Scientist called ‘global face of atheism’ asks why Christians believe their religious freedom has been violated when they can’t ‘curtail somebody else’s freedom’

Richard Dawkins: Kentucky clerk should give up her job or her religion

Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who has denied marriage licenses to same-sex couples, should either give up her religion or her job, Richard Dawkins said as he weighed in on the controversy on Saturday.

“Finally read up on this Kim Davis whom so many Americans are talking about. Why isn’t she simply fired and replaced? Why bother to jail her?” the English ethologist and evolutionary biologist, sometimes called the “global face of atheism”, asked on Twitter.

“2nd puzzle. Why Christians feel their ‘freedom of religion’ is violated when they’re denied their wish to curtail somebody else’s freedom?”

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A Kentucky judge ordered Davis to remain in custody on Thursday, after her lawyers said that they could not tell the court that she would allow her deputies to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Since she is an elected official, Davis cannot be fired but can be impeached.



“She’s ELECTED? You mean you guys ELECT the clerk who issues marriage licenses? Do you also elect the butcher, baker and candlestick maker?” Dawkins asked via another tweet.

“Vote Dawkins for County Garbage Collector. Can Kim Davis seriously not be sacked because Marriage License Clerk is an ELECTED office?”

Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) Vote Dawkins for County Garbage Collector. Can Kim Davis seriously not be sacked because Marriage License Clerk is an ELECTED office?

Davis took up her post on 5 January after being elected to take over from her mother in November of 2014. She has six deputies, one of whom is her son, Nathan. He is the only deputy who told the court that he would not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Davis cited “God’s authority” as a reason to refuse to issue marriage license to a same-sex couple.

“To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God’s definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision,” she said in a statement. “I was elected by the people to serve as the County Clerk. I intend to continue to serve the people of Rowan County, but I cannot violate my conscience.”

Dawkins said: “If her religion debars her from doing the job for which she’s paid, she should give up either her religion or her job.”

Richard Dawkins (@RichardDawkins) @RichardDawkins If her religion debars her from doing the job for which she's paid, she should give up either her religion or her job.





“Oh good, I see a deputy of Kim Davis has now issued the marriage license,” Dawkins tweeted later.

On Friday morning, James Yates, 41, and William Smith Jr, 33, were the first same-sex couple to be granted a marriage license in Rowan County – a day after Davis was sent to jail for refusing to issue such licenses. It was their sixth attempt to obtain a marriage license.