that she is no longer an elected official.

[Typhlosion]

If you sign up for a job like that, your religious beliefs don't mean shit. I don't think she should've been jailed though. Fired, yes. But not jailed.

I don't know, if they refused to issue licenses because of skin color, I feel like jailing would sound much more justified. In the end, it's discrimination

[Thunderstorm]

This. So mush this. It's established that this woman was in the wrong and proved that she was unable to perform her job duties as an elected official. I personally don't believe she deserves jail time, because jail is for criminals like thieves and drunk drivers and etc. Then again... She did sign a contract that sad soothing like this: "If you don't do what the constitution says, we're gonna throw your ass in jail." So yeah, I'm torn in half on this. I guess all that matters is that she is no longer an elected official.

Yeah, since she's an elected official she can't be fired but she can be jailed for disobeying laws. Immediate termination would make much more sense but that's not legal.

[Sugaree]

If you sign up for a job like that, your religious beliefs don't mean shit. I don't think she should've been jailed though. Fired, yes. But not jailed.

It's called contempt of court. She's a clerk of the court, meaning that if she does not uphold any and all applicable laws, she is guilty of being in contempt. The fact that she's in jail is simply just punishment.

I think this story is a good example of showing people that, when you serve the public, you need to be aware that a lot of your own freedoms and liberty is taken away because it is ethically required, not because of state imposed oppression. The fact that this woman did not issue wedding certificates to same-sex couples due to her religious beliefs shows that she does not understand what it means to be working in the public service.

Having deeply held beliefs, religious or otherwise, I find very commendable in a person. However, all beliefs are subject to scrutiny by everybody. I don't really feel sorry for her. After watching the video of her refusing to issue the certificates and reading the statements from her lawyer, there's no doubt in my mind that she thinks she's a martyr for Christianity. Like she's putting her life and well being on the line.

As far as I'm aware, a martyr is someone who will give their life for their beliefs and will take death as a sign that God has granted them recognition of their sacrifice. Yknow, like Saint Peter or any of the thousands of martyrs in the Christian religion she says she follows. She's sitting in a county jail, probably with access to television and newspapers that are talking about her. It's feeding her ego, and there are many people making her into the martyr she wants to be.

[phuckphace]

technically I agree with Aisle of Plenty but I also couldn't give less of a shit about it. they'll jail some chick for balking at homos but won't fire Shantel the DMV worker for wasting taxpayer's money and your time by turning you away "fo not havin' da propah eye-dee" (it's almost her lunch break and she ain't finna fuck witchu right now honkey). there's also all those city workers who stand around and dick with their phones instead of fixing the potholes. I could go on but you've got the idea.

[Judean Zealot]

If she really wanted to be a martyr she should have just handed in her letter of resignation. That would be a principled stand worthy of respect, regardless of your opinion on the principle itself. But she had to cause a stink and get the media involved, that's just what I call an attention whore.

[eric2001]

She wants to keep her job more than anything else. More than her religious views. But it boils down to principal. If she can't do what's required - resign. Duh!!

[SkyClad33605]

I think she's doing all this for money. She wants to be a martyr and when she gets out of jail she'll get a book deal. Some poor guy will ghost write the book. And then she'll spend the rest of her life on the Christian lecture circuit giving a speech that was written for her about, "whoa is me, I'm so oppressed." maybe she'll even sell her life rights for a made for TV Christian channel movie.

She's going to get rich by depriving other human beings of their civil rights.

[phuckphace]

my mom was talking about this yesterday, apparently it's a ~really big deal~ in her crew (is Chic-fil-A taking donations????)

I knew from first glance already that this was "ridiculous SJWs vs. ridiculous Midwest proles" and the supporting line-up from each respective side didn't disappoint. "OMFG EVIL BIGOTS TAKING MUH RIGHTS" vs. "OMFG MARTYR 4 CHRIST" has to be the funniest irl example of the horseshoe theory out there.

oh and I care even less about it now

[eric2001]

Well, so far she hasn't prevented her underlings from issuing licenses. I guess jail wasn't too comfy for her.

[BlackParadePixie]

I don't know why they let her out so soon.

[Uniquemind]

They should just fired her for incompetence and hired other people who probably want her job.