Republican presidential candidate Ted
Cruz on Thursday released a statement in support of Kim Davis, the
Kentucky clerk who was jailed for defying a court ruling ordering her
to issue marriage licenses to all qualified couples.
Davis argues that issuing licenses to
gay and lesbian couples would be a violation of her religious
beliefs.
(Related: KY
clerk Kim Davis ordered jailed for refusing to issue marriage
licenses to gay couples.)
“Today, judicial lawlessness crossed
into judicial tyranny,” Cruz said in a press release. “Today,
for the first time ever, the government arrested a Christian woman
for living according to her faith. This is wrong. This is not
America. I stand with Kim Davis. Unequivocally.”
“I stand with every American that the
Obama Administration is trying to force to choose between honoring
his or her faith or complying with a lawless court opinion. Those
who are persecuting Kim Davis believe that Christians should not
serve in public office. That is the consequence of their position.
Or, if Christians do serve in public office, they must disregard
their religious faith – or be sent to jail. Kim Davis should not
be in jail. We are a country founded on Judeo-Christian values,
founded by those fleeing religious oppression and seeking a land
where we could worship God and live according to our faith, without
being imprisoned for doing so.”
“I call upon every Believer, every
Constitutionalist, every lover of liberty to stand with Kim Davis.
Stop the persecution now,” the Texas senator said.
Cruz's presidential campaign heavily
relies on reaching the evangelical vote, a critical demographic in
early primary states such as Iowa.