Clerk ‘fasted and prayed’ before refusing to marry gays
(Getty)
A county clerk who was the first to go to court after refusing to marry same-sex couples has said she “prayed and fasted” before making the decision.
Same-sex weddings have begun across the US since the Supreme Court ruled two weeks ago that marriage is a constitutional right for all Americans, straight or gay.
A lawsuit has been filed against the clerk, Kim Davis, by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
The hearing, meant to start last week, was suspended until next Monday by US District Judge David Bunning, who said that Davis had not formally been notified of the lawsuit against her.
Testifying this week, Davis said she “sought God” before refusing to marry the couples.
“It was something I had prayed and fasted over,” she said under oath. “It wasn’t a spur of the moment decision.”
Going on Davis said she “can’t” marry same-sex couples, as if she does, she considers that an endorsement of same-sex relationships.
“If I say they are authorised, I’m saying I agree with it,” she said.
Acting for Davis was attorney Roger Gannam, who said the case is “not about these plaintiffs’ desire to get married,” saying they could drive to another county.
Instead, Gannam said, the plaintiffs’ “desire to force Kim Davis to approve and authorise their marriages in violation of her constitutionally protected religious beliefs.”
The plaintiffs argue that they should not have to drive to another county “because [Davis] was not doing her job.”
Despite calls from the plaintiffs to resign over the issue, Davis said she has no intention to.
