Photo courtesy of Open.Salon.com
In 2008, the Mormon Church made headlines for providing the organization and funding for California’s Proposition 8 which made same-gender marriage illegal in the state. Now it seems that the Church is bending the other way.
Since the Mormon support of Proposition 8, the Church has received quite a bit of a backlash not only from the gay community but also from many of the Church’s members. The negative public relations has hurt many Mormon businesses and many of the members of the Mormon Church are more progressive on the issue that the Church itself.
Now modernity is catching up with the Mormon Church. The Church has officially endorsed gay rights legislation which will protect those in the gay community from discrimination in housing and employment. With the Churches endorsement, the measure passed unanimously.
The Mormon Church still holds to their view that Christianity has the monopoly on marriage and that according to the Bible marriage can only be between a man and a woman. They state that gay people are welcome to be celibate members of the Church, but marriage is out of the question and since it is considered a sin to engage in sexual behavior outside of marriage, homosexual sex would of course be out of the question.
Still, the Church doesn’t think gays, lesbians, and transgendered should be discriminated against despite the Bible’s claim that it is an abomination punishable by death.
So while the Mormon Church won’t support gay marriage, they are open to negotiation and in time they may change their divine edicts. This bend by the Mormon Church may even set a trend within fundamentalist Christianity as a whole.
It is important to note that God doesn’t seem to have changed his mind on the issue, but do to the secularization of society through science and reason; religion has to bend to modernity yet again. Some day, modernity may even break religion altogether. In the meantime, we just have to keep fighting.
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Comments
Staks:
You wrote:
"Mormon Church made headlines for providing the organization and funding for California’s Proposition 8 which made same-gender marriage illegal in the state."
We know that many gay and lesbian people claim this but where's the proof?
Black Californias overwhelmingly voted against gay marriage in California and 2008 marked the highest turn out for black voters in the history of the State.
In California, only 1% of the State is affiliated with the Mormon Church, and a small percentage of those Mormons voted for gay marriage.
Californias do not take their cues from the Mormon Church, just like Maine didn't.
Let's face it, gay marriage has lost every popular vote because a majority of Americans do not believe that gay marriage is a viable institution for adults, children, or government.
You wrote:
"Now modernity is catching up with the Mormon Church. The Church has officially endorsed gay rights legislation which will protect those in the gay community from discrimination in housing and employment. With the Churches endorsement, the measure passed unanimously."
Did you fail to read that the Mormon Church simply RESTATED its position on gay rights that it issued long before the gay backlash of 2008?
Don't hold your breath for the church to change its doctrine on the gay lifestyle. It is clearly denounced in the scriptures, that will never change, no matter how secular society becomes. That said, if people choose to live that way, their rights as citizens should still be respected.
The LDS Church has done no bending here at all. The Church is merely restating what it has always stood for. This isn't about anti-gay policies. It's always been about protecting marriage for the LDS Church. Anti-Mormon bigots have made this issue much bigger than it ever had to be. The LDS Church will continue to support the principle of marriage between a man and a woman.
I wonder if the leaders of the Mormon church consulted Michael Flint of the Yes on 8 campaign before they made their endorsement, or the leaders of the Catholic church? Maybe we'll find out in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial on 1-11-2010 @ 8:30 AM.
Beware Mormon bigots, we're going to destroy proposition 8!
"Staks:
You wrote:
"Mormon Church made headlines for providing the organization and funding for California’s Proposition 8 which made same-gender marriage illegal in the state."
We know that many gay and lesbian people claim this but where's the proof?
The proof is docket number 234 in the Federal Court of Northern California District. The god fearing Mormon lunatics are up to their eyeballs in the passage of proposition 8.
With all of the evidence in the world that is stack against them, and it will all come out in the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial on 1-11-2010 @ 8:30 AM, you seem stupid enough to continue to ignore these facts that have been available before it's passage, idiot!
What a goober of an article.
The position of the Mormon church has never changed regarding gay marriage or sex outside of marriage period: it is wrong. Gays are not ousted nor condemned as the movie 'Later Days' would have you believe, they are welcome to participate and be active church members. That movie depicted a missionary who engaged in homosexual sex with a neighbor. Missions are taken as sacred as Jesus' life on Earth, it was a betrayal of the morality missionaries so carefully must depict. That movie made the perpetrator look like a victim and the Mormon church like an archaic institution.
The sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman must be preserved because it is the nucleus of family life. The role of a father as a leader and the mother as a co-leader is made fun of and degraded in 'Family Guy', 'The Simpson's' and 'American Dad'. Destroy the family and you destroy society. Christian fundamentalists are not the enemy: mega corporations that dictate trends and make drones out of consumers are it
This article is so far off from the truth. The Mormon church supported Proposition 8 because it always has maintained and always will believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. This has nothing to do with basic civil rights-having a place to live and a job.
The church isn't bending in any way and no matter how secular the world becomes, the church will never change it's stance on marriage.
Really Sarah? The Mormon Church "will never change it's stance on marriage.?" Umm, I think you might want to rethink that one. I seem to recall that the Mormon Church was at one time in the past a strong advocate for polygamy and yet they seem to have changed it's stance on polygamy marriage. Never say never Sarah, lol.
Staks:
Polgamy was a practice in the LDS Church (from the Bible).
However, the LDS didn't change the doctrine but just stopped the practice.
Gay marriage is different. The reason why the Church will not change its position is because gay men cannot be married in heaven.
In the resurrection, all bodies return to the natural but perfect state according to the natural purpose and identity of that body.
Homosexual attraction is contrary to the natural purpose and identity of human gender.
Flex:
Your response is a non-sequitur. Gay marriage was banned in California because of VOTES.
The Mormon population is less than 1% in California. It couldn't have made the difference in the VOTES.
However, black Californians DID in fact make the difference in VOTES, who overwhelmingly voted to ban gay marriage.
How do you explain all of the banning of gay marriage across the country? Has the Mormon Church suddenly gained untold influence over Americans?
No, it's BS. How do we know? Because a Mormon couldn't even get nominated to the Republican nomination.
Gay marriage advocates have out spent everyone everywhere and they have lost in ever popular vote. Why?
Because a majority of Americans do not want gay marriage - it's that simple.
I don't think the Mormon church has changed one bit; they continue to practice institutional homophobia.
There seem to be a great deal of Mormon sympathizers taking the time to respond, trying to paint the church in a more favorable light.
The Mormon church, and any religious body, that promotes the hatred for and discrimination against homosexuals, i.e. opposing gay marriage, is wrong.
The church spokesman at the Salt Lake City Council meeting, Mr. Otterson said: The Church supported the measure "because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage."
If that statement is the philosophy and meaning of support - using the word "violence" to describe someone's civil rights struggle - then the church sent the same message and acted in the same way as before. Nothing has changed for the better.
Thanks Cole, for explaining why the church will never change. The reason speaks volumes on what marriage, here on earth, between two people who love each other, means to a mormon.
They have every right to believe and live their lives by their beliefs.
The rest of us do, too.
Why does Stakes have to hating on the mormons. Mormons don't hate him. Hate is not part of the doctrine.
WUT?
Good for the Mormon Church for putting its money where its mouth is. Since this gay rights issue began boiling in the last couple of years, the Mormon Church released statements saying it supports marriage between a man and a woman, but it is not opposed to gay rights. This just demonstrates their commitment to their consistent position.
My experience in the Mormon Church has taught me it promotes three core themes:
1. The Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon,
2. The importance of Family, where a husband and a wife raise children in an atmosphere of love and fidelity,
3. Charity and Humanitarian Service to people in need regardless of their faith.
You might not agree with its political positions, moral and religious beliefs, but the world is a much better place with the Mormon Church and its faithful followers.
Wow the church is really lousing grip on this one, maybe they should just cut out the fairy tail's of god all together.
Keepbendin:
How exactly is the church "losing grip"? Perhaps if you thought that the church hated homosexuals I could see you mistakenly looking at this as "bending", but that is far from the truth. As a member of the LDS Church, and I cannot speak for every member of the church, I have no ill will towards anyone (including homosexuals) as a core belief of my faith but I do stand in defense of the traditional sense and sanctity of marriage. This is a position of which God and his church will not bend. I am very glad to see that the church supports this gay rights legislation because the freedom to work and to have a roof over ones head is everyones. But to say that the church is fully responsible for the passing of this legislation is also far from the truth as this bill was going to pass with ot without the churches support.
Bending indeed.
