July 8, 2008
Never Let It Be Said We Never Praise Mormons
Well, we praise individual Mormons, like the ones in the following story from the Contra Costa Times. The Mormon church, on the hand, is a whole ‘nother ball of beeswax.
Mormon challenge to gay marriage ban Some Mormons are rejecting their prophet’s call to campaign for a ban on same-sex marriage in California, suggesting the church leadership’s sway over the issue of homosexuality may be weakening.
In a letter circulated to all the state’s congregations June 29, President and Prophet Thomas Monson called on Mormons to “do all you can” to support the November ballot measure “by donating of your means and time.”
The church strongly supported a successful 2000 California proposition that prohibited same-sex unions. The state Supreme Court struck down the measure May 15, opening the door for same-sex marriages.
The intervening years have brought a more widespread acceptance of homosexuality.
“In the eight years since the state proposition we have all become more educated,” said Walnut Creek Mormon author and playwright Carol Lynn Pearson. “Most people have realized they have a gay family member or a gay friend or people they work with who are gay. Most people are less quick to judge,” she said.
“The LDS church — any church — has the right to do whatever it wishes, but I applaud the California Supreme Court’s decision,” said Martinez resident Susan Randall, an active Mormon.
Church officials declined to comment, referring calls to the Sacramento coalition behind the ballot measure. …
A former Brigham Young University professor — Mormon, married and heterosexual — is circulating a letter of his own. In it, he says he does not believe people choose their sexual orientation and that denying them equal opportunities “is grossly unfair.”
“You should also know, not all faithful Mormons agree with our religious leaders’ encroachment into political matters,” Jeffrey Nielsen wrote.
Nielsen, who lost his job at the university two years ago after speaking out about gay rights, said he has received numerous positive e-mails from other Mormons — a sign of times, he said. …
Even in Utah, some question the mandate. An article on the church’s position in The Salt Lake Tribune drew several indignant responses. Some online posters said they resented being asked to contribute money for a political proposition on top of their required tithe.
“If the LDS church could give me one valid reason of how gay marriage is going to damage my marriage, I would probably jump on the bandwagon and start handing out pamphlets, but they simply cannot,” wrote one. …
More of a most interesting read at the link.
Previous comments on this post:
If ur a taxpayer, u shud be able to get married. How is it that gays have less rights than someone who is here illegally or someone who is incarcerated?
HillGirl | 07.08.08 - 5:30 pm
I’ve always asked that question myself. Richard “The Night Stalker” Ramirez was married while on Death Row… Charles Manson’s murderous golden boy Tex Watson married and fathered four children while imprisoned for life… Susan Atkins (the one who stabbed Sharon Tate to death) was married in prison… and, of course, any straight American can wander into a Las Vegas wedding chapel on a drunk and immediately legitimize an undocumented alien…
I guess the only conclusion is that society hates us gay folks even more than they hate serial killers and mass murderers.
Sapphocrat | Homepage | 07.09.08 - 2:21 pm
Just stumbled across this site and wanted to say I hope you keep up the good work.
As more and more folks on the wrong side of Prop 8 (whether they be Mormon or whatever their religious affiliation) start figuring out that there are some seriously creepy GOP political operatives getting paid to orchestrate the pro-8 campaign, well, I expect to see support for Prop 8 drop off considerably.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonl…1016/323/545800
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonl…1147/89/544016
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonl…1484/408/542680
Chino Blanco | Homepage | 07.15.08 - 12:33 am
Thanks for the kind words, Chino — and for the excellent links!
Sapphocrat | Homepage | 07.15.08 - 1:25 am
Filed under: California, Election 2008, LDS/Mormons, Marriage, Proposition 8, Radical Religious Right
