Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis said she would not resign from her public post in a statement released Tuesday, but also asked for the freedom to deny marriage licenses to gay couples based on her religious beliefs, calling it a “decision of obedience.”
A federal judge had earlier ordered Davis and her entire staff to appear in court after she again refused to issue any marriage licenses Tuesday, even after the Supreme Court ruled against her.
Read Davis’ full statement below, via Liberty Counsel:
I have worked in the Rowan County Clerk’s office for 27 years as a Deputy Clerk and was honored to be elected as the Clerk in November 2014, and took office in January 2015. I love my job and the people of Rowan County. I have never lived any place other than Rowan County. Some people have said I should resign, but I have done my job well. This year we are on track to generate a surplus for the county of 1.5 million dollars.
In addition to my desire to serve the people of Rowan County, I owe my life to Jesus Christ who loves me and gave His life for me. Following the death of my godly mother-in-law over four years ago, I went to church to fulfill her dying wish. There I heard a message of grace and forgiveness and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I am not perfect. No one is. But I am forgiven and I love my Lord and must be obedient to Him and to the Word of God.
I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God’s Word. It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment, the Kentucky Constitution, and in the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Our history is filled with accommodations for people’s religious freedom and conscience. I want to continue to perform my duties, but I also am requesting what our Founders envisioned – that conscience and religious freedom would be protected. That is all I am asking. I never sought to be in this position, and I would much rather not have been placed in this position. I have received death threats from people who do not know me. I harbor nothing against them. I was elected by the people to serve as the County Clerk. I intend to continue to serve the people of Rowan County, but I cannot violate my conscience.
Photo: Supporters of Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis file into the Rowan County Courthouse in Morehead, Ky., Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015.
Throw this abhorrent woman in jail…please! Why is she still a free woman? Where is the governor in all this? Put her in an orange jumpsuit and let’s be done with this!
Well, off you go then. Your choice of destination. Now would be just fine.
Fire her. She needs to be fired. Literally. Fired.
Does this Jesus she says loves her know about her three divorces?
For the record, J never said anything about gay people getting married, but sure did say something against divorce. He also talked about rendering to “Caesar” that which is Caesar’s, which I take to mean following laws and such.
http://a1.img.talkingpointsmemo.com/image/upload/c_fill,fl_keep_iptc,g_faces,h_365,w_652/sn1xvpgpaldkjnpzxovt.jpg
Look at these rubes! This picture pretty much encapsulates the knuckle draggers who are at the core of all this hatred.
RUBES!