Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Sunday afternoon issued a formal opinion claiming that public officials in the Lone Star State can use religion as an excuse to discriminate and refuse to carry out the duties of their taxpayer-funded jobs.
Paxton was replying to a request from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick about whether county clerks, judges and other public officials must issue licenses or conduct weddings for gay and lesbian couples. On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that gay and lesbian Americans have a constitutional right to marry.
In his opinion this afternoon, Paxton writes:
- “County clerks and their employees retain religious freedoms that may allow accommodation of their religious objections to issuing same-sex marriage licenses. The strength of any such claim depends on the particular facts of each case”
- “Justices of the peace and judges similarly retain religious freedoms, and may claim that the government cannot force them to conduct same-sex wedding ceremonies over their religious objections, when other authorized individuals have no objection, because it is not the least restrictive means of the government ensuring the ceremonies occur. The strength of any such claim depends on the particular facts of each case.”
Paxton even offers legal advice for public officials who refuse to do their jobs:
“It is important to note that any clerk who wishes to defend their religious objections and who chooses not to issue licenses may well face litigation and/or a fine. But, numerous lawyers stand ready to assist clerks defending their religious beliefs, in many cases on a pro-bono basis, and I will do everything I can from this office to be a public voice for those standing in defense of their rights.”
This is shocking, even by Texas standards. What’s next? Will public employees have the right to refuse to do their jobs when they don’t share the same faith as couples who come before them? Will Christian judges be able to refuse to marry Hindus or Buddhists? Will a justice of the peace who is Muslim be able to deny services to Jews? Will Catholic clerks be able to refuse to issue a license to couples that include someone who has previously divorced? What about officials who belong to sects that preach white supremacy? Will they be able to refuse to issue marriage licenses to or marry interracial couples?
This reckless and irresponsible attorney general has effectively declared war on the Constitution’s guarantee of equality under the law for all. It’s a shameful day for Texas.
All Texans, regardless of their religious or partisan political beliefs, must take a stand for the rule of law and the Constitution. Send a message right now to Attorney General Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott: Obey the Constitution and stop unlawfully obstructing the freedom to marry.
I stand with the Supreme Court of the United States on the issue of LGBT rights. To try to deny a whole group of citizens the right to marry is the worst kind of hypocrisy. They are here, get over it!
An official opinion means … what, exactly?
Our laws are NOT based on religious laws, they are civil and will never be held to a god. This is a secular country and our laws do not come from some deity.
I believe that any individual who attempts to block the laws of this nation should be seen as criminals and they should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
I believe in God, but I do not have to obey God’s laws, I DO have to follow the laws of the United States of America.
Paxton and Abbott do not want to follow the law and therefore should be arrested and convicted as the criminals they are.
SCOTUS had no choice in their ruling as they were simply affirming that the first section of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution that stated “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Get it? Until that ruling, homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgendered individuals were being denied their rights as citizens.
The states were breaking the law and now their bigotry still are trying to steal the RIGHTS OF THOSE HUMAN BEINGS who are citizens.
I would that I could be THEIR judges; I would send them to a prison that is sans air conditioning. In doing what they are doing, they are criminals.
One of the biggest of all criminals is Cruz. He has nothing but contempt for our government and he still wants to be POTUS? Huckabee and Jindal are also wanting to break the law. ARREST THEM AND JAIL THEM. They are pretty much anarchists.
Perfectly stated Beverly!!! Now PLEASE SEND that to as many Dems and Republicans as you can (Politicians and Citizens, ESPECIALLY CRUZ AND THE OTHER KOCH SUCKERS) !!!
What’s really sad about Cruz is:
A. He is quite intelligent.
B. He is a lawyer and knows better.
C. He is one of the worst demagogues in years anywhere.
Ken Paxton, today I invented a new religion for myself. I’m calling it “Johnianity.” The main canon is that leafblowers, car alarm systems, landscape irrigation systems and Round-up are the work of the devil (who, in Johnian scriptures, which I haven’t written yet but am working on it, is called Bruce). Consequently, in order to exercise my freedom to practice Johnianity, I insist on refusing to serve any of Bruce’s disciples in my family restaurant chain. Yep, if I hear your car alarm go off in the parking lot, you and your nasty nose-picking brats ain’t getting chicken-fried steak from my joint. And if I hear any of my neighbors’ leafblowers, I’m calling the cops for religious persecution. I know you stand by me, Ken. Praise John! Resist Bruce!
