In a victory for religious freedom, newly elected Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, a conservative Republican, has vowed to settle the pestering dispute regarding the issuance of same-sex marriage licences in the state.
This he will do by heeding the appeal of Rowan county clerk Kim Davis to remove her name from the licence to accommodate her religious objection to same-sex marriage.
Bevin said this will be one of the first things he will do when he assumes office.
Bevin's win is considered a victory for Davis and her Christian supporters who are strongly against gay marriage despite a Supreme Court legalising it throughout the country.
Davis is in the middle of a legal fight about the issuance of marriage licences as state law requires county clerks to issue the licences with them as signatories, according to the Associated Press.
She was charged and jailed by a judge for contempt over the issue.
Davis is now suing outgoing Gov. Steve Beshear for not accommodating her beliefs.
Bevin said the marriage licence can be changed to remove the name of the issuing county clerk. "The argument that that cannot be done is baloney. We've already changed those forms three times for crying out loud. We will take the names off those forms. We will do that by executive order. We will do it right out of the gate," Bevin said.
Liberty Counsel, which is representing Davis, lauded Bevin's plan.
"The people of Kentucky have overwhelmingly spoken in support of Kim Davis and others who believe our nation should be a place where all people can live out their faith without fear of being put in prison. This is a day that our constitutional principles are being used as intended to protect innocent people from undue harm. This promise is a clear, simple path to resolving all the legal efforts on behalf of Davis," it said.
Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver said, "Gov. Steve Beshear could have resolved this marriage licence issue a long time ago, but he chose to ignore the plea for help. Governor-elect Bevin's impending executive order is a welcome relief for Kim Davis and should be for everyone who cherishes religious freedom."
Bevin said Davis should not have been sent to jail since "there's a simple solution that would respect the rights of every Kentuckian."
He criticised Attorney General Jack Conway for his "cowardly silence."
"Jack Conway violated his oath of office as attorney general when he refused to defend our state in court. Where was our governor then demanding his resignation? The double standard applied in this case is reprehensible. Jack Conway refused to defend our state constitution, and now he is refusing to stand up for the religious liberties of our county clerks. This is unconscionable and, as governor, I will stand up for all Kentuckians, not just the ones who agree with me," he said, according to WND.
