[blueash]

In an upper Midwestern state there is a large community of Muslims who managed to get a co-religionist appointed as the local head of the health department. It turns out that restaurant inspections have always been done by the head of the health department, but also have been available from the state office. This new department head who began his appointment on Jan 1st has just announced that his office will no longer do restaurant inspections as he believes his religion forbids him from handling pork and other non-halal foods. He says the public will not be inconvenienced because the state is still going to be doing inspections. Do you think he should quit his job or at least put aside his religion when he is there to provide services to the public in a manner which every previous person did who held that position? It is also going to cost his community money as there was a charge collected for each inspection which the government will no longer be collecting as it is not doing the inspection.

Typing errors corrected:

In Florida there is a large community of Christians who managed to get a co-religionist elected as the County Court Clerk. It turns out that court weddingshave always been done by the Court Clerk, but also have been available from outside officiants . This public official who is required by the Constitution not to discriminate in his office has just announced that his office will no longer do weddings as he believes his religion forbids him from marrying all eligible persons. He says the public will not be inconvenienced because somebody else is still going to be doing weddings. Do you think he should quit his job or at least put aside his religion when he is there to provide services to the public in a manner which every previous person did who held that position? It is also going to cost his community money as there was a charge collected for each inspection which the government will no longer be collecting as it is not doing the inspection.

I appreciate the calls for the removal from office of this person who felt his religious opinion trumped the job to which he was elected. I did need to edit the original post a bit, as I made some typing errors.

For those who wanted links:
Some clerks ax nuptials so they won't have to marry gays

and this lovely quote

"The problem is we can't discriminate" because this county clerk so wants to discriminate
Pasco clerk on gay wedding ceremonies: Not us, not yet