The Obama White House reacted to the the news that Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis met with Pope Francis during his trip to the United States.
Pope Francis reportedly gave Kim Davis two rosaries.
Picture of rosaries given by Pope Francis to Kim & Joe Davis during visit Thursday afternoon, per Liberty Counsel pic.twitter.com/5EoOImAW1n
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) September 30, 2015
From today’s press briefing:
Jon Karl: Pope Francis met with Kim Davis while he was here in Washington. What’s the administration’s reaction to that meeting?
Josh Earnest: I don’t have a specific reaction to the meeting. The president did note in his comments over the weekend that it’s important for Americans across the country to say clearly that our religious freedom doesn’t grant us the freedom to deny our fellow Americans their constitutional rights. So the president talked to the importance of religious freedom when the pope was at the White House at the South Lawn last week. The president has been just as clear that our religious freedom doesn’t grant us the freedom to deny our fellow Americans their basic constitutional rights.
Jon Karl: So the president would disagree with Pope Francis that Kim Davis acted courageously as her lawyer said…
Josh Earnest: well, secondhand… I think that I would say is that our position about Miss Davis is quite clear. The president believes strongly in the rule of law.