Funny but truly represents the REPUBLICAN THUGS WHO SHOULD NEVER HAVE POWER IN OUR GOVERNMENT!!!!! These Oligarchs need to move to Afghanistan where their bullshit laws would suit them perfectly!!! They are VERY DANGEROUS scumbags!!!
Big John, Big Bad John!
You hit the nail on the head!
So, let’s look it from a practical point of view.
How many Texas clerks, etc, who have the job to issue marriage licenses actually have “deeply held religious beliefs” or are cloaking their bigotry in religion? I’d say very, very, very few. And, second, note that Paxton did not say it was OK for them to “break the law” only that Paxton and his team of thugs would be right behind them “1000%” to quote Nixon.
This is all for show and is all theater. In fact, there are thousands of officials in Texas who will issue licenses with no problem whatsoever, so long as those officials aren’t threatened by their supervisors for political purposes. I’d like to see Paxton defend that!
Of course it is for show and all theater. But the idiots in the theater audience who bought their tickets and expect the show as reality don’t understand that. And Abbott and Paxton know it. It’s dangerous. When public officials flout the law, sow disrespect for our courts, and thumb their noses at the highest court in the land, (put there by our Constitution, which these fools profess to worship), don’t expect anyone else to believe in the rule of law. Why oh why do I feel like I am in a time machine and just landed in 1962?
You don’t have to make up a religion so see how freedom of religion only applies to a particular kind of Christanity. Rastas are not allowed to grow and smoke the sacred herb, for instance. That is an established religion with a sizable following being denied their religious freedom. Yet you don’t hear Abbott and Paxton defind them.
These posts are very thoughtful and clear-headed. But they should be posted on right-wing and Tea Party sites for those idiots to see and learn from. What are those sites?
I’ve not the foggiest idea of where right wing sites are.
The GOP sold out to the TEA party so I call the the TEAliban because their goal is to destroy this country by turning us into a fascist nation. That is why I’m supporting Bernie Sanders and against any and all right wing politicians.
Too bad so many IGNORANT VOTERS don’t have a clue to your factual comments and what’s REALLY GOING ON IN OUR GOVERNMENT!!!!
Hey, John, can I join your new religion?
Here is a letter I sent to Paxton:
I find that your recent rant against the Supreme Court’s decision to make the First Section of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is an abomination.
The First Amendment states that no laws shall be made respecting religion. In short, we are a secular nation, not a theocracy.
We will not get arrested and jailed for breaking God’s laws, but we will be arrested and jailed for breaking our civil laws. The laws of a deity has NO BEARING ON OUR NATION OR OUR STATE.
By saying that it is you intention to break the law by telling counties that they do not have to issue marriage licenses to homosexuals or trans people, you are in violation of American law and it is my expectation that since you have chosen to violate Federal Law, that you will have the decency to either reverse your bigoted views or resign immediately.
Failing that, a group of Texans are banning together to recall both you and your governor. I do not accept that either of you are fit to continue in your respective offices.
It is beyond my ability to understand why you cannot understand that science has shown that sexuality is something that is fixed during gestation. They have no choice in their matters.
By breaking the law, you are proving to be a criminal who needs to see you gone from office. You are supposed to champion law, not bring your petty religious thoughts into blocking fair and equal treatment for all Americans.
Exquisite letter, Beverly. A shame neither of the elected perps will see it since their online minions screen such from their bigoted eyes. BUT I think you should send it to various newspapers. I’m sure the Express-News here in San Antonio would print it — if you whittle it down. Or maybe keep it as is and submit it as a guest opinion. Seriously! It isn’t a rant — it is pure accurate information.
As for converting to Johnianity — welcome to the fold! No dues! Services every day at happy hour. And as John the Man, religious leader, I can marry people — ALL people, thanks to our freshly starched Constitution. PS: Five of the SCOTUS justices have been beatified in Johnianity.
