Grand Prize: $2,000 and a trip for two to Washington, D.C.
Open to all high school juniors and seniors • Entries due March 4
Topic:
At times, an elected or government-appointed official may encounter a conflict between his or her job requirements and a personal religious belief. For example, a county clerk may not want to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because of his or her religious view of marriage. Similarly, a clerk who is a pacifist may object to issuing a gun license based on his or her religious belief.
Should an elected official be able to opt out of certain job duties? How far should government go to accommodate elected or appointed government officials who have religious objections to certain job requirements?
Write an essay in which you discuss both the rights and responsibilities of the official and of the individual(s) applying for the license. In what way does your solution affect all parties involved?
For entry forms and details visit www.BJConline.org/contest.
From the November/December 2015 Report from the Capital. Click here to read the next story.
