Before Kentucky clerk Kim Davis was released Tuesday, Ohio Governor John Kasich bucked the trend of Republicans standing up for Davis’ religious freedom with a different message—she should submit to the will of the court:
“The court has spoken, the court has ruled,” said the Ohio governor, who opposes same-sex marriage but has attended a same-sex wedding, on ABC’s “This Week.”
“I respect the fact that the lady doesn’t agree, but she’s also a government employee—she’s not running a church,” Mr. Kasich said. “I think she has to comply.”
The presidential hopeful did speak out against her imprisonment, but it came with a caveat:
“I don’t like the fact that she’s sitting in a jail—that’s absurd as well—but I think she should follow the law,” he added.
Kasich’s statements came just before Kim Davis was ordered released by the same judge that put her in jail. The state has also begun removal of Davis’ name from state marriage licenses, confirming that she has won a religious accommodation that doesn’t require her to take part in same-sex marriages, at least for the moment.
Nick Arnold is a researcher for American Principles In Action.
