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Mormons facing gay marriage backlash

E-mail|Link|Comments (3) Posted by Michael Paulson November 24, 2008 08:13 AM

The nation's Mormons are the target of protest in the wake of their church's support for Proposition 8, the California measure that, if upheld by the courts, will overturn same-sex marriage in that state. In today's paper, I have a story about how the backlash is being perceived by Mormons, particularly in Massachusetts. An excerpt:

This has been a stormy year for Mormons in the United States. First, there was the candidacy of Mitt Romney for president, which brought to the surface a deep strain of anti-Mormonism in American culture. Then, there was the raid on a group of schismatic polygamists in Texas, which reminded America of Mormonism's uncomfortable history. And now, there is a wave of protest, rolling across the country from west to east, in which some gay rights advocates have targeted Mormons because of their church's support for a successful California referendum to overturn same-sex marriage.
Ironically, the protests appear to be helping repair a rift within Mormonism caused by the election. The church's outspoken support for Proposition 8 exposed an unusual level of disagreement in the ordinarily harmonious Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Internet facilitated grass-roots organizing by the minority of Mormons who support same-sex marriage. But a smattering of anti-Mormon acts since Election Day - the burning of a Book of Mormon, a mailing of packets of white powder to Mormon sites, and some anti-Mormon invective expressed on signs and in sloganeering - has helped rally a denomination with a long history of persecution.

"I would not have voted in support of Prop. 8, but it does grieve me to see anybody being called bigoted for voting in an election and expressing their viewpoints," said Julie Berry, 34, of Maynard. "I support the right to protest, but vandalism and damage to church buildings - that hurts . . . and I wish we could see a little more defense of Mormons' right to exist as citizens and vote how they wish to vote. I'm sad to think that some of the social and political good will we've gained in the last 15 years may be set back."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has posted material explaining its position on Proposition 8, and offering its take on the protests, here. The latest post by the church includes a roundup of concern expressed by groups, including some that support same-sex marriage, about the targetting of Mormons in post-Election Day protests.

(Photo, by Mary Altaffer/AP, shows a protest at the Mormon Temple in New York on Nov. 12.)

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3 comments so far...

Mormons, stand tall, the truth is the truth, and no persecution should be able to change that. Mormons, like we Catholics, do not change doctrine because it has become unpopular, 'politically incorrect,' not trendy, seeminly old-fashioned; some of the old fashions, such as traditional man-woman marriage, always were perpetually true, back to Adam and Eve, so to speak.

I may call 2+2=5, but my saying it does not make it so. You may call the publicly witnessed celebration of a permanent same sex relationship 'marriage,' but your saying so does not make it so. It is an intimate friendship. The definition of marriage has been a closed case for centuries; come up with a new word.

Ah, yes, the protestors, the il-liberal liberals. The Fascist, totalitarian left, which prides itself on its tolerance, except it will not tolerate dissent from its dogma. They think they are infallible like the Pope--how ironic! The left is all for freedom, the freedom to agree with them. The left prides itself on fairness, but when anything doesn't go their way, they throw tantrums like babies, and cry "that's not fair!" The temerity of those nasty Mormons, first to even have such retrograde opinions, then to dare to speak them out loud, and worst of all, to exercize their rights as citizens to vote in accord with their thoughts and feelings--off with their heads.

Are the same-sexers also protesting black churches, which also voted overwhelmingly for traditional marriage, and if not, why not?

Look, we conservatives lost the election, we're not happy with the result, but we will live with it, our lives will go on, that despite a president we did not vote for, its still a great country, and we will not be protesting his election. Liberals, you lost the proposition 8 election; why can't you show the same manners, some class, like we do?

Posted by gaudete November 24, 08 10:20 AM

(raising hand)-what about the Mormon stand on multiple marriage that changed after the "fathers' of the church were threatened with having their lands seized if they didn't comply with federal regulation?

The answer is: they changed the doctrine after "praying" and God told them it was cool-yes, they changed doctrine. Do you know anything about the religion? Thats mormonism 101, pal

Eventually, the same will happen with gay marraige. This only proves the ridiculous religion of Mormonism is a cult as most people believe

Mormons taking a stand on marraige is prettty silly if you know anything about polygamy

Posted by Norman Dostal February 25, 09 07:56 PM

One more comment
You don't get to vote on civil rights-pretty simple idea really

Imagine if I got to vote on Mormons getting married-would that be fair? You can bet that, since majority of country thinks Mormons are a cult of crazy polygamists (whether true or not), any vote on their rights would be decidely unfavorable to Mormons

Just as judges overturned the will of the majorioty when they didn't want blacks to marry whites, so too this will be overturned

People are people. Law is law. We are a land of laws-not governed by religion. If you prefer to be ruled by religion, go to the ME. If not, keep your religion out of my life

Mormons contributed 15 million of the 21 million used to promote teh hatred and lies of Prop 8 so they are rightly targeted

Blacks too, were tricked by religion. It is a shame that they have not learned anything from their own civil rights fight, but they will learn.

God loves equality-watch how fast he pushes gays to an equal footing with others in this country

Posted by Norman Dostal February 25, 09 08:01 PM

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Michael Paulson covers religion for The Boston Globe. He shared in the Pulitzer Prize in 2003, won the Mike Berger, Templeton and Supple awards in 2008, and is a four-time winner of the Wilbur Award.
E-mail mpaulson@globe.com.

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