General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: She wouldn't touch my bacon. [View all]Ms. Toad
(34,059 posts)And people did not flee to this country because of persecution and imprisonment in their homelands, and were not hanged in this country, because of their beliefs that touching bacon was gross. They were on the basis of the exercise of religion.
Like it or not, belonging to the wrong religion (or to no religion at all) has been the basis of government and private persecution both in the countries most early non-native settlers came from, and in this country. The first amendment and non-discrimination laws prohibit that. Exercising one's faith is not limited to one day a week, and when the exercise of faith and work/government requirements overlap the government/employers are required to offer reasonable accommodations. It is the same set of laws which protects non-believers from - for example - being forced to participate in religious activities as part of their employment. Something, presumably, that you believe is essential.
What Kim Davis is doing is not protected by law. Issuing marriage licenses is an essential part of the work of her office. It is not a reasonable accommodation to allow her to alter the function of her office (by refusing to issue any licenses at all). On the other hand, it is a reasonable accommodation to permit a checkout clerk to have someone else scan pork - in the same way checkout clerks who are underage are permitted to have someone else scan alcohol.