News (USA)

Lawyers: Vatican official helped set up Kim Davis meeting

Lawyers: Vatican official helped set up Kim Davis meeting
Pope Francis
Pope Francis Andrew Medichini, AP

WASHINGTON — Lawyers for a Kentucky clerk at the center of the U.S. gay marriage debate say the Vatican ambassador to Washington helped arrange her meeting with Pope Francis last week.

The Liberty Counsel says in a statement that Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano personally spoke with Kim Davis about the invitation to meet with the pope during his trip to the United States. The Vatican has declined to say who had invited Davis.

“The private meeting request was unsolicited and facilitated by Vatican officials,” says the statement from Liberty Counsel.

The meeting created controversy following the pope’s visit.

Davis rose to prominence for refusing to issue all marriage licenses rather than be compelled to issue licenses to same-sex couples.

Vigano has strongly taken up the religious liberty charge championed by U.S. bishops.

© 2015, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Alabama judges use segregation-era law to avoid gay marriage

Previous article

Gay former student of Pope Francis’ speaks out

Next article