GRAYSON, KY, September 8, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) – Kim Davis, the Rowan County clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples based on her religious beliefs, has been ordered released from jail, according to news reports.
Davis had been jailed on “contempt of court” by U.S. District Judge David Bunning on Thursday.
But today, Bunning ordered Davis – who has become a symbol of “judicial tyranny,” in the words of both Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee – to be released, with the condition that she not “interfere in any way” with the issuance of same-sex “marriage” licenses.
On Friday, her staffers began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. However, Davis says those licenses are invalid, since she did not sign them in her capacity as an elected official.
Following today's order, Liberty Counsel founder Mat Staver said she would continue her refusal to sign or issue any marriage license to homosexual couples that would bear her name and signature, saying it would constitute her participation in something the Bible deems sinful.
Davis is an Apostolic Pentecostal Christian who credits Christ with saving her from a lifetime of heartbreak.
Former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee had been scheduled to stage a rally to stand with Kim Davis, entitled #ImWithKim, today at 3 p.m. Eastern time.
“I am appalled at our government’s willingness to accommodate the religious beliefs of all religions but Christianity,” he said.
Davis has peacefully served her time in the Carter County Detention Center in Grayson, Kentucky, since September 3. Her lawyer, Harry Mihet of Liberty Counsel, said she wanted her supporters to meditate on a verse from the Bible: II Timothy 1:7-8, which says, “God did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me, His prisoner, but share in the suffering for the Gospel and the power of God.”
Kim Davis' actions have divided the Republican presidential field, with candidates finding themselves on both sides of the issue. Huckabee, Cruz, Rand Paul, and Rick Santorum strongly supported Davis, seeing her actions as a form of civil disobedience. But Chris Christie, Lindsey Graham, Carly Fiorina, and John Kasich said – while imprisonment is too harsh – she should issue the licenses regardless of her personal views.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and the Obama White House supported the jailing. Moments after the initial order last Thursday, Hillary retweeted news of her imprisonment, saying, “Officials should be held to their duty to uphold the law—end of story.” White House spokesman Josh Earnest added on Thursday that the jailing was “appropriate.”
Developing….