Thanks, John. When I get through with the doctors in the morning I’ll edit the comments to a more acceptable length.
I tend to write more than I should sometimes, but I used to be a writer at Microsoft among other things I have done as a free-lance writer.
Very witty John!
YES, WE MUST STAND UP AGAINST THESE DANGEROUS BASTARDS ASAP!!!!!
Oh, I’d take the thought a step further. He is a law-breaker, he is disrespecting the judicial system that he is sworn to respect and uphold that meets out justice, and he is behaving in a traitorious manner to the United States of America.
I vote for a visit from the US Marshal’s Offices. Court decisions and court orders are NOT to be disobeyed. There are criminal penalties. Then again, Paxton is under criminal investigation for violating securities laws. We sure know how to pick these clowns in Texas. And Dan Patrick? Don’t get me started. He is Mr. Theocracy personified.
Careful using the word traitorous Many politicians are traitorous and our president isn’t clean when it comes to that.
I do not understand what Paxton and others are doing encouraging civil disobedience. I don’t support that even though I didn’t care for the Supreme Court rulings last week.
I have one quote to give Attorney General Paxton, something that Jesus said:
“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and give to God what is God’s.”
Sounds pretty clear that these clerks are supposed to do their jobs as rendering to Caesar. If they can’t, they aren’t following the words of Christ.
Let us hope that anyone who is denied a marriage license will file a lawsuit against the morons who try this crap. Perhaps if it starts costing these morons some money, they will learn what our Constitution says and stands for and stop listening to Abbott or Paxton who don’the seem to understand equal protection under our laws. We do not run this Country by religious beliefs, but by civil law PERIOD!
Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan already threatened Stan Stannart, Harris County Clerk, that Harris County itself would sue him for each and every qualified person under the law/court ruling he refused to issue a marriage license to. Stannart capitulated in a couple of hours, hiding behind “incorrectly worded” legal forms until Ryan threatened his comfy zone.
Reading this again, the Attorney General for the State of Texas is telling citizens to break the law and he’ll represent them in court. Am I reading this right?
It seems even worse than that, Doc. He’s encouraging them to break the law while acknowledging that’s exactly what they would be doing. And then he suggests they’ll probably get a free lawyer — somehow, from somewhere — to represent them. Never mind the cost to taxpayers when their public offices are also sued. And all of this is coming from the state’s top law enforcement officer.
No. Read the fine print! It’s even stupider. He isn’t saying he’ll represent them in court. They’ll have to pay for their own lawyers. Hilarious! What a bunch of jokers.
So, as a city official I could refuse to issue a building permit to a BBQ restaurant because I hold “sincere religious beliefs” that succulent sauce-soaked pulled pork is offensive to my religion. No permit for you!
Paxton would encourage me to perform my civic duties according to my religious beliefs and if the mayor fired me for being a knucklehead, Paxton’s Posse o’ Legal Beagles would be behind me 1000 percent.
Am I reading that right? Hey, Diane should be dancing for joy because this is exactly how a theocracy works!
I guess the thing that bothers me most is that these clowns are doing this for some constituency they think they have in Texas so they will be properly aligned for the 2016 elections.
It starts with Boehner and McConnell. They always think that the majority of Americans are with them. They NEVER go out of their cushy offices to find out what we really do think.
I just sent the following message to President Obama at The White House:
Mr. President:
I have supported you and voted for you for going on 8 years. You are doing a wonderful job.
I am a straight Christian who lives in Tennessee. Elected politicians and public officials in Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama are publicly refusing to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage. Because your Oath of Office requires you to defend the Constitution and you have the power to enforce federal law, I kindly and respectfully request that you issue a public statement to these officials to get with the program on gay marriage licenses or every last one of them is going to have a U.S. Marshal with a federal arrest warrant show up at their door. If that fails, declare federal Marshal law in those states and send U.S. Marshals and federal troops to every city and county courthouse in those states to make sure the law is being followed in both letter and spirit. Thank You.
Excellent and AGREE!!! These SOB’S should be pushed out!!!!
