Creeping Persecution
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, September 4, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
A current example of religious persecution happened this summer in Kentucky where pastors of juvenile offenders can no longer call homosexuality “sinful” or “disordered” when ministering to juveniles in Kentucky’s Department of Juvenile Justice. Based on the state “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity” policy, Christian minister David Wells was informed by letter on July 17, 2015 that his volunteer status was revoked and he was barred from entering the Warren County facility unless he signed a state-mandated declaration that homosexuality is not “sinful.”
The superintendent told Mr. Wells, “You can give a scripture reference to the kids, and let them look it up, but you can’t read it in their hearing You can’t say ‘sinful;’ you can’t discuss sexual orientation – heterosexual or homosexual – period.” Then, somewhat apologetically, the superintendent said, “I’m just doing what the state is telling me to do.”
In a letter dated July 23, 2015 Liberty Counsel responded to the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, demanding the reinstatement of Mr. Wells and the other volunteer ministers, as well as a reversal of such unconstitutional religious discrimination. The letter further stated that the Kentucky policy comparing the teaching of biblical morality with “derogatory,” “biased” and “hateful” speech creates an unconstitutional religious litmus test for access to juveniles in the Department of Juvenile Justice.In that five-page letter Liberty Counsel stated, “By restricting speech which volunteers are allowed to use while ministering to youth detainees, the State of Kentucky and the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice have violated the protections given to private speech through the First Amendment and the Kentucky Constitution. Policy 912 requires affirmation of homosexuality as a condition of providing spiritual guidance to troubled youth and singles out a particular theological viewpoint as expressly disfavored by the State of Kentucky. This the State cannot do.”
Also in Kentucky, Kim Davis, elected to a four-year term as Clerk of Rowan County in November 2014, took office January 1, 2015, but was arrested and jailed September 3rd for refusing to issue marriage licenses to any couple – same-sex or opposite-sex – since the Supreme Court marriage decision. After, specifically, choosing her to issue the license, a same sex couple filed suit against her. Liberty Counsel’s federal court brief on her behalf included this: “Same-sex marriage licenses are readily available across Kentucky in over 130 offices…. The plaintiffs in this case only sought licenses from Ms. Davis after learning of her religious objections to same-sex marriage and they refuse to obtain a license elsewhere.”
This issue is far from over, because government officials are deeming religious freedom inferior to same-sex emotional demands. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.