Rand Paul expressed sympathy for Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who refused to give marriage licenses to same-sex couples based on their religious beliefs.
Paul, a Kentucky senator and 2016 presidential candidate, told Fox News that he is “very much sympathetic” to Davis because same-sex marriage goes against her religious beliefs.
“I have never been opposed to contracts between consenting adults,” Paul told Fox News’ Bill Hemmer. “But I am very much sympathetic to the idea that an individual shouldn’t have to sign or give their stamp of approval to something they object to. And I think there’s an in-between on this.”
“Why couldn’t we have a notary of the public put their seal on it, and then the clerk would file it? My understanding is she will file it as a contract — she just doesn’t want to sign that because it indicates her approval of this, and her religious beliefs are contrary to that.”
Paul said that he wasn’t sure if Davis would ultimately prevail in court.
“Even with the Supreme Court’s decision, I think it’s a mistake to sort of beat people over the head and say, ‘You must believe as we do.’ And, really, I think there ought to be some room for people to exercise their religious beliefs and not be told they have to do something they find morally objectionable.”
The 2016 candidate also told Hemmer that he will speak to Davis, as did former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Paul added that he will “speak to anybody” about the situation.
