Same Sex Marriage and Christian Duty

It is no surprise that many Christians object to same-sex marriage. In the United States, same-sex marriage is legal. Couples obtain licenses from local authorities.

Friday (18 March 2022), Kentucky federal judge David Bunning ruled that county clerk Kim Davis violated the constitutional rights of two gay couples when she refused to provide them with a marriage license. Their right to marry is based on a 2015 US Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. It is yet to be determined if Davis will be responsible to pay for damages.

Davis' defense counsel raises the matter of religious belief.

“Kim Davis is entitled to protection to an accommodation based on her sincere religious belief," Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said in a statement. "This case raises serious First Amendment free exercise of religion claims and has a high potential of reaching the Supreme Court." (From The Hill)

Although most Americans support same-sex marriage, which includes a lot of Christians, the official position of most Christian groups limits marriage to the union of one man and one woman thus, Davis' position is widely held.

The right of same-sex couples to marry is not an issue in the United States.

The rights of people to refuse service based on a religious belief is at issue.

I am not an attorney but I cannot help wondering if Davis' rights are contextual. For example, do religious rights vary depending on the employment status of the Christian as self-employed, employed by a private business, or employed by a government entity?

A related book

A House Divided: Sexuality, Morality, and Christian Cultures

--Examining research and the moral foundations of Christian beliefs and values

On AMAZON From the PUBLISHER: WipfandStock