As you all may know, Amendment 8 passed in California. Churches of all faiths fasted and prayed as congregations for the passing of this amendment. Marriage between and man and a woman is central to the Christian belief and it is held close to the hearts of faithful Christians. One church that participated in funding for advertisements of Amendment 8 was the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And now that Amendment 8 has passed, LDS members are being persecuted for this and now lives may be at stake. John Shroeder, an Evangelical priest said this about the terror in California, "We have seen instances of vandalism, property destruction, and some leaders in the fight currently find themselves with armed protection because of the threats made against them and their families. " Envelopes full of white powder, made to look like anthrax, a white powder that kills the instant it is inhaled, are being sent to LDS temples as a scare tactic, and there have been reports of people setting fire to Books of Mormon and throwing them on church steps. This kind of vandalism is unacceptable. John Schroeder then said, "We are treated to stories on these events as if the protestors have some right to behave in this manner. They most assuredly DO NOT…Vandalism, threats of violence, simulated acts of violence, and violence itself are not acceptable behavior for any American wishing to express a viewpoint. We cannot, as a nation, stand for this." The Mormons were first persecuted out of their homes in Illinois and were forced to move west and settle in Utah, and now this terror in California. But the thing is, the Mormons are getting the heat from this amendment when they were just a fraction of the participants against gay marriages. There was incredible turnout from the African American voters who went out to support Obama and when they voted they played a crucial role in the passing of Amendment 8 because 70% voted for Amendment 8. And thankfully, they are being left alone, but as for the Mormons, I will quote the eloquent John Schroeder, "I call on the Christian, and Jewish, media elite…sympathize with the Mormons and our brethren threatened here [in California]."
PJ Lover
7 comments:
It's rediculous, absurd, and reprehensible that these gay-rights groups are violently protesting and causing damage to church property when it was the PEOPLE of California that passed this law! I guarantee that the churches would not be vandalizing the property of the gay-rights groups had the ammendment not passed. It is absolutely terrrible that these people can't accept the fact that they lost at the ballot box. I hope that the protestors that choose to break the law are prosecuted to the fullest extent. If the gay-rights groups are adament about repealing ammendment 8, they have every right to do so at the next election; but vandalizing property is not the right way and will only lead more people to be opposed to the groups.
Although I was rather saddened to hear of the passing of amendment 8, I am also saddened to hear of this violence. It's rather naive to pretend like there hasn't been harrasment and vandalism against gay people before amendment 8, and would be had it not passed. However, time has shown that violence is definitely not the answer in acheiving results. I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that civil unions are still legal in California, but I can understand the desire for a true marriage. I don't know if I quite agree with gay marriage, but I heard a quote the other day by Evan Wolfson, "If this were being done to almost any other minority, people would see how un-American this is."
The gay-rights activists who did this are using the same tactics of violence that they have had to deal with in the past. If their goal is to end discrimination, then their hypocritical actions provide little sympathy for their cause.
Jesus Fish - thank-you for that quote, it's a great one. It just brings us back to the argument over whether or not denying gay marriages is discriminatory. As for this post, I did not even realize there was an Amendment 8.. I had to look it up.. so thanks for bringing it to attention! Goodness I feel out of the loop.
Jesus fish, great quote. That sums up all of the majority vs minority issues. I do not agree with gay marriages or civil unions. I still cannot see how a man and man or a woman and a women can have a baby. Biology class has at least taught me that much. Now when that does happen naturally, then maybe my views will change.
I am happy and surprised to see California pass the amendment. I almost choked on my food when I heard it in the news.
Wild WX Man, thanks for the props (nemo too). When procreation becomes the sole reason for marriage, maybe some of my views will shift.
Not all of the people who are protesting the passage of Amendment 8 are harassing Mormons. That is just a small percentage of people, there have been tens of thousands of people out in the streets peacefully protesting the amendment all over the country. But all you talk about are the people who have taken extreme measures, not all of the people who are protesting peacefully. The Catholic Archbishop of Los Angelos, Cardinal Mahoney said this, "Proposition 8 is not against any group in our society." I think he is wrong in saying that, obviously the amendment is against homosexuals. Since it doesn't allow a certain group of people to be married legally.
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