-Mormon Church Responds to Prop.8 Protests
by Dr. D ~ November 9th, 2008
(Protest signs in Salt Lake by Getty Images via Daylife)
In the last post, I reported that over 1,000 gay activists were loudly protesting the passage of Prop. 8 out in front of the LDS Church Temple in Westwood. The protesters are angry with the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon) over the major support the church and LDS members gave to the passage of the traditional marriage amendment in California.
**Update–Saturday night (Nov. 8), the protest was expanded to Salt Lake City as several thousand marched in protest to Temple Square–the LDS Church headquarters.
Here is a copy of the official and very able response given by the Church:
SALT LAKE CITY 7 November 2008 The Church issued the following statement today:
It is disturbing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is being singled out for speaking up as part of its democratic right in a free election.
Members of the Church in California and millions of others from every faith, ethnicity and political affiliation who voted for Proposition 8 exercised the most sacrosanct and individual rights in the United States — that of free expression and voting.
While those who disagree with our position on Proposition 8 have the right to make their feelings known, it is wrong to target the Church and its sacred places of worship for being part of the democratic process.
Once again, we call on those involved in the debate over same-sex marriage to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility towards each other. No one on either side of the question should be vilified, harassed or subject to erroneous information.
Response: As I said in the last post, it is wrong for the protesters to single out the Mormon Church. The Catholic Church, along with the Knights of Columbus were also major contributors to the Prop. 8 campaign, not to mention 1,000’s of Protestant churches from all sort of different denominations and non-denominational congregations.
All of these groups, including the LDS, have the right to support issues and exercise their freedom of speech and religious convictions. *Top
Related articles by Zemanta
- -California: Still Protesting Against Marriage Amendment
- ‘Prop 8’ protesters hit California streets
- Mormons And Catholics Upset At Being The Target Of Prop 8 Protests
November 9th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
You must take responsibility for your bigotry. You can't pass it off on other groups or hide behind the democratic process. You are haters. You must answer for your hatred. Civil rights should not be decided by voters. If Brown v Board of education was voted on we would still have segregation. Marriage is a civil right. Civil marriage is distinct and different from church marriages now and always will be. You lied in your ads. You interfered from out of state in a CA election you are wrong and you are bigots. You will not win this fight and you will suffer endless bad publicity for your church and your bigotry.
November 10th, 2008 at 9:09 am
elRey-
First of all, I am not a Mormon but an Evangelical Christian.
Second- I am not against same-sex unions–just don't call it marriage
Third- Those in same sex unions already have the same rights as traditional married couples in California so it is not a matter of civil rights.
Fourth- No one I know opposing same-sex marriage hates anyone.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
That church spent millions of dollars to take away civil rights and promote hatred, fear, and division. It is wrong. It is disgusting that in this day and age such bigotry is still tolerated. If Jesus could see how these churches are trying to take away the rights of a minority group he would never stop throwing up. You people should be ashamed of yourselves.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
anthony afterwit:
1. Members of the Mormon Church spent millions–not the church.
2. The only right taken away was to use the word marriage. Domestic partners have the same rights as traditional marriage in California.
3. To take a stand for traditional marriage and families does not “promote hatred, fear, and division”.
November 15th, 2008 at 10:59 am
[…] -Mormon Church Responds to Prop.8 Protests […]
December 17th, 2008 at 1:23 am
Dr. D,
1.) For you, What is the MAIN purpose of a church?
2.) In what way did supporting Proposition 8 fulfill that purpose?
To me, the purpose of any church should be to help individuals get onto a spiritual path. Specifically, the purpose is to help individuals think and behave with better morals and ethics; find a purpose for living that transcends pure selfishness; and realize that life is more than the physical world that one perceives with one’s ordinary senses.
If the Morman church encouraged its members to give financial support to Prop 8, it seems to me that they were not fulfilling the main purpose of a church. Their focus was in the wrong direction.
3.) What conduct would qualify as “hateful”? What would a church have to do for you to say that their actions were hateful, devisesive, etc.?
4.) Both of my parents are ministers. From them, I learned the value of loving and accepting others. I didn’t learn this value because my parents told me to do so. I learned it because my parents SHOWED love and acceptance to everyone they met. I wish I could say the same about the majority of people I meet who claim to be in relationship with God or who teach the gospel.
March 8th, 2018 at 12:37 am
[…] -Mormon Church Responds to Prop.8 Protests […]
March 8th, 2018 at 12:44 am
[…] -Mormon Church Responds to Prop.8 Protests […]