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Prop. 8 backlash: what would Jesus do?

November 15, 2008

protectmarriage.com, non-free use rationale

Backlash from the passage of California’s Proposition 8 has been widespread, aggressive, and, in some cases, deplorable. And it may be just the beginning. People have been protesting nationwide in front of government buildings and religious sites, and even inside churches.

How should one who supports traditional marriage react to all this? Here are a few questions and my answers. Let me know what you think.

1. Should I be worried about all these protests?
No, as long as they remain peaceful. Last Friday night, I was in downtown Salt Lake and stopped by to see the gay rights protest in front of the Church Office Building. I saw thousands of people chanting, yelling, waving signs and rainbow flags, and people in cars driving by honking their horns in support of the protest. My favorite sign was one that read, “Keep your doctrine out of my covenants.” Very creative. For the most part, the protesters were peaceful. They weren’t vandalizing property or harassing passersby, at least at that protest.

Same-sex marriage supporters have a right to protest, just as traditional marriage supporters, including the Church, had a right to speak out in support of Proposition 8. As long as they abide by the law, let them protest. Let them boycott Utah, businesses, and anything else they want to. Just hope they don’t cross the line of civility. As the Church has stated:

Attacks on churches and intimidation of people of faith have no place in civil discourse over controversial issues. People of faith have a democratic right to express their views in the public square without fear of reprisal. Efforts to force citizens out of public discussion should be deplored by people of goodwill everywhere.”

Though activists have a right protest as they are doing now, I do think it’s unwise.

The gay rights movement has quietly, but in a very calculated manner, been advancing its agenda throughout the U.S. This sudden tantrum-like outburst may set it back. It may awaken the sleeping giant of the mostly heretofore silent majority of traditional marriage supporters. It may motivate them to coalesce and push back, maybe even hard enough to ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Gay rights activists would be wise, for their own benefit, to return to their homes and focus on pushing their agenda through the courts and the media. This way, they can very gradually help change our legal structure and win over the hearts of the American people without us noticing or fearing their subtle progress (Hint: we shouldn’t let them do this).

2. Can the Church speak out on political issues like this?
Without a doubt, unequivocally, yes. At least for now. All non-profit organizations (501(c)(3)), including religious ones, have the right to speak out on any political issue provided that they don’t support any particular party or candidate. Given that the Church has maintained its tax-exempt status until now is pretty good evidence that its 501(c)(3) status is not in jeopardy.

3. How should I respond to the backlash?
With love, just as Christ would. We should stand firm and seek to preserve and encourage traditional marriage through legitimate democratic processes, but we should do it with respect, decency, and civility. When there are attacks on us, the Church, or other people or institutions we hold dear, we should “turn the other cheek” and press forward with faith and charity. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind, and…is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in inquity but rejoiceth in the truth…charity never faileth” (Moroni 7:45-47).

What do you think?

18 Comments »

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  1. This is what happens when you try to write church-funded discrimination into law:

    “Civil rights groups filed a petition with the California Supreme Court to stop the enactment of Proposition 8 because it would mandate discrimination against a minority group and did not follow the process required for fundamental revisions to the California Constitution.

    In the petition, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Equal Justice Society, California NAACP and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. argue that in order to protect the fundamental rights of all Californians, a higher standard is required to overturn the right to marry. Minority communities cannot be stripped of their fundamental rights by a simple majority vote.

    “We would be making a grave mistake to view Proposition 8 as just affecting the LGBT community,” said Eva Paterson, president of the Equal Justice Society. “If the Supreme Court allows Proposition 8 to take effect, it would represent a threat to the rights of people of color and all minorities.”

    You can believe whatever you want — but in the United States, you cannot impose your religious beliefs on the rights of others. The LDS Church is wrong on this and has acted in an immoral, un-American, and unconstitutional manner.

    Just as the Church was threatened by losing its tax-exempt status by its discrimination against African-Americans, we will seek to strip those exemptions away on this issue as well.

    Comment by Webster — November 15, 2008 @ 1:04 pm

  2. I am perplexed by how perplexed Mormons are by the backlash over Prop 8.

    While we only make up 2% of CA population we provided between 50-70% of the funds for prop 8. While the checks were written by individuals and not the church itself. WE ARE the church and we wrote those checks at their request. We obtained our happy YES ON 8 signs at church and distributed them for family home evening. IF we object to political backlash. We should stay out of politics

    Secondly, We have been on the short end of the stick when it comes to how the majority feels about our own definitions of acceptable families.

