Mormon Power Grab: It's Tearing Families Apart

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose followers are more widely-known as Mormons, has swooped into two election battles against gay marriage this year. The Mormon Church is exercising its might in both California and Arizona like never before. If passed on November 4, Proposition 8 in California would immediately eliminate the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry. In Arizona, Proposition 102 would write this discrimination into their Constitution by defining marriage as only between a man and a woman. In both states, the Mormon Church has hijacked these campaigns.

On June 20th, three days after same-sex marriage became legal in California, the top leadership in the Church, known as the First Presidency, sent a letter to be read to all Mormons to "do all you can to pass Proposition 8." The Wall Street Journal reported on September 20th, that church members were told "their souls would be in jeopardy" if they do not donate money. Mormons are already required to give 10% of their income to the church, so these donations dig further into the savings accounts of its followers.

Despite tough economic times, an amazing 59,000 Mormon families have succumbed to substantial pressure from church elders, and have given huge amounts of money to California's Yes on 8 campaign. These Mormon families have given a staggering $18.6 million since June 1st and the total grows daily. This represents 77% of all money raised and 88% of all individual money raised (not including funds from the big out of state organizations). In Arizona where a gay marriage ban is back on the ballot after losing just two years ago, Mormon families have contributed nearly all of the $6.9 million to the Yes on 102 campaign. What is going on here?

Blog reports are popping up indicating Church elders are calling certain members and arranging one-on-one visits to discuss a prearranged "suggested donation amounts." The Wall Street Journal reported that one conference call arranged by the Church had between 40 and 60 participants. A Church elder told everyone on the call that he should give $25,000 to Yes on 8. Analysis of the California Secretary of State website shows that worked. There have been 81 contributions of $25,000, and dozens more of between $26,000 and $$500,000.

Not all members are convinced this is the best idea. Andrew Callahan stood up to the church's call for donations, saying it struck of discrimination, and he refused to donate. This incredible display of coercion explains why many members are scared to say no. Callahan's case is going to be reviewed AFTER the election.

An article by Daniel Scarpinato in the September 17th Arizona Daily Star details a growing opinion that this battle represents Mormon attempts to clean up its battered image. With court cases continuing to link Mormon fringe groups and polygamy, this could be a crafty attempt to resuscitate their image, at the expense of gays and lesbians.

Last week in Salt Lake City, a group of 40 Mormons who support gay marriage delivered protest letters and bundles of carnations to church headquarters in an appeal to end the church's support of the ballot initiatives to ban same-sex marriage.

These courageous protesters were there to "out" the Mormon Church for forcing so many Mormon families to give vast sums from their savings to these two ballot propositions. Because of this Church mandate, families are being torn apart.

How many of these tens of thousands of Mormon families, who have contributed the $18.6 million, have gays and lesbians in their immediate family? How many parents are forced to give thousands of dollars publicly at the expense of their gay son or lesbian daughter? What about a gay brother or sister in the family? Or an aunt or uncle or cousin or brother-in-law who is gay? What permanent damage does this cause these innocent victims of the Mormon Church's power grab? How many families will be irreparably damaged by their actions?

In its quest to show the Catholics, Christians, Evangelicals and other religions that it has the money and power to take over these hateful campaigns, they are hurting more than just those from whom they wish to take away equality. They are tearing apart the very families they claim they are there to help.

Comments

[aarondaj]

I'm a "Mormon" and I know that the writer of this article needs to get educated about what is actually going on with Mormon activity in prop 8 instead of paying attention to antagonistic sources touting themselves as objective. I have never been told that my soul would be in jeopardy for not donating to prop 8, nor do I know anyone that has, and I'm just about as active in the church as they come. We as a church believe in standing up for our values, which was never presented in the article. What was presented was hearsay at best. We love all people... even gays, but we don't think that we should be forced to marry them in our churches by our clergymen. You would be hard pressed to find a non-extreme denomination who is not opposed to gay marriage. God was the one who destroyed Sodam and Gomorrah, it wasn't something the Mormon Church "thought up".

[Truth789]

The same Mormon Church who practiced Polygamy is teaching morals?

