Supporters of a county clerk in the US state of Kentucky, imprisoned for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licences, have rallied to her defence
and led calls for specific legislation to protect religious conscience.
Having repeatedly refused a court order to issue licences to newly-married same-sex couples in the wake of the US Supreme Court ruling last June legalising the marriage redefinition nationwide, Kim Davis was imprisoned for contempt of court on September 3. Since then, her case has garnered headlines across all main media outlets in the United States and sparked a national debate on the issue of religious freedom.
Republican presidential hopefuls have been quick to denounce Davis’ incarceration, with former Senator Rick Santorum warning that Davis’ fate could easily be that of more people of faith as they are forced to choose between conscience and laws around issues such as same-sex marriage.
Quoted on Lifesite News, Mr Santorum said: “More and more people of faith will face the penalties Ms Davis is now encountering if we do not make the necessary accommodations so people cannot just worship but live out their faith in their lives.”
This accommodation, Santorum suggested, could be a First Amendment Defence Act, designed to protect, for example, companies founded with a Christian ethos which might otherwise be driven out of business for refusing service on the grounds of conscientious objection.
Other leading Republicans who have declared their support for Davis include Senator Rand Paul who described the woman’s imprisonment as “a mistake”.
“I think it’s absurd to put someone in jail for exercising their religious liberty,” he said.
More broadly, people wishing to show support for Davis have staged a demonstration outside the home of District Court Judge David Bunning who ordered Davis’ arrest for contempt. Supporters are also engaged in a vigil outside the prison holding the woman.
Davis has now launched an appeal against the contempt finding against her.