Following the passing of
Proposition 8 in California, the church released statements urging
civility and reaffirming
its position on the issue. The church also noted that two
Roman Catholic bishops released statements decrying religious bigotry
against Mormons.The church today points to additional third-party voices that
provide useful insights into the reaction following the vote. Some of these
individuals supported Proposition 8, and some were against it.
These materials may be helpful to the
news media, bloggers, church members and the general public in gaining a broader
view of the aftermath of the Proposition 8 vote. All people of faith have cause
for concern when others try to remove their legitimate voice from the public
square.
Anti-Defamation
League condemns criminal activity targeting religious institutions that supported Proposition 8
"Although we strongly opposed
Proposition 8, its passage does not justify the defacement and destruction of
property. We urge Californians to channel their frustration and disappointment
in productive and responsible ways to work towards full equality for all
Americans. To place anyone in fear of threat to their houses of worship or their
personal security because they have expressed deeply held religious views is
contrary to everything this nation represents. Our Constitution's First
Amendment protects freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of
religion for all of us."
Dallas
Morning News Editorial: Protest and civility in a democracy
"But a vicious minority is not
satisfied with that. Some gay rights protesters have voiced sentiments about
Mormons, whose church was active in advocating Prop 8's passage, that if said
about gays would be condemned as hate speech. Vandals have struck a number of
Mormon temples. Bash Back, a pro-gay group in Olympia, Wash., trashed a Mormon
temple there, then issued a statement saying, 'Let this be a warning to the
Mormon church: Dissolve completely or be destroyed.'
"Gay rights extremists should ask
themselves the same question. A cause, no matter how just, can only be harmed by
thuggish tactics. Our pluralist democracy depends on a citizenry committed to
working out differences with civility."
Michael Barber, Professor of
Theology, Scripture & Christian Thought at John Paul the Great Catholic
University
"… we found it appalling that in the
final days of the campaign, opponents of Proposition 8 ran an ad in which Mormon
missionaries were presented as barging into a same-sex couples home, gleefully
rummaging through their personal possessions and violating their rights. The ad
attempted to ridicule people of the Mormon faith, even implying that it was
wrong that they contributed money to the election. As a Catholic school, we
stand beside our friends in the Mormon Church and of people of faith who work
tirelessly to preserve the freedom of religion in America. We also strongly
oppose any attempt to ridicule another persons faith, even faiths with which we
have strong historical and theological disagreements."
The First
Amendment Center — Charles Haynes: When the marriage debate turns ugly, no one wins
"Mormons are taking the biggest hit
from the opposition. But as protests, boycotts and blacklists targeting Mormons
proliferate, it's worth pausing to think about where this collision is headed. …
Before this clash escalates further, both sides should exercise caution and
reconsider their battle plans going forward."
The
Volokh Conspiracy — Dale Carpenter: An alternative to anti-Mormon protests
"Here's my advice to righteously
furious gay-marriage supporters: Stop the focus on the Mormon Church. Stop it
now. We just lost a ballot fight in which we were falsely but effectively
portrayed as attacking religion. So now some of us attack a religion? People
were warned that churches would lose their tax-exempt status, which was untrue.
So now we have (frivolous) calls for the Mormon Church to lose its tax-exempt
status? It's rather selective indignation, anyway, since lots of demographic
groups gave us Prop 8 in different ways — some with money and others with votes.
I understand the frustration, but this particular expression of it is wrong and
counter-productive."
The
Christian Post — Chuck Colson: So much for tolerance
"Two days after the election, 2,000
homosexual protesters surrounded a Mormon temple in Los Angeles chanting 'Mormon
scum.' Protesters picketed Rick Warren's Saddleback Church, holding signs
reading 'Purpose-Driven Hate.' Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills was spray painted.
Church members' cars have been vandalized, and at least two Christians were
assaulted. Protesters even hurled racial epithets at African-Americans because
African-Americans voted overwhelmingly in favor of traditional marriage. What
hypocrisy from those who spend all of their time preaching tolerance to the rest
of us!"
Beliefnet.com — Rod Dreher: Stand by the Mormons
"Now is the time for traditional
Christians — Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox — to come to the aid of our
Mormon friends. They put themselves on the front line of the traditional
marriage battle like no other church group. And now individual Mormons are
paying a terrible price for standing up for something we all believe in. I don't
know how we can stand with them from afar, but at least we can thank them, and
speak out when we see them being abused. We might also think again about how we
view them. … I have deep disagreements with Mormon theology. But they are our
friends and allies and fellow citizens, and they deserve our thanks and
support."See the original statement at LDS.org.