This is wrong! How could the first presidnecy ever THINK of doing this! I 'am a former but currently practicing LDS, NOTHING in the BIBLE allows for this! and seems to me since the brass tossed me away for fighting my states child protective service claiming it was a "sin punishable by death" these to in the photo & any like them sould be IMEDEIATLEY be excommunicated!
Let's look at the real issue here. The one most people seem to ignore. Mormons are not anti-gay. The reason why Mormons didn't oppose prop 8, was because of constitutional rights. They feared that if they were to vote NO they would lose some of their rights, the freedom of religion. Eventually, it could be deemed unconstitutional for Mormons to be married in their temples because they don't perform gay marriages within their walls. Temples could then be shut down for being "unconstitutional." If gay marriage could exist, and a proposition could be written in a way that doesn't infringe on other's rights at the same time, gay marriage would have a better chance of being passed. Mormons probably wouldn’t oppose, as long as the prop didn’t at the same time infringe on their own beliefs. Look at the Catholic Charities which closed down in Boston. They closed because they didn't want to change their beliefs and let gay couples adopt. Who's to say the same wouldn't happen to Mormons? Of cour
Mormons believe in eternal marriage. It’s not that they don’t believe that people are gay, and can be born that way, they rather believe that people need to overcome the natural man. Hence why you can be gay and still be a member of the church. But it is a “sin” to give into the natural man. Mormons also don’t believe in premarital sex. Why should they be discriminated against for believing their own scriptures? In the LDS church, Mormons believe heaven is broken up into different levels, depending on how good you’ve been. To make it to the top level, the “celestial kingdom,” Mormons believe you must be sealed for time and all eternity (eternal marriage). In Mormon’s eyes, should they deny God to appease the world? That’s what goes on in temples actually: eternal marriage sealings. It’s a romantic notion to believe that when you die, you will be reunited with the person you love. “Immortal love.”
Mormons fear that they will be told they can no longer perform these marriage ceremonies if they will be called unconstitutional. Gay people want the right to marry; well Mormons want the right to marry for eternity. See the dilemma? If the prop had been re-written, so that religions can still marry the way they choose, then the prop probably wouldn’t have been as opposed. I think both the Mormons and the gay commnunity can find common ground. I don't believe the Mormons are intending to be discriminatory.
That said, in relation to this news, it is not surprising. The LDS leaders do not support discrimination. This totally stands for what they believe. If more people understood why they supported Prop 8, they would understand that the support of this legislation comes as no surprise. Mormons are not extremists, they are only defending their rights, just as the gay community is defending theirs.
Mormons are pigs...polygamist pigs. What more needs to be said?
TO Disgusted:
How about making an intelligent arguement ? It's people like you that give the LGBT group a bad name. Instead of lashing out with volatile language how about trying to engage in dialogue with those that will hear you out.... Oh, and no one that is true to the LDS faith practices Polygamy. You might wanna look into that. Your low-brow interpretation is a common misconception.
I am disgusted by the reaction of many in the gay community - still angry and behaving like children. I'm glad that the LDS took a stand against any type of discrimination but I'm sorry that so many can't accept it. The church has always been against discrimination but FOR the sanctity of marriage - it's not that hard to differentiate between the two. The gay community continues to push for same sex marriage when they know it's against what most in the Christian community believe. They seem to want respect without giving any.
tjc says "The gay community continues to push for same sex marriage when they know it's against what most in the Christian community believe. They seem to want respect without giving any."
TJC, you are missing the HUGE issue: what most Christians believe should allow those Christians to live their lives by those beliefs, NOT to have them force their beliefs into laws limiting the equal rights of others. Religions seem to often want domination over even those who are not members of their religion.
If your Christianity tells you that gay marriage is bad, then you can decide to NOT marry someone of the same gender. But it does not, and should not, give you the right to tell others who they can or can't marry.
Oh yeah, the LDS was always all about gay rights: www.examiner.com/x-8829-Salt-Lake-City-Freethinking-Examiner~y2009m7d11-Gay-couple-caught-kissing-outside-the-Salt-Lake-Temple-cited-for-trespassing
I wonder if a human wrote the bible?
There are many books on the shelf.
I believe in Democratic Republican government.
I say NO TO THE KING.
That photo is bogus and adds nothing to the article. Those arent even LDS missionaries because LDS missionaries wear black tags, not white!
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