[allieolsen]

This article is full of things that are not backed up at all. I am a "UTAH Mormon" and have not once been asked to donate to this cause or even had it brought up in church and I go every week. The church is a non-profit organization. That being said, if they start to tell people how to vote or get involved in such things, they can lose their "non-profit" status. I think the author of this article decided just to listen to uninformed folks around the water cooler rather than doing their job of researching for the truth. I would like him to provide proof of his statements since they are so inflammatory and untrue.

That being said...the church does stand for marriage only being between a man and a woman.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believes that marriage is eternal. That is a fundamental teaching of the church. Don't expect them to change just because it's not the popular thing.

[JweckerII]

Clearly, the UTAH based Mormon church is attempting to utilize this issue to improve their tarnished image, while hijacking the California and Arizona Constitutions with their out-of-state money and false accusations. It is utter hypocrisy for the Mormon church to be espousing protection of "traditional family values and marriage," when they themselves, have practiced polygamy. This smoke screen attempt at saving traditional marriage and family values, will be seen for exactly what it is, an attempt, by the OUT-OF-STATE Mormon church, to write DISCRIMINATION and HATRED into our most SACRED document, the California constitution. Separation of CHURCH and STATE should ALWAYS be respected and maintained. All men are created EQUAL. LIBERTY and JUSTICE FOR ALL, not some. May the Mormon church experience the full wrath of fair minded Californians for their contemptuous attempt at meddling in OUR state's affairs. May they also come to understand that LOVE, not HATE and DIVISION is what sustains humanity!

[EqualRights]

I am Linda Stay, Mormon mother of two gay children. As they grew up and developed their personalities, it was clear that they didn't fit the typical stereo type of a masculine tough boy, or a barbie doll carrying little girl. As children, you can't convince me that they "chose" to be different or that there was any evil temptation influencing them. They came from heaven that way. Did God make a mistake? I think not. Anymore than someone born with Down Syndrome. As I have watched them be rejected, shunned, ignored by so many they love and are were close to, it is ludicrous to believe they "chose" this "lifestyle" any more than I chose to be heterosexual.
I am saddened that the LDS church which once held the ultimate light of truth in my eyes, could be so quick to enlist it's congregations to rally in judgment, bigotry and disdain for the civil rights of humans. I am appalled at their use of fear to influence it's members, stooping to the same devices that our politicians use to manipulate. I cannot believe this is what a loving God would condone or inspire anyone to do. Supposedly the LDS church holds the family to be of utmost importance, yet I watch families being pulled apart, divided and separated over this issue of following their prophet or supporting their loved ones. What happened to the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" which teaches love unconditional?
Be heard. http://signingforsomething.org/blog/

[CNielsen]

As an LDS member, I would like to respond.
1. “. . .the Mormon Church has hijacked these campaigns. . . power grab” Members were told to contribute “all you can” (time OR money) directly to the Coalition composed of many groups and individuals. Tax-deductible is now non-tax-deductible. If pro-Prop 8 coalition leaders were interviewed they could express whether they feel threatened by LDS support.
2. I was never told my “soul(s) would be in jeopardy" if I did not donate. Coercion is not condoned by the church. Membership in any organization is dependent on the willingness of members to not fight the organization’s purposes.
3. “. . . this battle represents Mormon attempts to clean up its battered image.” The church invites people to learn about our beliefs from us, not our detractors. Our stand on marriage is not intended to hurt anyone, but to support marriage as it has been known for millennia.
4. “. . . families are being torn apart.” Differences of opinion always have the potential for tearing families apart. The greatness of this country (and individual families) lies in the civility and kindness with which we treat those with whom we don't agree.
5. “What is going on here?” My answer is that here we have a people who believe in the importance of supporting traditional marriage because it is vital to their religious views. We have people who feel that sacrificing time and money for your beliefs is not too much to ask.

[EqualRights]

I don't have a problem with people sacrificing for their religious views. I do have a problem with a church that enlists its members to take away civil rights of any human being! Freedom of Religion is a beautiful part of our constitution. No one will tell you how to worship, except your church leaders, who also believe it is their duty to tell you how to vote.