Catholic Conference Condemns No on Prop 8 Ad
Catholic Conference Condemns No on Prop 8 Ad
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It appears California’s emotionally debated Proposition 8 has passed to amend the California State Constitution to state that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Florida and Arizona likewise amended their constitutions.
In the eleventh hour of the debates the “No on 8″ campaign targeted the activity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in support of Proposition 8. They scheduled an ad to run on CNN and MSNBC that vilified the Church.
The commercial depicts two Mormon missionaries invading the home of a same-sex couple and saying “we are here to take away your rights.” They take their wedding rings, ransack the house looking for their marriage license, find it, and then tear it up. They say, “that was too easy, yeah, what should we ban next?” Then the ad says:” Fact: Members of the Mormon Church have given over $20,000,000 to pass Prop. 8.” “Say No to a Church taking over your government. Vote No on Prop. 8.”
To see this ad click here:
The California Catholic Conference called the ad “bigoted and intolerant.” Bishop Stephen Blaire, the President of the California Catholic Conference decried the advertisement from opponents of Proposition 8 as “a blatant display of religious bigotry and intolerance.” He expressed dismay that any public media outlet would give it an airing. “The YES on 8 campaign is not about discrimination and intolerance; it is about restoring the traditional definition of marriage for the good of society and children,” said Bishop Blaire.
“All individuals and groups, whether religious or not, have both a right and a responsibility to participate in a civil debate about this important issue. From the beginning of this campaign the Catholic Conference has stressed the importance of mutual respect and denounces this type of religious bigotry.”
Other church leaders are also stepping forward with denouncements (see Protectmarriage.com).
To read an article about the kinds of abuses members of the LDS Church have seen as they have supported this amendment read “The Perils of Raising the Title of Liberty.”
Dana King, 45, volunteers in public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints -- St. Louis Missouri South Stake. She chairs the annual Discover Your Roots conference and serves on the Friends of Dred Scott committee. Dana is a contributor to outreach initiatives: knowyourneighbornet.org and BlackLDS.org. Dana is married, mother of two teens, and runs her interior design business. 
That ad was undoubtedly put out by a “secularist”. As opposed to religion-neutral, most “secularists” are vehemently anti-religion and disdainful of all that profess faith.
Yes, such an ad is “over the top” and should have been toned down.
However, Prop 8 and similar measures are themselves discriminatory, bigoted and intolerant. Changing constitutions to prevent gay couples from adopting or passing laws that promote unfairness when it comes to marriage or unions is also prejudiced, bigoted, and intolerant. 50 years ago in some states blacks weren’t allowed to marry whites.
I am also curious that the blog author does not refute the claim that the Mormon Church has spent $20 million dollars in California to prevent gay and lesbian couple from enjoying the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts.
If true, that’s a lot of money spent to punish gays and lesbians.
What, it can’t be! Conservatives and religious types are the ones who dispense fear tactics in this country, just ask any liberal. The left would NEVER stoop to this kind of ad. Surely this is a mistake because the left is all about love and inclusion…(unless you don’t agree with them that is).
Revdaniel-
“50 years ago in some states blacks weren’t allowed to marry whites.”
Tell that to African-Americans who voted for Prop 8 in a larger percentage than any other race. Apparently they don’t feel the same way.
revdaniel,
How about polygomay? I’d like to know your thoughts. By your thought process, there is nothing wrong with recognizing multi-partner marriages in our country. Is it not just as intolerant to deny this practice?
Also please don’t insult minorities by comparing this to true the civil rights movement.
Also, I’m curious as to why you care how much the LDS church spent here.
It’s a huge logical flaw to allude that this has bearing on church-state separation, and furthermore why you would want to suppress the LDSC from being allowed to take part in the political process. THAT would be an outright violation of a group’s constitutional rights.
““The YES on 8 campaign is not about discrimination and intolerance; it is about restoring the traditional definition of marriage for the good of society and children,” said Bishop Blaire.”
–No, Prop 8 IS about discrimination and intolerance. The fact that you don’t like it doesn’t make it wrong. I don’t hear the AMA or the APA (psychological assoication) coming out against gay marriage, so I’m left to conclude that there is NO scientific evidence of a problem.
That being said, the phrase “Say No to a Church taking over your government. Vote No on Prop. 8.” was a little over the top. Yes the Mormons were being heavy handed in their support of this proposal, but I would not call it a church takeover. Other than that I have NO problem with the ad.
If you can’t handle what two consenting adults do because you’re so uptight about your own sexuality, go get therapy, but you DON’T get to suppress other people’s free will.
Why just “two” consenting adults? Many marriages and families could benefit from additional marriage partners.