Poll: Clerks Must Issue Gay Marriage Licenses

A majority of Americans think government officials should issue same-sex marriage licenses even if it violates their religious convictions.

An Associated Press-GFK poll has found that 56 percent of Americans think public officials with religious objections should be required to issue the licenses.

"If the government says you have to give out those marriage licenses, and you get paid to do it, you do it," 64-year-old retiree Linda Massey said.

But only 41 percent favor an exemption.

Back in July, those numbers were split, with 49 percent believing officials with religious objections should be exempt from issuing marriage licenses to same sex sex couples. Forty seven percent said they should be required to issue them.

However, the shift is indicative of a cultural influence even in conservative religious groups.

Recently, Catholic bishops met for three weeks in Rome to talk about the inclusion of civilly married couples in the Catholic Church. During the meeting, Pope Francis warned those in the Church of the risk of "becoming habitually unmoved by grace" and turning a cold shoulder to God's most wounded.

Some do not see it that way, but believe that it is more important to have the government protect religious liberties.

"We've got to decide at some point who's going to be protected first," Nick Hawks, of Ararat, North Carolina, told The Assoicated Press.  "It doesn't seem quite fair" to allow a minority such as gay people to "control the policy."