Kim Davis Case Analysis

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In the summer of 2015, a county clerk from a small, obscure county in Kentucky made international news because she refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Kim Davis soon became a national symbol; for some she was the “ultimate symbol of bigotry” and for others she was a martyr, a symbol of faith. Following the Obergvell v. Hodges (2015) decision, which made same-sex marriage legal in the United States, several counties refused to issue licenses to same-sex couples. Citing the free exercise clause of the First Amendment, Davis argued that she should be exempt from issuing marriage licenses because she was a Christian who did not believe that same-sex couples should be married, and that issuing marriage licenses with her name on it thus violated her religious conscience. For this act of civil disobedience, Davis was held in contempt of court and was imprisoned for her actions. For some, this was a clear violation of Davis’ religious liberty, and represented a clear attack on her Christian beliefs. For others, this represented a just punishment for a citizen who was attempting to impose her religious beliefs on others through her position as an elected official. Regardless of where one stands on the Davis case, it is clear that there is mounting tension in the United States regarding the status of religious …show more content…
The Liberty Institute is the “largest legal organization dedicated solely to defending and restoring religious liberty in America,” and it claims that “religious liberty is under attack — in our churches, in our schools and in the public arena – like never before in American history.” Thus, the stated mission of this organization is to “reestablish religious liberty in accordance with the principles of our founding fathers.” According to the Public Religion Research Institute, 39% of Americans believe that religious liberty is threatened