By Dan Mason
Do you believe in the rule of law? It’s a simple question, and I believe most of us would answer yes. But while saying so we must recognize the inclination to qualify that yes with our own personal context, and therein lies the problem. For example, we have a President today who doesn’t believe in the rule of law unless it fits his personal agenda. He makes speeches about it. He says he understands the constitutional limits placed upon the executive branch, but then he proceeds to do what he wants anyway. With a straight face. It is the number one reason we have a serious immigration problem in America, both legal and illegal. We’re not enforcing our laws.
Right now we have an issue in America where the rule of law is intersecting with religious freedom. Kim Davis is a county clerk in Rowan County Kentucky. By now you’re aware she refused to issue marriage licenses due to her religious belief that same-sex marriage is a sin, and she should not be forced to do so. A judge found her in contempt and put her in jail for several days. He released her after it was determined her deputy clerks were issuing licenses. She was instructed not to interfere with this process. She has not complied. Reports have surfaced she has altered the marriage licenses to remove her name. She told ABC News she does not believe the altered licenses are valid. She also says she doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about and she is ready to go back to jail.
Religious freedom to me means you can worship how you choose and where you choose. It’s your business. It does not mean anything goes. It does not mean you can ignore the law without consequences. If you think what Kim Davis has done is acceptable, then I must presume you support religious freedom for all, including radical Islamists whose interpretation of the Koran is to kill all the infidels.
It would be simple to throw her in jail again, but that just perpetuates the media frenzy created by competing sides of the issue. It isn’t that complicated for me. She is an elected public servant. She is not performing the job she was elected to do. Nobody forced her, she made that choice. She cannot be allowed to continue in the job. Period. Whatever the legal means to remove her may be in Kentucky, it’s time to get on with it and finish this.
