NOM head, Maggie Gallagher, as she puts it, "likes fairy tales." This sure sounds like a fairy tale to me, a very scary one.
Once upon a time there were 152 -- how should I say it -- extremists, all meeting in Manhattan (crazy place for this group to meet). These 152 zealots drafted, approved, and signed their Declaration of War on full civil rights for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans last week. They threw in some other societal beefs, just to try and mask the overriding issue, their fervent opposition to same-sex marriage.
One major leader of their movement is missing from the 152 names.
There are NO MORMONS on the list, and several of us read it very carefully.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) has been leading the anti-gay marriage movement in this country for the past 14 years. They have spent tens of millions of dollars in practically every state ($30 million in California alone last year) to fight equality and to pass constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage.
So where are the Mormon representatives on this illustrious list? Are they truly backing off their longstanding opposition to gay civil rights?
To their credit, Michael Otterson, a high ranking Mormon Church official recently testified in support of the Salt Lake City ordinance that would no longer allow discrimination in employment and housing against LGBT people in Utah's largest city. While a small step, it has been broadcast around the world. That's because the Church, through its Public Affairs Department, got the word out -- big time.
Let's hope the Mormon leadership is truly softening its position on this issue. It has been a huge PR nightmare for the Church and one that divides so many Mormon families. Maybe they will redirect all that time, talent, and money to other causes, real problems.
There are plenty of Catholics on this list, however, and some very prominent ones. Two Cardinals and lots of Bishops. Catholics appear to be the new Mormons in the fight against same-sex marriage.
The Catholic Church has become much more visible as the Mormons have backed off. Maine Bishop Richard J. Malone and his sidekick, Marc Mutty, ran and heavily funded the recent campaign in Maine to take away same-sex marriage in that state. The Roman Catholic Dioceses of Portland (ME) even set up a Political Action Committee (PAC), and gave and raised $553,000 to pass Question #1. That's a lot of money, especially when they recently closed 5 churches in Maine.
Now, last week in Washington D.C., the Catholic Church there threatened to stop feeding the homeless if the City Council passes a same-sex marriage bill. Yes, the Catholic Church will stop feeding the hungry!
Here's what the New York Times editorial said about that yesterday: CLICK HERE
National Organization for Marriage (NOM) Chairman Robert P. George authored their new manifesto, along with former Watergate felon Chuck Colson. They hired a PR firm to publicize the Manhattan Declaration, the Mark DeMoss PR Group in Atlanta. Their web site identifies them as "the first and largest PR firm exclusively representing faith-based leaders, organizations, and causes." The DeMoss Group promotes itself on www.ManhattanDeclaration.org web site almost as much as its client.
Don't they have anything better to do?
Dan Collins: Albany: No Profiles in Courage
The culture of Albany betrayed gay marriage. In the NY legislature, everything that comes up for a vote wins. If there isn't enough support, the leadership doesn't bring the bill to the floor.
NJ Bishops Rally Flocks to Promote, Support Marriage
Rev. Warren: 'I'm staying out of gay marriage fight'
But more significantly, they sense that Mitt Romney's chances of winning the White House in 2012 are very good. They are willing to moderate their stance on homosexuality to get a Mormon in the White House. That would be just as momentous to them as Obama's win was to Blacks. Remember, Utah was willing to give up polygamy to join the Union.
Maine has their final public notice of the donations to Question 1 (which removed the state's same sex marriage law passed by it's legislature and signed by their governor.)
Maine's attorney general made it clear National Organization for Marriage can not conceal their donors, or they will be FORCED to reveal those names.
The in-kind non monetary donations also must be accounted for.
If LDS is found to have killed LGBT's marriage equality in ANOTHER state after CA's prop 8, gays and lesbians won't be a little ANGRIER, it will be TEN FOLD the rage.
http://thechurchofjesuschrist.us/2009/11/i-will-not-be-signing-the-manhattan-declaration/
Having read the document--there are FEW points on which I disagree. The LDS church continues to maintain their positions on the family, and it's divine purpose. In fact, our doctrines on the family are far more pronounced than any other Christian faith, in that we believe that family/marriage is eternal--and so the definition of family and marriage in this life have FAR greater implications. So our positions might even be stronger in opposing the redefinition of marriage--and the character of the family. In light of this belief, there is NOTHING 'better to do'.
Having said that, supporting anti-discrimination laws when it comes to housing etc, is not a paradigm shift. This piece shows VERY little understanding of our culture and practices. An issue easily assuaged by a closer and more honest look at our doctrines, and even a simple visit to our worship services.
The NAACP lawsuits show EXACTLY Mormons treatment of Blacks prior to your late 1970's REVELATION.
HALF my extended family are LDS in Salt Lake City and Vegas. I KNOW LDS history, my family were in Utah since it was a territory, and my great grandparents alive then, lived until their late nineties, so I heard it from the SOURCE......babycakes.
