1. The first paragraph of a news article should answer the questions who, what, where and when. In this article, find more details in paragraph 3. List the who, what, where and when of this news item. (NOTE: The remainder of a news article provides details on the why and/or how.)

2. a) Why did the Pope want to meet Kim Davis? What did he tell her?
b) What did Kim Davis say about her meeting with the Pope?

3. When was Mrs. Davis first aware that the Pope was concerned with her case?

4. According to Davis’ attorney Mat Staver, why didn’t they reveal Kim Davis’ meeting with Pope Francis until now?

5. What did the Pope tell reporters who asked about his view on Mrs. Davis’ case?

6. a) Why do you think the Pope met with Mrs. Davis secretly? (If he agreed with her, why do you think he did not publicly say so?)
b) Do you agree with Pope Francis’ decision to avoid the topic of same-sex marriage, although the Catholic church teaches that marriage is between one man and one woman?

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
a) Should the Pope have spoken out in support of traditional marriage?
b) As the head of the Catholic church with 1.2 billion followers, what responsibility did Pope Francis have to make clear the church’s teaching on such an important issue?
c) Was the Pope right to focus his message mainly on climate change and the plight of immigrants?
d) In his speech to Congress, Pope Francis called on lawmakers to take action on climate change, immigration, poverty and capital punishment. He did not focus on religious freedom while in Washington D.C. or New York City, but did mention it in Philadelphia on the last leg of his trip. Many had hoped Pope Francis would speak strongly, not diplomatically, on these issues. (His message supporting religious freedom was much more subtle than his messages on climate change and undocumented immigrants.)  What do you think?
e) Should the law make accommodations for religious freedom?
f) Legally, part of Mrs. Davis’ job is to issue marriage licenses, which now include same-sex marriage licenses after the Supreme Court ruled it so. In this case, do you agree with the Pope who says it her right to go against this law that violates her conscience?