Lawyers for Kim Davis say she met privately with Pope Francis

WDRB
September 30, 2015

http://www.wdrb.com/story/30146675/lawyers-for-kim-davis-say-she-met-privately-with-pope-francis

Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, center, after her release from jail Tuesday

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - The lawyers for Kim Davis say the Rowan County Clerk had a private meeting with Pope Francis last week in Washington, D.C.

Liberty Counsel says Davis met with the Pope at the Vatican Embassy on Thursday along with her husband, Joe.

In a press release, Liberty Counsel offers minimal details into how the meeting was set up and what was discussed:

During the meeting Pope Francis said, "Thank you for your courage." Pope Francis also told Kim Davis, "Stay strong. He held out his hands and asked Kim to pray for him. Kim held his hands and said, "I will. Please pray for me," and the Pope said he would. The two embraced. The Pontiff presented Kim and Joe Davis each with a Rosary that he personally blessed.

Pope Francis spoke little on the gay marriage issue while in the United States, but did offer one opinion when speaking with reporters on the papal plane Monday after leaving Philadelphia.

He spoke of "conscientious objection," but never directly referred to Davis.

"I can't have in mind all the cases that can exist about conscientious objection … but yes, I can say that conscientious objection is a right that is a part of every human right," Pope Francis said to reporters. "It is a right. And if a person does not allow others to be a conscientious objector, he denies a right." 

Davis' attorney Mat Staver said Liberty Counsel doesn't have photos of the meeting yet, but when they receive them, they'll be released.

Davis was briefly jailed for her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples despite a judge's order to do so.