Gay-marriage debate roils, unites Mormons
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/11/24/gay_marriage_debate_roils_unites_mormons/
By Michael Paulson
Globe Staff / November 24, 2008
This has been a stormy year for Mormons in the United States. First, there was the candidacy of Mitt Romney for president, which brought to the surface a deep strain of anti-Mormonism in American culture. Then, there was the raid on a group of schismatic polygamists in Texas, which reminded America of Mormonism’s uncomfortable history. And now, there is a wave of protest, rolling across the country from west to east, in which some gay rights advocates have targeted Mormons because of their church’s support for a successful California referendum to overturn same-sex marriage.
Ironically, the protests appear to be helping repair a rift within Mormonism caused by the election. The church’s outspoken support for Proposition 8 exposed an unusual level of disagreement in the ordinarily harmonious Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Internet facilitated grass-roots organizing by the minority of Mormons who support same-sex marriage. But a smattering of anti-Mormon acts since Election Day - the burning of a Book of Mormon, a mailing of packets of white powder to Mormon sites, and some anti-Mormon invective expressed on signs and in sloganeering - has helped rally a denomination with a long history of persecution.
“I would not have voted in support of Prop. 8, but it does grieve me to see anybody being called bigoted for voting in an election and expressing their viewpoints,” said Julie Berry, 34, of Maynard. “I support the right to protest, but vandalism and damage to church buildings - that hurts . . . and I wish we could see a little more defense of Mormons’ right to exist as citizens and vote how they wish to vote. I’m sad to think that some of the social and political good will we’ve gained in the last 15 years may be set back.”
November 25th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
It is almost a daily event now in California (and especially here in the SF Bay Area) as the opposition for prop 8 continues to propogate stories about the LDS church and their memberships’ support for prop 8.
Today, we heard that there will be an “investigation” into the LDS church’s involvement in the support of prop 8. While other organized religions’ congregations also supported prop 8, it is the easy target of Mormons that are under attack by opponents and the media.
November 25th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Thanks Trooperdad for your update here and to Paulee for your update on CHAT this morning regarding an investigation into the Mormon Church’s involvement in the passage of Prop 8.
We don’t have to sit idly by and watch this travesty take place. Here is a way we can add our support for free speech, the traditional definition of marriage, and add our names to a petition to thank Mormons for their support of Prop 8. Let’s band together and let our voices be heard! I was happily surprised to see prominent Evangelical names on this petition. Please forward this link to your family and friends:
Good News: Hundreds Thank Mormon Church for Supporting Marriage
CitizenLink.com
11-24-2008
http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000008754.cfm
The National Organization for Marriage has launched a petition drive in response to incendiary attacks from gay activists in California and around the U.S. AboveTheHate.com has collected nearly 1,500 signatures of people thanking the Mormon Church for its support of Prop. 8, California’s marriage-protection amendment.
The list includes Dr. James Dobson and Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family, Chuck Colson, Tony Perkins, Gary Bauer, Bishop Harry Jackson and other marriage advocates. The public is invited to sign on, as well.
Since Prop. 8 passed Nov. 4, gay activists have vandalized property, disrupted Sunday services and mailed threatening letters to marriage advocates around the country. The Mormon Church has been a primary target.
Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage, said: “The answer is to organize together in defense not only of marriage, and God’s truth about marriage, but in defense of basic, American decency about how we treat each other when we disagree.”
Bishop Harry Jackson, chairman of the High Impact Leadership Coalition, said the petition makes an important statement “that we are going to operate with Christian integrity no matter how the other side operates.”
— Family News in Focus
Links contained in the above article:
http://abovethehate.com/ - project by National Organization for Marriage
To hear new radio ad by National Organization for Marriage, sign petition, and view signers:
https://www.kintera.org/site/c.quI0KaMVIxF/b.4784033/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=quI0KaMVIxF&b=4784033&en=klLPK4PSIlLTI6OUKdLWJnP6InIZKkM2LkKWLbNQImK7LsK
November 25th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
People need to be informed, take advantage of this time to be recognized as Christians, and that false beliefs of Mormons need to be addressed. The Bible says, Adam and Eve…. not Adam and Steve. Marriage is a sacrament, marriage was meant to be between a man and woman. Mitt so eloquently stated his beliefs in his religion speech and at the Beckett Foundation Dinner in his and Ann’s honor.
