Religion and Politics

     It's clearly states in America that we have a separation between Church and State. In my Religious Studies book, Religion in Contemporary America by Charles H. Lippy and Eric Tranby, chapter 9 discusses the issues between our politics and religion. Our First Amendment is "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment or religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
   
While reading, I kept thinking about Kentucky clerk Kim Davis. I pulled up a Reuters magazine article called "Kentucky Clerk still in contempt of gay marriage order." The article states that Davis returned to work on September 14th with restrictions. She is no longer able to "interfere directly or indirectly with the issuance of marriage licenses". Davis argues the second part of the First Amendment of the Constitution stating she has the free exercise of her religion and it's beliefs. As a Apostolic Christian, she doesn't believe in gay marriage. However, her religion also doesn't believe in divorce, which she has had many of.

 
  I believe that Davis does have a right as an American to express her religious beliefs, but she also is a government workers who's duty is to give marriage certificates. She is then breaking the first part of the Constitution and discriminating against these people. Kim Davis can't state one thing is against her religion but not truthfully follow it by getting divorced multiple times. It's as if she is following her religion when it is convenient to her. I suppose we can't measure how religious someone is but I feel like you can't play it whenever you want. If she truly believes against issuing gay marriages, then I believe she should step down from her position as a whole.
     If you want to read up on this issue and form your own opinion, here is a link to the article. Go out there and get active! America can't wait for people to speak up because it may already be too late.

Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Article