“I think there has to be a distinction between obeying the law and holding religious beliefs. Ms. Davis has a right to her religious views, and she can believe as her heart tells her to. She’s not wrong in her belief. But in a public office, if you’ve taken an oath to carry out the duties and responsibilities of that office, you have to be able to separate your views from your duties as a public official.”
– Joe Beal, pastor at Broadway United Methodist in Paducah
“She has the right to her own belief system, and when she was sworn into office, I feel like she ought to be able to stand on her belief system. If it goes against her beliefs, I don’t think that she ought to resign. If that’s not a good fit for that particular county or that state, it ought to be their responsibility to remove her, not her responsibility for her convictions to remove herself. She ought to be able to have a voice like everybody else.
“The Bible is our final authority. We understand about the law of the land, but we feel like the law of the land has compromised with what the land was founded on. Therefore we choose to take a stand and believe the word of God is the final authority in our lives.”
– Jim Tremble, minister at Paducah’s Community Kitchen and Sunday school teacher at Concord Christian Center
“I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. But the thing with Ms. Davis, she’s in an office in which she was elected to carry out the law, whether she believes in the law or not. If she doesn’t want to do her job she can step aside and give someone else in her office permission to do what the law requires.
“I don’t agree with the law at all, but if I’m in an elected position then it’s up to me to do what my job requires. I am a law-abiding citizen, and I think that’s what God wants me to be.”
– Alfred Anderson, President of the Community Clergy Fellowship
“It’s certainly commendable as a believer for somebody to stand for their convictions, especially in such a public way. It’s a bold move. We certainly see those kinds of stands in the scripture or in the Bible, but these days it’s rare for someone to take a stand like that. Not many people would go to jail for what they believe.
“The original reason for the separation of church and state was to keep the government out of the church, not the church out of the government. When the law contradicts what the Bible says, we have to take a stand on that. God’s word says that marriage is between a man and a woman.”
– Russ Wilson, Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church in Paducah
“I think it’s really, really sad. I don’t think that she’s been treated fairly. The people above her, they should have seen this coming a mile away. I don’t think she’s wrong, and I think there’s another way to handle it instead of persecuting her like this.”
– Chuck Houston, pastor at Life Community Church in Murray
Paducah Sun staff