And you speak of your knowledge of history, yet don't lay out ANY facts of this 'treatment' you speak of. Heard 'it' from the source, eh? Heard 'WHAT' exactly? Thanks for the specificity, it was really helpful.
I wonder if respect is a two-way street--or just a one-way street with people like you. Is YOUR worldview the only one to receive a patronizing approval? Well, I'm at peace without one. I don't need your respect, nor am I going to whine about it to any special interest group in order to call attention to your lack of respect...or try and legislate special 'rights' into state laws in order to fill a moral void I've created for myself.
oops, too much diet coke....hope you can forgive me, babycakes.
Marriage between 'one man, one woman' endorsed by Elder Dallin H. Oakes, semi-annual conference, October 2009. (Not well-thought out considering ridicule over polygamy).
"Although the Mormon Church officially prohibited new plural marriages after 1904, many plural husbands and wives continued to cohabit until their deaths in the 1940s and 1950s." (mormonstories.org)
from a former Mormon who supports freedom of religion for all races, gay/lesbian rights, mother of a gay son, aunt of a lesbian etc etc etc
The book of Mormon says polygamy is immoral, except in special circumstances in order to raise seed unto the Lord. So 'one man, one woman' along with our short-lived practice of polygamy, is consistent with scripture.
Correlation is not causality.
It's possible LDS leaders were simply not invited due to our doctrinal differences with 'mainstream Christians'...or our differing views on abortion being justified in cases of incest and rape...there are a million possibilities...as if this statement is the FIRST ever made on societal ills by religious leaders...??
Your hypocrisy is laughable.
Practically every state? Wow. False. The Mormon Church has not spent "tens of millions of dollars" in any state for any political cause. In California last year, it was the Mormon PEOPLE that donated the money, not the church. That is a big distinction, especially in a well-respected, widely read political blog.
Mormon-bashing is an easy sport. Tired, but easy.
In a letter dated June 29, 2008, Mormon leaders in Salt Lake City called for church members to work hard to pass Proposition 8 in California.
Dante Atkins provided a smoking gun memo showing that the Mormon Church has planned for more than a decade to hide behind others in its attempt to suppress civil rights.
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/3/15369/3779/711/651188
So it may be tired, but it is a fact.
The Mormon Church donated less than $200,000 to Prop 8, hardly $30 million. And the Mormons haven't "spent tens of millions of dollars in practically every state" to squash gay marriage. What an outrageously false statement. If you have a problem with Mormon leaders encouraging individual members and families to donate money, just say so (Mormon members did privately donate millions). But don't hide behind inaccurate hyperbole.
The Mormons don't sign a controversial declaration that criticizes gays and lesbians, and what happens? They're criticized. Unbelievable.
The DC blackmail attempt using the LEAST among us,(not feeding the homeless under their faith-based CONTRACTS) may be the straw that breaks their own tax exemptions.
That was putrid, and the backlash should have been SWIFT with massive demonstrations outside every Catholic cathedral.
There is a Vatican ordered witch-hunt of feminist or lesbian Nuns, most are elderly women who the church insisted do every thankless and difficult task, while yolking them to a vow of poverty (no man in the heiarchy lives under.) the ONLY promise these Sisters received from the church for all they did , was to be cared for in their old age....NOW these cheap con artists will even deny them that small KINDNESS.
Feminist and Pro-Choice Americans and LGBT folks won't have our Civil Rights gutted again, so you signers of the Manhattan document.....brace yourselves, you want a fight...don't whine and hide under your ermine capes and tiaras when we PUNCH BACK!
For the Bishops and Cardinals who signed the Manhattan Proclaimation, i have ONE word.
DUBLIN
now see if you can sell MORE Church influence over state officials......I DARE YOU!
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/3/15369/3779/711/651188
blatant hypocrisy goes REALLY well with a diet coke...thanks for the laughs.
How dare they expect to be treated as equal citizens in America.....Those darn not straight white people....
"PETER ZUCKERMAN
The Oregonian Staff
Two Portland-area men filed an $8.5 million lawsuit Wednesday against the Mormon church and the Boy Scouts, bringing to eight the number of former Scouts alleging sexual abuse by former troop and church leader Timur Van Dykes.
The eight men are seeking a total of more than $33 million in damages.
The lawsuits, filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, contend the abuse began in the early 1980s, ended in the early ’90s and involved Boy Scout Troops 478 and 719, both of which were sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Boy Scouts has been part of the Mormon church’s official men’s program since 1913.
He is one of about 50 Oregon leaders expelled by the Boy Scouts for sex abuse between 1970 and 1990 and more than 5,100 leaders expelled nationally since 1946, according to confidential Boy Scouts files and summaries obtained by The Oregonian.
http://www.boyscoutabuse.com/general/2-more-ex-scouts-say-leader-molested-them-2/