AMEN. These clowns are starting to look like the fool George Corley Wallace was when he “stood in the schoolhouse door” in Tuscaloosa on the University of Alabama campus in 1963. Or worse yet, Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett, who stirred up violence at Ole Miss in 1962, trying to block the registration of James Meredith as the first African American to register for classes and attend Ole Miss. Assistant Attorney General Burke Marshall, RFK’s man, faced him down with federalized Mississippi National Guard troops, after he let the Mississippi Highway Patrol officers encourage white students to beat up on demostraters/freedom riders on the scene.
Paxton is despicable and a sleeze. He and Abbott will go down in history with a super-scripted notation of a footnote. The footnote below the name? “Fool”.
Exactly Charles well done!!!
lol, yeah because the President is really going to declare Marshal Law for that
Not only is it an extreme overreaction, its an action that would see every homophobic, racist hill billy red neck militia groupd across the country respond in droves with deadly force. And then things will spiral completely out of control.
I dont disagree with U.S. Marshals being sent to arrest them and have an example made of them, but you’re dreaming if you think the government is going do more than that.
The government already did that. The Tennessee National Guard was sent to Clinton, Tennessee, in the 1950s to support school desegregation Eisenhower mobilized the 101st Airborne Division to ensure compliance with desegregation in Little Rock, Arkansas. And as another poster pointed out above, the National Guard was federalized in another southern state for the same reason. Do you know what your racist, redneck buddies did? They rolled over like kittens at gunpoint.
Oh, I forgot to mention, if I were President, I would send those troops in full combat gear, with loaded firearms, and weapons that fire tactical explosive rounds, and I would treat the opposition just like the criminals and traitors that they are. Nuff said.
Oh, Charles, why do you always say the right things at the right time? You are brilliant!
TIME FOR ALL OF US TO COME OUT IN DROVES AGAINST THESE DANGEROUS FASCIST KOCH SUCKING BASTARDS
Dang, Laura, I thought I was the only one who knew that the Koch brothers and their kindred spirits were looking to force us into a Fascist kind of government.
I am PRAYING that Senator Bernie Sanders wins the nomination and the votes to put him into office as POTUS.
He is our ONLY last best hope for bringing back our democracy. VOTE ALL TEASIPPERS OUT OF OFFICE.
Ms.Beverly, you are so wrong. This country was and is founded in bible scripture. Antony that knows history can tell you this. If you believe the bible is the entrant word of God, and it is against your religion to do something God comes first to me. None if you have a heaven or hell to put me in so, I must stand on the word of God.
So Diane much Faux News watching? You are clearly unaware of facts and have you ever heard of SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE????
Dianne. You really should go get an education somewhere. Your post is dripping with ignorance. Also, the word is not “entrant.” It is “inerrant.”
Dianne, you clearly have not done your own research and study and do not know the influences on our founding fathers. Try reading The Federalist Papers for their direct insight. Try also reading John Locke, Voltaire, Plato, Machiavelli, et al for a true understanding of what our brilliant founders were considering. Also research the early colonies, many Quaker, who structured secular governments even though the church was the center of their lives. Our country was started by entrepreneurs, criminals, and those seeking escape from religious (Christian) persecution. Read and study for yourself instead of being led around by the nose. If you chose not to put forth the effort, don’t be surprised that people strongly oppose your desire to shove your beliefs down our throats.
Ms.Beverly, you are so wrong. This country was and is founded in bible scripture. Anyone that knows history can tell you this. If you believe the bible is the entrant word of God, and it is against your religion to do something. God comes first to me. None of you have a heaven or hell to put me in so, I must stand on the word of God. If you don’t believe in The Almighty GOD, how can you speak about something you don’t know. Ijs
So if our country is “founded in bible scripture,” can you tell me the scriptural basis of our constitution? How much of biblical law is enshrined in our country’s? Where does the Bible say anything about a republican form of government, or freedom of speech and religion?
She doesn’t know. She is just parroting the typical right wing, extremist, notjob talking points.
My Goodness Pumpkin! aren’t you Mamaw’s little hateful bowl of pink salad!Don’t hurt yourself with all them biiiig words like history and scripture…
While I am sure I speak for everyone when I say how much we all appreciate you wasting the few chromosomes you inherited from your genetic predecessors, I am equally as confident that they were wasted in vain, as these are quite possibly the 7 most grammatically, but more importantly historically, inaccurate sentences in the history of humanity. Congratulations! You did it! whoa!