    To say Mormons are advocates of “traditional marriage” is absolutely laughable given our own involvement in very “nontraditional marriages”. Its fine and dandy for us that we no longer practice our dirty little secret but we should be very very cautious about setting a very dangerous precedent that its ok for a majority to vote on the rights of a minority. This applies no matter how repulsive we may find homosexual marriage.

    To those who say this law strengthens their own traditional marriage I would say start looking for a really really really good divorce lawyer. If the strength of your marriage and family really depends on whether or not Rick and Steve have a piece of paper that says marriage certificiate, you my friend, are about to get served.

    And finally a note about Love. Please remember that this debate is not between US (the wonderful rightous happy Mormons) and THEM (the evil god forsaken, servants of Satan, Sons of Sodom Homsexuals. Because gays are not a seperate group of people. Gay people are often times Mormon people. They happen to be our sons, our daughters, our uncles and aunts. We may be devasted when a family member turns out to be gay because we love them and want to spend eternity with them. But lets not call our bigotry love and create an enviornment where our gay relatives wouldn’t want to be a part of our family in this life….let alone the next.

    Comment by Bruce — November 15, 2008 @ 3:18 pm

  3. I’m more curious if Jesus would’ve supported Prop 8 in the first place…

    Comment by jasonthe — November 15, 2008 @ 6:33 pm

  4. I’d like to bear my testimony about the miracle of forgivenss. Even the most heinous and evil of sins can be forgiven if we will only be humble enough to recognize our sins, confess them and make restitution.

    Therefore when the Church is ready to repent I will be ready to forgive them. I know that pride may stand in the way of Mr. Monson from admitting his wrong doing but I’m sure the Lord has room in his heart to heal his tormented soul.

    While the church supported policies that destroyed the families of their members, stripped gays of their religous and cultural heritage, Tortured homosexual BYU students in the basement of the Spencer W Kimball Tower by attaching electrodes to their testicles and shocking them with an electrical current. Destroyed families by pressuring homosexuals to marry into doomed marriages. And instead of using sacred tithing funds to feed the hungry and clothe the naked, used them to further a social agenda that mimics the plan of Lucifer.

    Despite the heinousness of these sins I’m sure that The Lord in his infinite mercy will forgive the Church if they humble themselves before him, confess their sins and provides restitution by offering a formal apology to the lives they destroyed and vow to never repeat their mistakes.

    Yeah, there is a lot that God is displeased with and most of it orginates in Temple Square

    Comment by Jason — November 15, 2008 @ 7:10 pm

  5. My old bishop sent an email out saying this:

    ” … We have never acted out of hatred, spite, condemnation or meanness. Our goal has always been to protect our religious liberty as Americans, and our families in the schools and in the community. And, I must say, I am so grateful to all members of the coalition for acting with Christian spirit throughout the campaign. We must not falter now: “faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” (1 Cor. 13:13.) Even while we must not give up our conviction that what we have done is right, we must act with compassion toward those who are inflamed on the other side. Many of their lives have been lived in an atmosphere of hostility, intolerance and bigotry; understandably, they feel rejected here again. Unfortunately, they have not understood that applying the term “marriage” to their relationship will not erase that prejudice; but, it will endanger some of the most cherished institutions for good in society (Catholic Charities, adoption agencies,
    counseling centers, etc. to name a few.)

    So, remember that for most people the temperature will go down as the days and weeks go by. Your good example cannot help but lessen the desire to lash out against you. Act with care, avoid conflict wherever possible, don’t engage in divisive debates and arguments, and find ways to build bridges to those around you. “

    I understand why they are protesting and quite frankly am overjoyed that we live in a society that we are able to have our say and demonstrate it, if we feel so inclined. I do feel however, that the LDS church is being unjustly singled out. Many other churches were involved in trying to protect traditional marriage as well. And besides that fact, I know some LDS members who did not support Prop 8 at all, yet they are being persecuted just for belonging to the faith.

    Comment by Hannah — November 15, 2008 @ 7:15 pm

  6. It’s hard to say what someone who has been dead for nearly 2,000 years would do.

    Comment by Andrea — November 16, 2008 @ 3:32 pm

  7. I can see how it would be easy for opponents of Prop 8 to point to LDS supporters and say they are hypocritical or bigots. However, I can tell you that when you get to know these people at a sincere level, you know that they are generally very good-hearted and trying to do their best, even though they fall short as we all do.

    LDS people who support this generally are not doing so out of a dislike for gay people. Most are supporting traditional marriage because 1) it rings true to them and 2) they believe that God lives and sends prophets to help them know what is right. Those who truly believe that the top leaders of the LDS church are prophets will support what they say because they believe it comes from God. It’s pretty much that simple.

