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Tag this page October 22, 2008 Mormons Bankroll Anti-Gay Marriage Amendments in California, Arizona The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has mobilized followers to give an estimated 77% of donations to support California's proposed marriage ban. "It is a staggering amount of money and an even more staggering percentage of the overall campaign receipts," Fred Karger of Californians Against Hate said in a press release. "The Mormon Church, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, has hijacked the campaigns in both California and Arizona, where voters face constitutional amendments to end same-sex marriage." Karger said Californians Against Hate came up with the figures by cross-referencing donor information from the California secretary of state with Brigham Young University alumni lists, church memberships, and other personal documentation that could identify Mormon Church members. He said the surge in support has been an attempt to boost the church's social standing among the greater religious community. "For whatever reason, they're trying to get some respect from other religions," he told The Advocate Tuesday. "They've always been looked down upon by the Christians, the Catholics, and evangelicals." Success with the marriage amendment would give the church credibility, Karger said. The Latter-day Saints Church says it has approximately 770,000 members in California, accounting for about 2% of the state's population. Senior church elders broadcast a call to Mormons October 8 for increased volunteer efforts and donations for the marriage fight. The hour-long message went out to churches in Utah, Hawaii, and Idaho as well as California. Members of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, the second-highest church governing body, explained their plan to pass the ballot initiative. They asked each California congregation to commit 30 volunteers to donate four hours a week to Proposition 8 They also urged young people to use technology -- such as social networks, text messaging, and blogging -- to spread the word.
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Post a Comment Name: LH Date posted: 2008-10-23 2:17 PM Hometown: San Diego Comment: Marriage is defined as a union between a man and woman. Same sex couples are demanding that society elevate homosexuality. Same sex marriages already have he benefits of traditional marriage. Homosexuality is the conduct of engaging in sodomy (homosexual relations) with members of the same sex. Civil rights, on the other hand, are also known as natural rights, because they are based on things that cannot be changed or chosen. The whole idea of civil rights is that our civil government will respect, approve and award protected status to persons who are born with certain unchangeable qualities. This is why civil rights law prohibits discrimination based on race, ethnicity and nationality, sex and age all immutable characteristics. There are thousands of former homosexuals, but no former blacks or Hispanics.
Post a Comment Name: Heather Date posted: 2008-10-23 2:02 PM Hometown: Concord Comment: No funds from the church are going towards the support of prop 8, the money is coming solely from it's members on a volunteer basis. Members of the mormon church are not paid a dime to run the church, it's programs, maintain it's buildings, etc. The organization and the willingness of the church's members have made this campaign so successful thus far. Zak, please try to be more informed when posting comments and refer to Cody's comment in which she said "Personal insults only weaken one's argument."
Post a Comment Name: Zak Date posted: 2008-10-23 1:50 PM Hometown: Atlanta Comment: Simply put, if any church has the money to support legislation, they should lose their non profit status and pay taxes like any other business. Any other non-profit is forbidden to lobby any legislation or support a specific candidate.
Post a Comment Name: Cody Date posted: 2008-10-23 8:48 AM Hometown: Orlando Comment: Why is it that none of the people posting in support of prop 8 are angry or rude; yet every person posting in opposition to prop 8 are insulting and inflammatory?
Post a Comment Name: Jeff C Date posted: 2008-10-23 5:50 AM Hometown: Texas Comment: Why are people saying that the Mormon church is supporting Proposition 8 in an attempt to gain some respect from other religions? This is ludicrous, and is about as silly as saying that people who don't support Prop 8 are ALL GAY. Maybe the reason the LDS church is supporting Proposition 8 is because they realize that same sex marriages go directly against what the bible teaches.
Post a Comment Name: Angela Date posted: 2008-10-23 3:26 AM Hometown: Chicago Comment: Let me clear up some inaccuracies here. Members are never forced to do anything they don't want to do, such as get married--it is their choice who and when they marry. They are also free to leave the church at any time they choose. Mormons DO believe in standing up for what they believe to be correct and true, as did ancient prophets of old, who were also scorned by the populace. That is what is wonderful about this country, that everyone is allowed to have an opinion, whether or not it is popular, and this is the point of voting on issues, isn't it? Please don't censor or insult something you don't understand. Instead, seek to understand by doing your research before spreading inaccuracies born from ignorance.
Post a Comment Name: Daniel Date posted: 2008-10-22 9:44 PM Hometown: Orlando Comment: It's amazing to me that so-called evangelical Christians are willing to work directly with what many of them consider to be a cult. This won't gain the Mormons any respect from the evangelicals, but people like the Baptists don't mind using them.
Post a Comment Name: Joy Date posted: 2008-10-22 5:21 PM Hometown: Los Angeles Comment: Heather is right. Both sides are standing up for their constitutional rights. The Yes on Prop 8 side is motivated by their desire to preserve their First Amendment rights of freedom of religion, speech and association. The No on Prop 8 side is motivated to preserve what 4 judges on the CA Supreme Court determined to be their constitutional right to marry.
it goes to show everyone that the Mormon Church leads through intimidation and intolerance and appalling control. They've been looking into other people's beds for years and giving unenlightened opinions. The old saying from William Shakespeare still applies to them: "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
Post a Comment Name: gloria Date posted: 2008-10-22 2:51 PM Hometown: arkansas Comment: how long does it take people to learn that mormons think they run the country. it used to be free until the mormons started going around the cound with all the saying of the words of joseph smith to be true. as for marriage how many wifes did brigham young have 19 teen. and once a mormon mans wife passes away they should not be allowed to remarry.
Post a Comment Name: Roger Burr Date posted: 2008-10-22 2:50 PM Hometown: Marble Hill, MO Comment: Michael from Boston is right! While I don't begrudge anyone their religous beliefs, or absence thereof, 'religion' has been used innumerable times over the centuries to subjugate one group or another. What we need to do is have them submit to an IRS audit, as they have CLEARLY crossed the line between church and state by espousing a specific political view. Notwithstanding, every LGBT person should support the NO on 8 effort, as I have even from here in Missouri.
Post a Comment Name: Michael Date posted: 2008-10-22 1:09 PM Hometown: Boston Comment: Heather- The difference is, their "personal beliefs" that they are "standing up for" infringe on other people's lives (by denying them the right to marry who they love).
Post a Comment Name: Heather Date posted: 2008-10-22 12:44 PM Hometown: Concord Comment: Wow this is really disturbing. Here, No on Prop 8 is promoting equality for all and love for everyone and I am reading comments by supporters of this blasting a religion for standing up for their person...
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