PHILADELPHIA ¨C Pope Francis waited until his historic U.S. visit was over to make his most direct comments on the nation¡¯s debate over gay marriage, saying government officials should have the right to refrain from actions that violate their religious beliefs.
That statement came in response to a reporter¡¯s question on the papal plane about Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who was jailed earlier this month for refusing to grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage in all 50 states.
¡°Conscientious objection must enter into every juridical structure because it is a right,¡± Francis told reporters, speaking in Italian. ¡°If someone does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right.¡±
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