That aside, I can’t blame you. For most, not all, but most likely in this instance, ignorance is a cancer stemmed from a person’s genealogical misfortunes. (i.e. low economic status – education+ unforeseen tragedy = divine vengeance for “fag enablers”)
Nowhere in the United States Constitution does it mention God, Yahweh, Jesus, Greg Abbot, Billy Graham, any other fictitious entity, or fanatical politician who is merely desperate to gain votes from a narrowing selective issues pool. The ONLY place where religion is mentioned in the Constitution is the First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: …”
That means that no law can be made on the basis of religious belief. You can believe whatever little fairytale your tiny brain can understand, but it will have no sway on the legislative and judicial interpretation of ones constitutional rights. This is exemplified in founding father Thomas Jefferson’s concluding words to a group of fanatical Baptist in Connecticut in 1802, “the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.”
Lordy B! whats that mean for Sweet Illiterate Brown-eyed King of the Jews Baby Jesus???
“whats that mean paw??”
“…Wellz Critter I’m not real sure. We’ll ask Reverend Cletus on sundee”
James, you are brilliant. I love what you write. Will you marry me? We can find a county clerk who refuses to marry same-sex couples and really get this ball rolling. Hell, let’s see if Ken Paxton will issue us a marriage license.
Actually, James, the engagement is off. You can keep the ring, though.
Why? I re-read your post and couldn’t stomach that you resorted to belittling accusations of what you perceive to be Dianne’s DNA make-up, economic status, education, etc. I think you could have made your point without the personal attack.
🙁 I was so excited! Your right though, I’m off to my room so I can reflect on my 26 years of having ignorant people, like Di up there, tell me how awful I am, because some made up man enshrined in glory magically impregnated a women that gave birth to the Messiah and that is why I am an abomination??? Her parent’s probably handed down these Fantasies. Nonetheless, I will keep in my mind’s eye the Treatise of the Three Imposters, which does well to argue the fraud of Abraham and his three lying disciples. (One of the greatest works to come out of the enlightenment, you should check it out)
I hope we can get over this hump in our relationship ;( I love you.
Kill ignorance, by educating the ignorant. Then one day, understanding the power of education and how she had to get the _ _ _ _ out of Bird Seed wherever, Barbara Leigh will instill in her children how wonderfully miraculous it is that in the entire universe, our planet might be the only one that had just the right amount of stuff and distance from the Sun to turn none living matter infused with carbon into organic life. Isn’t it fabulous enough that our genetic ancestors crawled out of the ocean and that the true divinity to be found, is in the struggle it took to get from being an ocean creature to a man worrying about what type of Scalamandre fabric he is going to use at his summer oasis in Maine? To me, Incredible. I want Di to get her feet out of the water and truly live with her eyes open, not as a subordinate to a make believe idea that changes every thousand or so years. A hundred years from now our successors will refer to God as EECLU and our time as the 4th (depends who you ask) Late Classical Era, or something weird like that.
…I am pretty pantheistic
I love ranting. Sorry everyone!
Who are the three people you are talking about? I’m confused.
GO BERNIE GO
When a funny-mental individual attempts to bring their god into the conversation, they deserve what they get.
I do not accept their outlook of life. When I am told that I am wrong, that this nation’s Constitution is based on the bible, I go from being amused to being angry that they never learned a damned thing about our country.
I should put the blame on the TEAliban for cutting and cutting and cutting again the education in this country. We used to have classes in social education, government education, etc. Now? They don’t learn about the Constitution so they don’t bother to read it, especially the First Amendment that bars laws based on religion.
WE ARE A SECULAR NATION AND FOR THE LIFE OF ME I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW PEOPLE CANNOT READ A DOCUMENT BUT THINK THEY KNOW WHAT IS SAYS. It is idiotic!
Any individual who attacks me simply because I have read the Constitution and KNOW that their ideas are not truthful is going to have to try defend the indefensible.
I am a believer in the one and only God. I do NOT accept the idea that a human being became a god. That is out-and-out idolatry.
