Boycotts are an entirely legal and appropriate means of civil protest. I can't even count the number of times fundie Christian groups have called for boycotts of companies/businesses that dare institute gay-friendly policies, take stands in favor of gay-friendly legislation, give donations to gay organizations, or buy advertising on TV shows that dare to portray a gay character in a positive light. So is it only okay when Christians do it?

Free speech does not mean freedom from criticism. Nonviolent civil protests (such as calls for boycotts) are a perfectly legal form of criticism. People who take political stands need to grow a spine and deal with it.

Clint Gurney
American citizen working temporarily in New Zealand

Boycotts are an entirely legal and appropriate means of civil protest. I can't even count the number of times fundie Christian groups have called for boycotts of companies/businesses that dare institute gay-friendly policies, take stands in favor of gay-friendly legislation, give donations to gay organizations, or buy advertising on TV shows that dare to portray a gay character in a positive light. So is it only okay when Christians do it?

Free speech does not mean freedom from criticism. Nonviolent civil protests (such as calls for boycotts) are a perfectly legal form of criticism. People who take political stands need to grow a spine and deal with it.

Boycotts are an entirely legal and appropriate means of civil protest. I can't even count the number of times fundie Christian groups have called for boycotts of companies/businesses that dare institute gay-friendly policies, take stands in favor of gay-friendly legislation, give donations to gay organizations, or buy advertising on TV shows that dare to portray a gay character in a positive light. So is it only okay when Christians do it?

Free speech does not mean freedom from criticism. Nonviolent civil protests (such as calls for boycotts) are a perfectly legal form of criticism. People who take political stands need to grow a spine and deal with it.

Clint Gurney
American citizen working temporarily in New Zealand

However, the same groups who said it’s a lie – “public schools will teach about gay marriage whether parents like it or not” — were in court in Massachusetts filing amicus briefs arguing parents don't have any right to opt their children out of the pro-gay marriage curriculum.

From the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) Amicus Curiae Brief:
“, it is particularly important to teach children about families with gay parents.” [p 5]

From the Human Rights Campaign Amicus Curiae Brief:
“(parents have) no right to remove the books now in issue – or to impose an opt-out system.” [pp1-2]

From the ACLU Amicus Curiae Brief:
“ parents do not have a constitutional right to override pedagogical judgment of the school …King and King.” [p 9]

Which side is really telling the truth here about its aims?

Church Responds to Same-Sex
Marriage Votes

——————————————————————————–

Print Email Article

——————————————————————————–

SALT LAKE CITY 5 November 2008 COMMENTARY
Since Proposition 8 was placed on the ballot in June of this year, the citizens of California have considered the arguments for and against same-sex marriage. After extensive debate between those of different persuasions, voters have chosen to amend the California State Constitution to state that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Continued

Voters in Arizona and Florida took the same course and amended their constitutions to establish that marriage will continue to be between a man and a woman.

Such an emotionally charged issue concerning the most personal and cherished aspects of life — family, identity, intimacy and equality — stirs fervent and deep feelings.

Most likely, the election results for these constitutional amendments will not mean an end to the debate over same-sex marriage in this country.

We hope that now and in the future all parties involved in this issue will be well informed and act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward those with a different position. No one on any side of the question should be vilified, intimidated, harassed or subject to erroneous information.

It is important to understand that this issue for the Church has always been about the sacred and divine institution of marriage — a union between a man and a woman.

Allegations of bigotry or persecution made against the Church were and are simply wrong. The Church’s opposition to same-sex marriage neither constitutes nor condones any kind of hostility toward gays and lesbians. Even more, the Church does not object to rights for same-sex couples regarding hospitalization and medical care, fair housing and employment rights, or probate rights, so long as these do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches.

Some, however, have mistakenly asserted that churches should not ever be involved in politics when moral issues are involved. In fact, churches and religious organizations are well within their constitutional rights to speak out and be engaged in the many moral and ethical problems facing society. While the Church does not endorse candidates or platforms, it does reserve the right to speak out on important issues.

Before it accepted the invitation to join broad-based coalitions for the amendments, the Church knew that some of its members would choose not to support its position. Voting choices by Latter-day Saints, like all other people, are influenced by their own unique experiences and circumstances. As we move forward from the election, Church members need to be understanding and accepting of each other and work together for a better society.

Even though the democratic process can be demanding and difficult, Latter-day Saints are profoundly grateful for and respect the ideals of a true democracy.

The Church expresses deep appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the many Latter-day Saints and others who supported the coalitions in efforts regarding these amendments.

Catholic Bishops Decry Religious Bigotry Against Mormons

——————————————————————————–

Print Email Article

——————————————————————————–

SALT LAKE CITY 11 November 2008 This past weekend, two Roman Catholic bishops released statements in support of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ stance on Proposition 8 in California. Both statements can be viewed below:

Bishop William Weigand, Diocese of Sacramento
Bishop John C. Wester, Diocese of Salt Lake City

http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-re…

Catholic Bishop Decries Religious Bigotry Against Mormons

——————————————————————————–

Print Email Article
Back

——————————————————————————–

SACRAMENTO 7 November 2008 (This news release was issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento) The following statement was released today by Bishop William Weigand, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento and former Bishop of Salt Lake City, in response to attacks on (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) for supporting California’s Proposition 8, defending the traditional definition of marriage:

“Catholics stand in solidarity with our Mormon brothers and sisters in support of traditional marriage — the union of one man and one woman — that has been the major building block of Western Civilization for millennia.

“The ProtectMarriage coalition, which led the successful campaign to pass Proposition 8, was an historic alliance of people from every faith and ethnicity. LDS were included — but so were Catholics and Jews, Evangelicals and Orthodox, African-Americans and Latinos, Asians and Anglos.

“Bigoted attacks on Mormons for the part they played in our coalition are shameful and ignore the reality that Mormon voters were only a small part of the groundswell that supported Proposition 8.

“As the former bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, I can attest to the fact that followers of the Mormon faith are a good and generous people with a long history of commitment to family and giving to community causes.

“I personally decry the bigotry recently exhibited towards the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — coming from the opponents of Proposition 8, who ironically, have called those of us supporting traditional marriage intolerant.

“I call upon the supporters of same-sex marriage to live by their own words — and to refrain from discrimination against religion and to exercise tolerance for those who differ from them. I call upon them to accept the will of the people of California in the passage of Proposition 8.”

SOURCE: Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento

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

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated the following about polygamy in the Church's October 1998 general conference:

“I wish to state categorically that this Church has nothing whatever to do with those practicing polygamy. They are not members of this Church. Most of them have never been members. They are in violation of the civil law. They know they are in violation of the law. They are subject to its penalties. The Church, of course, has no jurisdiction whatever in this matter.

“If any of our members are found to be practicing plural marriage, they are excommunicated, the most serious penalty the Church can impose. Not only are those so involved in direct violation of the civil law, they are in violation of the law of this Church. An article of our faith is binding upon us. It states, 'We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law' (Articles of Faith 1:12).”

http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/com…