Here's What Could Happen If Kim Davis' Version Of "Religious Freedom" Is Followed

When it comes to Kim Davis, I don't know where to begin. There's so much to cover: the anarchic chaos she is trying to establish a precedent for; the deeply troubling groundswell of support she has received from ordinary people and politicians; their truly disturbing animosity to LGBT people (they've jeered at gay couples denied licenses); the sickening victimhood of the religious right, and on, and on, and on.

The events of Thursday, have, though, been the most scary thing that I've taken away from this disgusting saga.

Davis' contempt hearing was at 11 am. Here's what happened:

A defiant county clerk was sent to jail for contempt Thursday after insisting that her “conscience will not allow” her to follow a federal judge’s orders to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

“God’s moral law conflicts with my job duties,” Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis told U.S. District Judge David Bunning. “You can’t be separated from something that’s in your heart and in your soul.”

The judge said she left him with no alternative but to jail her, since fines alone would not change her mind. A deputy escorted her out of the courtroom, although not in handcuffs, to be turned over to the custody of federal marshals.

But her deputies were also involved:

The judge also told all five of the clerk’s deputies, including her son, Nathan Davis, that they are free to issue licenses to all applicants while Davis is held in contempt, but would also face fines or jail if they refuse to comply. He told them to meet with lawyers briefly and consider their fates before returning to his courtroom later Thursday to reveal their decisions.

That's right. They came back to the courtroom, including Davis herself. Judge Bunning sent her to jail initially at about 1 pm, but ordered her back at 3:30. Why? To give her a second chance. To try to keep her out of jail.

A Kentucky county clerk who has become a symbol of religious opposition to same-sex marriage  was jailed Thursday after defying a federal court order to issue licenses to gay couples.

The clerk, Kim Davis of Rowan County, Ky., was ordered detained for contempt of court and later rejected a proposal to allow her deputies to process same-sex marriage licenses that could have prompted her release.

Here's a bit more detail about what that means:

The judge later sought a resolution to keep Davis out of jail after all. He overruled an objection from her lawyer, who argued that her six deputy clerks cannot act against her authority. And he called each one before him to declare whether they intend to follow the law. All but the clerk’s son, Nathan Davis, promised to comply.

The judge said Nathan Davis’ position wouldn’t matter, and that his mother could go free as long as she promised not to interfere with issuing of marriage licenses to all couples. But Kim Davis rejected the offer, her attorneys later said.

That's right. Judge Bunning actually said that he wouldn't force her to issue the licenses, just as long as they were issued by someone.

And she refused.

She doesn't just not want to issue the licenses (as problematic as that, in and of itself, is). Her "religious freedom" also requires that she be allowed to block someone else from doing what she objects to.

Is this what we are being led to? Are we headed to a situation where religious freedom could be used not just to get out of an action you object to, but to force others to abstain as well? If a gay couple wants to get married, will a church have the right not just to not marry them, but to prevent churches that do want to marry them from doing so?

I wish this was crazy, but it isn't. A majority of Republican presidential candidates have endorsed Davis' lawlessness. They may not agree with her wanting to stop others from issuing the licenses, but considering the dogmatic force with which they are supporting her, why would they leave her at that point?

As such, I am against any and all extra "religious freedom" laws, be them RFRAs, or FADAs, or anything. Religious freedom is out of control, and is proving one of the most destructive forces in the country right now. If we give them one-eighth of an inch, they will take eight miles. They are seeking the right to literally do anything. People should be allowed to practice their religion, but what that has turned into, I think, shows how cautious we have to be when dealing with freedom of religion. It is a human right, but it needs to be limited more than others.