I agree with you wholeheartedly, But more importantly I believe that people have the right to believe what they want to believe, but that those beliefs, especially spiritual beliefs, should in no way tread on the freedom that as a human being, and rightly stated in the constitution, I am entitled to. Like you, something clicks in me that feels figuratively violent or literally angry when I read comments like Di’s.
HeHe
The three people are just generalized examples of made up people that I equate with Dianne’s prophesied remarks. Apparently she’s an Oracle 😉
I’m abundantly grateful for your intelligent insight. Facts are facts.
Bern the MAN!
Dianne, YOU are wrong. This country was NOT founded on the bible scriptures. Try reading the First Amendment to the Constitution and tell me again that we’re a religious nation. It says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of 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.
No, I do not believe that the bible is the inerrant word of God. For example, the first 11 chapters of Genesis are pure myth. If God wrote how we got here, he would have known that this planet is 4.54 years old, not six thousand. Adam and Eve never existed, it is a myth. The fact is that ALL human life began in Africa, not the Middle East.
As a non-Christian, I am free to think for myself. So dear heart, continue to think what you believe, but consider this: If you break what you think is a law of God, nothing is going to happen to you, but if you break a civil law, you will be arrested and jailed.
The ONLY reason for denying homosexuals and transpeople their EQUAL RIGHTS AS SPELLED OUT IN THE 14TH Amendment is the bigotry of the Christian churches. Our law is the law of the land, not myths from your bible.
One last thing. I will state that you have never read the entire bible without you calling me a liar. For that matter, very few people have read the original words of the bible. You do not know Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek, thus you have never been able to know what the Deity said.
Hear, hear.
Nice to “hear” from another intelligent person!
Seems like he could be charged with conspiracy, at the very least.
He would most likely be charged with “Obstruction of Justice.” Four steps:
1) Federal arrest warrant
2) Conviction
3) Stripped of license to practice law in Texas
4) Removal from office as Attorney General because you cannot have an convict with no law license in that office.
He took an oath to uphold the Constitution. If he cannot/will not do his job then he needs to step down.
Thanks to all y’all for your insightful comments that have helped me solidify my thoughts. Well, thanks to all except “Dianne” who “stands on the word of God” with one foot while tromping on the US Constitution with the other.
And, as divine founder of Johnianity, I hereby proclaim you all (you, too, Dianne, sweetheart) esteemed members of the First Church of Johnianity, coming to a former hair-products storefront in a strip mall with a gay-friendly happy-hour bar near you. All welcome. Resist Bruce and his leafblowers, car alarms, wasteful water systems and Round-up! Praise native plants!
Well, this is Monday. Whatever comes out of the Capitol Building in Austin today is going to set the tone for the whole week. I just hope President Obama and his Attorney General have people and assets monitoring the day-to-day situations in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi—and are prepared to act.
Why is it that gay people and ordinary citizens are not marching on the state capitol with signs that demand enforcement of the law against these clowns? Can someone riddle me that Batman?
The current Constitutional crisis will eventually be solved. But in the end, it will not be the social neoconservatives who win this fight. There is a real problem with a whole group of citizens, who wanting to have their way, have decided to “disobey” SCOTUS with regards to Same Sex Marriage.
But what the neoconservatives have neglected to remember is that 1) they’ve sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution of this nation. 2) they by their own admission obey the buybull, which states in Romans 13:1-5 stating:
13 “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”
What the neoconservatives have neglected to tell you and they refuse to acknowledge is that they are subject to the civil authorities in everything. That they cannot disobey these authorities on pain of death. Frankly the thought of racists and fear mongers obeying the civil authorities in this regard is laughable. They’ll do everything that they can to make the situation as intolerable as possible. What is going to be the response of the administration? Well firstly they’ll have to call out the National Guard, just like President Johnson did in 1964-69. When the National Guard was called out, the soldiers despite their personal preferences, had to obey orders and help African-Americans go to schools that were before segregated but now were being desegregated.
This is the same situation. An attorney general of a state is trying to obstruct justice, he’s stating for the record that no court clerk will suffer their decision to issue a marriage licenses to LGBT members of this nation. Wrong, and double wrong. He is in danger of jail, contempt of court and of course, will lose his job if he’s found guilty of contempt of court in Federal District Court.