Blount County: God, don't smite us for gay marriage

A Tennessee county commission is set to take up a resolution that asks God to spare its citizens from an anticipated wrath associated with the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that legalized gay marriage nationwide.

The commission for Blount County, located in East Tennessee just south of Knoxville, is scheduled to discuss a resolution "condemning judicial tyranny and petitioning God's mercy" during its Tuesday meeting.

"WE adopt this resolution before God that He pass us by in His Coming Wrath and not destroy our County as He did Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring cities," the resolution states.

"As the Passover Lamb was a means of salvation to the ancient Children of Israel, so we stand upon the safety of the Lamb of God to save us."

The resolution states the county is forced to comply with the Supreme Court ruling, an order that all states issue and recognize marriage licenses for same-sex couples. Although some county clerks quit and many Tennessee lawmakers verbally opposed the decision, no clerks have followed the lead of Kentucky clerk Kim Davis in not issuing licenses to same-sex couples.

Sponsored by Commissioner Karen Miller, the resolution echoes the concerns of opponents to the Supreme Court ruling. It says the Supreme Court's ruling contradicts "higher natural law" and "reason" and the American system of government "envisions a political stance of resistance by States and their office holders against lawless federal court order.

If adopted, the resolution would also call on the governor, attorney general and state lawmakers to protect "natural marriage." Two state lawmakers introduced the "Tennessee Natural Marriage Defense Act." The lawmakers believe the law, if adopted, would allow Tennessee to ignore the Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage.

If enacted, the law would likely be struck down as unconstitutional.

Word of the resolution spread quickly, with media outlets quick to poke fun at the proposed measure.

This is not the first proposed resolution against same-sex marriage from a Tennessee county. In 2010, the Rhea County commission voted 8-0 in favor of a resolution that attempted to ban gay people from living in the county, according to The Herald News of Rhea County. After public outcry, the commission voted 8-0 two days later to rescind the motion for such a resolution.

The Blount County Commission meeting is schedule for 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Reach Dave Boucher at 615-259-8892 and on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.