    And what some fail to realize is that all the lobbying, protesting, and suing in the world is not going to cause these prophets or their followers to change their minds or back down from what they sincerely believe to be God’s will.

    Comment by Steve P — November 16, 2008 @ 5:20 pm

  8. As one who live in California I can tell you that the backlash against Yes On 8 is loud and deserved. Listen up because I’ve been watching the media in Utah and it’s deplorably one-sided. First of all, I don’t know about in Utah, but in California, 501c’s are restricted from “significant influence of legislation”…not just politicians and parties. Second, the ballot system was misused. Restricting civil rights and privileges to a certain class of citizens is unconstitutional according to the Equal Protection Clause. It’s well-precedented that the majority cannot give itself rights and privileges that it denies minority groups. Changing this would be a Constitutional REVISION, not Amendment that would require a super-majority of the legislature which isn’t going to happen. Further, the California Supreme Court has already determined there is no factual evidence to support the claim that straight couples are superior parents to gay couples. Third, the Yes on 8 campaign chose to take the low-road: instead of championing the ideals of the Proclamation on the Family, the Yes on 8 Campaign focused on scare-tactics claiming that this would force schools to teach gay marriage and would force churches to lose their tax-exempt status. Our State Senator and Superintendent of Schools had to get on the air to tell the public that these were complete lies. The backlash you are seeing against Prop 8 is not just the gay community. It is also the straight community that is appalled and terrified by the low-brow, arguably unconstitutional tactics Prop 8 supporters are using to legislate their beliefs on others’.

    Comment by Brian — November 18, 2008 @ 12:30 am

  9. On a less secular note, I would like to say this: I am really perplexed why the Church would make such a fuss about Prop 8. FIRST, marriage is only sanctified in the temple and temple marriage is secure. The Courts have already ruled that no Church can be forced to marry people against its will. SECOND: we believe in free agency. It was Satan’s plan to force everyone to do right. We share the Gospel through the Spirit- not by legislating it. THIRD: We are making the missionary efforts much more difficult. Many fair-minded people who liked the missionaries are now prematurely closed to the message of the restoration because they now have the impression that the Church has no respect for the separation of Church and State or for the beliefs of other people. FIFTH: What Would Jesus Do With $20 Million? I am not so sure he would have spent it on Cesar’s affairs…especially on efforts to oppress the non-believers. It is my personal belief he would have spent it feeding the poor, healing the sick, teaching the children, or spreading the Word through the Spirit. Am I alone in believing this…?

    Comment by Brian — November 18, 2008 @ 12:43 am

  10. Sorry but I must add one more thing: The 11th Article of Faith. “We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, AND ALLOW ALL MEN THE SAME PRIVILEGE, let them worship how, where, and what they may” [Emphasis added].

    Comment by Brian — November 18, 2008 @ 1:28 am

  11. All the rhetoric in the world isn’t going to change the fact that people have to choose whether to follow the leaders of the Church (and consider their word as prophetic) or not. Allowing others to “worship” how they choose doesn’t mean anything goes. It’s OK and the right thing to consider your moral beliefs when you vote…otherwise, you end up with a completely amoral society.

    Comment by Steve P — November 18, 2008 @ 7:44 am

  12. Thanks for all the comments.

    Bruce: Amen that this isn’t about “us” and “them.” We need to remember to love everyone.

    Jason of 7:10 p.m.: Your sarcastic, sacrilegious, belittling tone is not appreciated on this blog. I welcome any thoughts, but please keep it civil.

    Brian: 501(c)(3)’s can voice their opinions on ballot measures. I’ve worked for two (one in UT and one in CA) in the last few years that have done this, and I’m sure they talked with their legal counsel before doing it. I know the law talks about “legislation,” but I assume the courts have separated ballot measures from that. And actually, a non-profit can also spend a certain amount of time and money on lobbying and legislation; there’s a special designation you can get for that too.

    Regarding teaching gay marriage in public schools, it’s already happening elsewhere (e.g. MA). Perhaps they won’t necessarily be forced to teach it, but there won’t be anything “wrong” with it if it’s legal.

    On the issue of civil rights and the Equal Protection Clause, I’m planning to do my next post on whether or not gay “rights” is a rights issue.

    On free agency, well, that’s an issue too deep to discuss here right now.

    I agree with you, Brian, that some people will be turned off to the Church now. Maybe it could have been more tactful in some ways. At the same time, I won’t be surprised if many people join the Church because they like that it stood up in defense of traditional marriage.

