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Panel mulls conscientious objectors to gay marriage

Where do we draw the line between securing religious liberty and prohibiting discrimination? An expert panel meets to discuss the issues.



A panel discussion on conscientious objectors to same-sex marriage, "On God's Authority: Conscientious Objection in the Age of Same-Sex Marriage," will take place Thursday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. in Eaton Humanities Room 1B50.

Experts will explore issues concerning people and organizations that refuse, on religious grounds, to honor the U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing marriage by same-sex couples.

The issue gained national attention when a county clerk in Kentucky, Kim Davis, refused to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples because it violated her religious beliefs. Even after Davis received a federal court order to issue the licences, Davis refused. She was jailed for five days.

The panelists include Ryan Anderson, Senior Research Fellow, the Heritage Foundation; John Corvino, Professor of Philosophy, Wayne State University; Sherif Girgis, co-author of the book “What is Marriage?”; and Andrew Koppelman, Professor of Law and Political Science, Northwestern University.

The event is free and open to the public.

The event is the first in the 2015-16 Western Civ Dialogue Series and is sponsored by the Center for Western Civilization, Thought and Policy and the Center for Values and Social Policy.