One fine point often missed is that the amendment does not prohibit a legislator from following their Christian (or Jewish, or even Islamic) beliefs when deciding whether to support or oppose a piece of legislation. It does not even prohibit them from sponsoring legislation that is influenced by their religious beliefs - it simply prohibits them from imposing their beliefs on others who believe differently, or establishing their personal denomination in power over other religions.

The Kentucky county official who refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples clearly overstepped her bounds. She was certainly entitled to believe that such marriages are immoral; she is not required to socialize with such people. But she is not allowed to base her official acts on her bigotry. If she feels so profoundly about this issue, her option was to resign, not to change the law to fit her personal beliefs.