Catholic Bishop Decries Religious Bigotry Against Mormons
SACRAMENTO 7 November 2008 (This news release was issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento) The following statement was released today by Bishop William Weigand, head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento and former Bishop of Salt Lake City, in response to attacks on (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) for supporting California’s Proposition 8, defending the traditional definition of marriage:
“Catholics stand in solidarity with our Mormon brothers and sisters in support of traditional marriage — the union of one man and one woman — that has been the major building block of Western Civilization for millennia.
“The ProtectMarriage coalition, which led the successful campaign to pass Proposition 8, was an historic alliance of people from every faith and ethnicity. LDS were included — but so were Catholics and Jews, Evangelicals and Orthodox, African-Americans and Latinos, Asians and Anglos.
“Bigoted attacks on Mormons for the part they played in our coalition are shameful and ignore the reality that Mormon voters were only a small part of the groundswell that supported Proposition 8.
“As the former bishop of the Diocese of Salt Lake City, I can attest to the fact that followers of the Mormon faith are a good and generous people with a long history of commitment to family and giving to community causes.
“I personally decry the bigotry recently exhibited towards the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — coming from the opponents of Proposition 8, who ironically, have called those of us supporting traditional marriage intolerant.
“I call upon the supporters of same-sex marriage to live by their own words — and to refrain from discrimination against religion and to exercise tolerance for those who differ from them. I call upon them to accept the will of the people of California in the passage of Proposition 8.”
SALT LAKE CITY 7 November 2008 The Church issued the following statement today:
It is disturbing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is being singled out for speaking up as part of its democratic right in a free election.
Members of the Church in California and millions of others from every faith, ethnicity and political affiliation who voted for Proposition 8 exercised the most sacrosanct and individual rights in the United States — that of free expression and voting.
While those who disagree with our position on Proposition 8 have the right to make their feelings known, it is wrong to target the Church and its sacred places of worship for being part of the democratic process.
Once again, we call on those involved in the debate over same-sex marriage to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility towards each other. No one on either side of the question should be vilified, harassed or subject to erroneous information.
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2 comments:
I (like you) have many family and friends in CA and know, first hand, what has really been going on and just how bad it is. I think people here are living in a bit of a "bubble". One of my sister's friends had paint thrown on her car in broad daylight (at the grocery store) because of her "yes on 8" bumpersticker. As pro 8 groups stood on the side of the streets PEACEFULLY supporting this cause, cars would swerve towards them to scare the little children. They are loosing friends. The temple has been vandalized. People have been beaten. Hate mail. The list goes on. It is frightening and discusting.
I believe this is a small minotiry of the "no on 8" supporters. I have many wonderful gay friends. All of whom are kind and peaceful people. Unfortunately, the minority, are the ones you see and hear. The tone they are striking doesn't really leave room for discussion or TOLERANCE!
It stenghthens my faith to see my friends and family be so strong and loyal in the face of an extremely disturbing and difficult time.
Thank you for this post!
I spent many hours walking my precinct door to door educating others on Prop 8 and also calling voters from the phone banks and from home. I stood on the street corner holding YES on prop 8 signs for days. I had a sign posted in my front yard and a sticker on the back of my car. It is not easy taking a stand. I am glad that all of our efforts were noticed.
I work at the San Diego Temple and after my shift I was informed that protesters would be arriving soon. The hostility toward the Church of Jesus Christ (I wish reporters would use our full name in the media rather than Mormon church or LDS Church) can not be felt within the walls of the temple.
Enough said!
I remain positive and optimistic.
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