The past year brought many new developments, including the launch of the LDS Church’s website MORMONSANDGAYS.ORG, the Church’s amicus brief regarding Proposition 8, the new blog No More Strangers, Mormons Building Bridges and marching in gay pride parades across the US, the LDS Church pulling support from the anti-discrimination law under review in the Utah …
Tag: Proposition 8
FELLOW CITIZENS, FELLOW CHRISTIANS?: CATHOLICS, MORMONS, AND BOUNDARIES BETWEEN THE BODY POLITIC AND THE BODY OF CHRIST
Support of Proposition 8 fostered positive relations between many Catholics and Mormons (as well as Evangelicals and others) in a cause of shared moral concern. This presentation argues that social and political collaboration has also caused a unique warming of interfaith relations between the Catholic Church and the Mormon Church that has the potential to …
ANTI-MORMONISM IN THE 2012 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN
Anti-Mormonism has been called one of the last acceptable prejudices in American culture. The popularity of HBO’s Big Love, the success of The Book of Mormon musical, LDS involvement in Proposition 8, and Mitt Romney’s quest for the US presidency have placed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints front and center in American …
WHAT KEEPS MORMONS AND EVANGELICALS FROM COOPERATING POLITICALLY?
Although Mormons and Evangelicals in the US typically share conservative social values, Evangelicals’ theological opposition to Mormonism periodically generates friction between Mormons and the Evangelical Right. Recent examples include Mitt Romney’s 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns, Focus on the Family’s 2008 decision to pull a Glenn Beck interview from its website, and a 2004 effort …
VOTER TURNOUT AND VOTING TRENDS AMONG LDS GENERAL AUTHORITIES, STAKE PRESIDENTS, AND BISHOPS IN UTAH
The high profile of politicians such as Mitt Romney, and Harry Reid (D-NV), Senate Minority Leader, combined with the LDS Church’s involvement in California’s 2008 Proposition 8, and the Church’s influence on Utah’s new immigration laws, followed by a still more recent declaration of political neutrality and subsequent encouragement to Utah Latter-day Saints that they …
Binding Up the Wounds: Healing Efforts Following California’s Vote on Proposition 8
Many of us are all too familiar with the damage and human cost from Proposition 8. In the years since, what efforts have been made by LDS church members, leaders, and by people of other faiths to help heal from this divisive chapter that pitted politics and religion against each other? What can straight/Mormon/religious allies …
DC09012: Obedience Culture Churches and Their Impact: From Guantanamo to California’s Proposition 8
Obedience Culture values conformity over competence, unflinching faith over critical thinking, and institutional loyalty over human dignity. I examine the ascendancy of Obedience Culture among LDS and other US religious communities and explore its recent extension into public policy. I argue that Obedience Culture influences have deteriorated America’s moral leadership and that the particularly organized …
SW09008:
With national attention on the LDS role in the passage of Proposition 8, it is noteworthy that the LDS Church has set a fascinating precedent with its 130-year theological and legal battle to prevent blacks from marrying whites. This prohibition abruptly ended in 1978 with the termination of the priesthood and temple ban against those …
SW09022: Panel: Proposition in All Things: Post-election Perspectives on 8
Where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going with regard to Proposition 8 and the LDS Church’s foray into internet campaigning and community building? Panelists will discuss their personal experiences with the Prop 8 campaign and its aftermath and will examine the legal ramifications of Church involvement, including how …
SW0915: Marriage, Mormons, and Civil Liberties
Nineteenth Century Mormons were denied their civil and religious rights in part because of their marriage practices. The will of the majority led to Mormons being driven from their homes and massacred and their leaders assassinated. Modern-day Mormons are cognizant that our ancestors were wronged, but may be less aware of the striking parallels with …