Desperate to escape the supposed scourge of marriage equality, Christian extremists are calling for “sanctuary cities” free from same-sex marriage.

Leading the call is Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, a prominent public interest law firm and ministry that provides free legal assistance in defense of “Christian religious liberty, the sanctity of human life, and the traditional family.”

Last week Staver made the call for sanctuary cities while appearing on Voice of Christian Youth America “Crosstalk” program. On the program Staver told host Jim Schneider:

You know what, if some cities can create sanctuary cities for illegal aliens, why can’t a city or a state create a sanctuary city or state to protect the preborn?

An eager Schneider chimed in:

…and to protect marriage.

To which Staver eagerly agreed:

…and to protect marriage, absolutely.

Currently Staver is one of the leading figures opposing marriage equality and urging government officials to “stand up and resist” the Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage.

As an opponent of marriage equality, Staver is representing Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis who is refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples because of her “sincerely held religious beliefs.

On the program Staver said Davis should not be compelled to issue same sex marriage licenses because she would be giving those couples a “license” to “engage in a sinful activity with a sinful relationship,” noting:

And understand what their dilemma is. They provide a license to do something. They provide a license that gives you the legal authority to drive a car. They provide a license that gives you a legal authority to operate a business. So they’re providing a license that gives you a legal authority to do what? To engage in a sinful activity with a sinful relationship, a same-sex so-called marriage.

Staver claims Davis is justifieds in her refusal to do her job because she is simply unwilling to “authorize someone to do something that itself is sinful, that is repugnant to her and the scriptures and to natural millennia of human history, natural law.”

Note: Davis, who refuses to issue same-sex marriage licenses because of her “sincerely held religious beliefs,” has been married four times.

(H/T Right Wing Watch)