    Steve: Yes, I think a lot people are following the counsel of the Brethren simply out of faith. Ideally, we’ll all try to understand the political/legal/economic/moral etc. implications of the issue, but in the end, no matter our understanding, we have to act based on faith, knowledge, or a combination of the two.

    Comment by Matthew C. Piccolo — November 18, 2008 @ 9:52 am

  13. Matt- thanks for hosting this dialog. I think it’s very healthy discussion. Despite whatever blind faith we may put in the leaders of the Church, it is always good to understand thoroughly the gospel principles and the relationships between those principles- for example between Article 11, Free Agency, and the Proclamation on the Family. Such an understanding will help strengthen everyone’s understanding of eternal concepts. If we blindly accept what the Prophet and Twelve say without discussion, study, prayer, etc, we may miss essential links between Gospel principles and opportunities for spiritual growth. This is why I brought up the five gospel principles that would seem to dissuade us from using secular laws to enforce spiritual principles… not to create doubt but to inspire thought and reflection.

    Comment by Brian — November 19, 2008 @ 12:04 am

  14. Matt- In regards to your reply, the Church is under fire for 501c violations because of the substantial nature of the indirect financial and direct non-financial aid the Church gave the Yes on 8 campaign. And yes, “legislation” does include ballots in California. It is well documented that nearly 75% of the $20 Million came from Church members at the recommendation of President Monsen and that a very significant amount of that came specifically from non-Californian Mormons. It would be very hard to argue that the Church did not exercise “significant influence” on the campaign. That said, I don’t think anyone seriously expects that the Church will lose its status. Support of Prop 8 does not represent a core mission/activity of the global organization. At worst, the Church is going to get a strongly worded letter, a shot across the bow from the IRS and State of California warning to play a bit more of a passive role in the future.

    Comment by Brian — November 19, 2008 @ 12:16 am

  15. Senator Boxer, the California Teachers Association, State Superintendent O’Connell, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the American Civil Liberties Union, and gay and civil rights groups also reject the assertion that Prop 8 has anything to do with schools and it is misleading to inject education into the debate over gay marriage. Each school district and proposition is different. In California’s case, it is crystal clear that the schools don’t teach marriage…period.

    Finally, FYI the US Supreme Court has already declared that the gay community is a recognized social class deserving of Equal Protection and Rights. Romer vs. Evans, 1996. See http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-gray17-2008nov17,0,7045839.story

    Comment by Brian — November 19, 2008 @ 1:04 am

  16. Thanks, Brian.

    I completely sympathize with the free agency argument, though I do have a different take on it. I’m planning on eventually writing a post about that specifically.

    I agree with you that we shouldn’t follow the prophets blindly, we should try to understand why they say what they’re saying. But if we don’t we understand, we should still follow.

    As per financing, I don’t think that Pres. Monson recommending donations is a direct influence on prop 8. Individuals who made donations, no matter who recommended they do it, are separate from donations from the actual church. Also, there’s nothing illegal or unconstitutional at all with a non-Californian donating to affect Prop. 8 or any other piece of legislation in any state. That’s covered under free speech. One might argue that it’s better for citizens of a state to donate to causes in their own state, and I think that’s better, but there’s nothing illegal about donating to affect legislation in an area where you don’t live.

    One more comment. While I respect the opinions of Sen. Boxer et al., they are hardly the paradigm of objective opinion makers. Also, they cannot guarantee that gay marriage won’t be taught in public schools any more than Prop 8 supporters can guarantee that it will be. I do think that fears about gay marriage being taught in schools is based on scanty evidence, though there is some there, but I also don’t think anyone can guarantee that it won’t happen.

    I’ll take a look at that case, thanks for providing a link to the story.

    Comment by Matthew C. Piccolo — November 19, 2008 @ 9:39 am

  17. I fairly certain that if the State’s Superintendent publicly states in anti-Prop 8 ads that gay marriage will be taught in schools, he’s in a position of influence to make sure that doesn’t happen. And even in the odd case that some rogue teacher does, it’s like the theory of evolution- you take it with a grain of salt and realize that it’s a point where there may be some difference s between what you are taught and what you believe. These epiphanies are just as crucial to developing intelligent citizens capable of independent thought.

    Comment by Brian — December 6, 2008 @ 3:07 pm

  18. ugh. typo. the State Superintendent has stated publicly that gay marriage will NOT be taught in the anti-Prop 8 ads.

    Comment by Brian — December 6, 2008 @ 3:09 pm

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