The Pope Just Handed Kim Davis A Huge Win

[Hortensis]

18. If more of us were conscientious objectors, we'd probably have a

pretty nice world. Pope Francis's call for conscientious objection is yet another of the many reasons I am admiring him so much, and grateful to have him on our big team.

However, Pope Francis knows perfectly well that, inevitably, this magnificent tool will also be wrongly used by fools and scoundrels to pursue harmful goals and self aggrandizement -- just part of the cost of operation.

If felt she, as Pope Francis felt she should, had simply announced that she was no longer able to perform a job that required her to aid in immoral acts and resigned, she and her stance would have been respected by far more people than just some members of the religious right. Or she could have made a statement of her principles and position to local media about her position and explained that others in her office would perform those marriages. Less noise, but more principle.

Notably, all the charges of hypocrisy and self aggrandizement, including plotting for reelection, money, and attention, that call her motives into question would have never have been made. She should never have signed up with GoFundMe.com for people to send her money, and she should have sent that snake-oil salesman Huckabee, and others who swarmed to profit from her, away.

Those who admire her will cheer, but others still won't be fooled.