November 26th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Mormons in the Crosshairs
by Kathryn Jean Lopez
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
http://townhall.com/columnists/KathrynJeanLopez/2008/11/26/mormons_in_the_crosshairs
Mormons have a reason to be nervous. I didn’t fully appreciate it two years ago, when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints first came under an intense political spotlight. In 2006, Mormon officials had begun making the media rounds, prepping for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s expected try for the Republican presidential nomination. This protective measure stood out. No evangelical contingents were giving theological primers in anticipation of Mike Huckabee’s run. Few officials were warning Catholics to not do as Rudy Giuliani does on abortion before his run. Why did the Mormons need to do advance work?
We quickly saw why. Many members of this young, uniquely American church understandably did not desire the intense scrutiny that Romney’s run would bring. It didn’t take long, as it turned out, for journalists and popular blogs to raise questions about undergarments, theology and points of history. Some points fell within the fair scope of political journalism, while many were clearly out of bounds.
But nothing justifies the concerns of anxious Mormons like the current controversy over Proposition 8 in California. This initiative protecting traditional marriage won by the same margin as Barack Obama did in that state — getting the support of some Obama voters, in fact. Its victory has led supposed agents of tolerance to blatant acts of bigotry; gay-marriage advocates are blaming the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for their electoral defeat.
Romney, because he subscribes to the Mormon faith, had to give a speech on religion a year ago. In it, Romney did what John F. Kennedy didn’t do in the first Catholic president’s effort to allay concerns about his creed. Kennedy essentially apologized for his religion, assuring people that it wouldn’t have any real influence over his decisions as president. Romney, on the other hand, stood by the faith of his fathers, and took the opportunity to talk about how the varieties of belief and nonbelief practiced in the United States make it a richer, more vigorous country.
Romney’s thanks for this contribution to our civic life consist of continued hostility. A piece in the Boston Herald proclaimed “Mitt Romney’s kin put faith in pa$$ing Proposition 8.” The story detailed how some Romney relatives, along with other prominent Massachusetts Mormons, contributed cash to the pro-8 campaign.
And so? While some reports claim that Mormon contributions accounted for a whopping 70 percent of total donations to the pro-8 cause, it should also be noted that 70 percent of black Californians voted for the initiative. The backlash — which has included white-powder scares and bomb threats at Mormon temples and offices — is both wrong and unfair. (Outside Denver, a Book of Mormon was lit on fire and dropped on the doorstep of a Mormon temple.) Catholics, Orthodox bishops and evangelicals also supported the initiative.
A law professor at the purportedly Catholic Georgetown University, who is also a gay activist, argues that the cause of gay marriage is simply in conflict with religious liberty; he’s “having a hard time coming up with any case in which religious liberty should win.” (Never mind, again, that the victory of Proposition 8 in California was not the result of an edict from Salt Lake, the Vatican or any one religion, but the free and fair vote of California citizens, some informed by their religious belief, as they are free to be so motivated.)
Surely we don’t have to be Mormon to be outraged. I make no statement about their recruitment strategies when I say, watching California, “We’re all Mormons now.” Next time the violent backlash may be in response to a brave Catholic bishop teaching responsibility at the voting booth. Next time it could be an online evangelical dating service hauled into court by a state “civil rights” office for not providing same-sex matchmaking. Oh wait, that already happened in New Jersey.
Now I know why Mormons were so nervous. They were warning the rest of us. Our freedom to believe is at hazard, and it’s time we all had the Mormons’ backs.
November 26th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Trooperdad, let me try to educate you a little, $17.67 million was contributed by 59,000 Mormon families since August to groups like Yes on 8; this lifestyle (the Mormons) have given far more than all the other groups combined, that is why they are being targeted.
Paulee, now let me try to educate you a tad, marriage is a legal document issued by the state not the church, religion has nothing to do with the legality of the marriage, only it’s ceremony, which one does not need to be legally wed, let’s not confuse the two ok?.
November 26th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Johnny. There are several states where you can get ‘married’. Pick one. You targeted my daughter. Now the fight is on. I will not stand idle while your ilk terrorise young children because you did not get your way. I was one of those many families of many faiths who donated cash. Some members of my extended family in CA even donated more than cash. They donated time. The offical records show the church itself donated only about 2,000 dollars, for some travel and hotel. Big whoop. You need to get it back on the ballot, to see if you can change the CA consitituion - AGAIN. Or pay off a handfull of judges that is more common when folks like you don’t get their way. FYI. The terror tactics? They usually backfire.
November 27th, 2008 at 10:12 am
Hey Chris, I am married and you know what? You helped start this fight with your prejudice towards a group of individuals you know nothing about, please get off your soap box and move aside, love always prevails over hate…and as for the terror? You know nothing about the terror that gay people go through on a daily basis from ignorant people, so please don’t go there ok?
November 27th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Actually “Johnny” I know a lot more than you think about this ‘group’ of people. A lot more.
I don’t hate you or other gays. I am following what the scriptures say. I know nothing about terror? Ummm I do. My 13 yr old was in a building when YOUR people sent a box. she’s 13. Not even old enough to vote. I don’t know where you got your soap box. But mine is centered around my family and my faith. Deal with it. Not everyone is as ‘open’ minded as you are. Oh, FYI. I voted for Obama.
November 30th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Chris if you knew a lot more than I think you do about gay citizens then you would never try to strip away protections from loving families as you did here. Their is absolutely no reason for you or anyone to be so mean spirited, I never knew of a God that didn’t promote love and understanding.
As I explained to you earlier, I am not gay but my wonderful wife and I have a gay son who has been in a strong loving relationship for over 17years, that is who I am fighting for.
The terror your 13 yo went through, was not right, I disagree with what they did, just as I’m sure you disagree with having a son in-law almost beaten to death just because he was gay, Chris this happens more than you know and measures like this help feed the hate.
We must stop the hate and promote love, happiness and equality for all, not just a few, I hope we can agree on that.
November 30th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Johnny.
My first husband was gay. we stayed married NINE years after we found out this information. NOt to make him ’straight’ but to make sure we were doing the right thing by separating. We had no children. So, apples to apples? FYI. Were still close friends. HE understands my decision to support prop 8, and RESPECTS my decision, and I understand and respect his.
Satisifed? Sorry about your son.
But, I still will not support my ex husband nor your son getting married. Deal with it. Now move on, will ya?
December 2nd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
First off Chris, you can’t make anyone straight, just like you can’t make anyone gay. If you really had an ex that was gay and respects you for supporting an amendment making him a second class citizen, then he is really screwed up. My wife and I have written off family members and friends who stand with discrimination and hate, so no, not apple with apples, apples with ignorance and intolerance. Satisfied? Not yet, not until we strip the hate from the constitution.
Also, I and many loving Americans will never just deal with it, we will always stand up against the hate and injustice, as we did for many minorities, your kind created this fight, you just didn’t realize what you woke up, deal with it.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:40 am
The goal of my husband and I was NOT to make anyone straight. He FORGOT to tell me when he married, he was gay. I’m sure it was just an oversight on his part….
We stayed married to make sure getting a divorce was the right move. Deal with it that some gays have morals and want to do what is right. This particular man is now celebate. That’s his choice. He wants to remain a member of the church and the same rules apply to him as apply to me.
What hate in the constitution? I’m really getting bored with your lack of tolorance for ideas and VALUES and MORALS contrary to what you have. It is not hateful to define marriage. We did not put out an extermination order on gays. We only said marriage is between one MAN and one WOMAN. Check the bible. Is that hateful too? Just wondering.
December 3rd, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Chris, I love that he you said he forgot to tell you LOL, he was in denial, he still is because of the brainwashing your religion puts on him. It’s very very sad to hear that,really maybe he will come to realize who he really is someday, if he doesn’t, he will never truly be happy.
Now I can’t and won’t debate against the bible or your book, one believes you can sell your daughter to slavery, stomp on your wife, and can’t eat shrimp, (all considered an abomination), the other (the Mormon book) believes in space crafts and magic underpants, sorry Chris, I can’t argue with that logic.
If one basis their life on religion, they can’t pick and choose what their book (written by man by the way) says. Now, I’m perfectly ok with you living you life by your religion but don’t push these ancient beliefs on others, its nonsense.
Chris, I think we can agree on this, life is about love, if we agree on that, we might actually have a foundation on an intellectual conversation, do you agree?
December 15th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Johnny k have you been watching youtube videos again? You might not want to get all your information from actors and should probably research things before you post them as facts.
December 20th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Heath, your broad statement of me not getting the facts didn’t point anything out, what would you like to dispute professor? Bring it on.