LDS Church gives a response to disgusting late attacks

“The Church has joined a broad-based coalition in defense of traditional marriage. While we feel this is important to all of society, we have always emphasized that respect be given to those who feel differently on this issue. It is unfortunate that some who oppose this proposition have not given the Church this same courtesy.”
-LW

"Dear Brothers and Sisters fighting the good fight for Proposition 8:

We are now in the last hours before the election, and as we might have anticipated, our opponents are pulling out all stops to beat us down. Their most recent, and perhaps final attack, is against Christian missionaries, specifically, missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Please see the video at http://www.kutv.com/content/news/topnews/story.aspx?content_id=e1f83189-843f-41d7-84c4-2029fbd9a2ce. These "missionaries" are portrayed as invading the home of two women, ransacking their house, stealing their wedding rings and tearing up their marriage certificate. Were real LDS missionaries to engage in this sort of behavior, the LDS Church would turn them over to legal authorities for prosecution, and they would face church discipline as well. I, and many of you, have seen, met with and worked with LDS missionaries over the years, and have found them to be unfailingly polite, courteous and helpful - not vindictive or assaultive, as portrayed in this attack ad. This is my church, and we do not do such things. This ad is a false and unjustified attack against us all.

As you know, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have supplied a good portion of the Yes on Proposition 8 funds, and now the church is under attack. If this attack results in people changing their votes to No on 8, we all will suffer the consequences. Therefore, I ask that you immediately write a letter of condemnation in the strongest possible terms, and send it via e-mail to Bart Marcois of ProtectMarriage.com. His e-mail address is bmarcois@gmail.com. In addition, it would be helpful if you sent a copy of your letter to the Sacramento Bee, via e-mail, and to any TV stations that may be airing this ad. If you do this, you will be protecting your own congregations from misinterpreting this ad as a reason to vote No.

I have met most of you personally over the last few weeks, and have come to admire you for your steadfastness in Christ as you work to lead your congregations in this fight. I now ask that you trust me, and counter this attack against one of our company with letters of protest of your own.

Benjamin Franklin, the famous statesman during the time of the American Revolution, was one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. At the signing, which was a very dangerous act of sedition against the British Crown, he said, "We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately." I think that statement applies to each one of us. If we hang together, if we work cooperatively on this last night before the election, I think we shall succeed. If we do not cooperate, if we do not "hang together", we face a future that none of wants to see.

Thank you very much for your help in this vital work we are all engaged in."
-VW

“This ad reaches new lows of religious bigotry and intolerance,” said Yes on 8 Chairman Ron Prentice. “We hope that the leadership of the No on 8 campaign – including Senator Feinstein, Mayor Newsom and Superintendent O’Connell -- as well as all Californians regardless of their position on Proposition 8, will not only condemn the ad but join us in asking television stations to refuse to air it. After all, the No on 8 campaign has been running their own television commercials saying we must all oppose discrimination and intolerance whenever we see it. The bigotry this ad shows to members of the LDS church demands action now.”

Echoing Prentice’s call, Yes on 8 Campaign Manager Frank Schubert tonight emailed Steve Smith, Campaign Manager for the No on Proposition 8 Campaign the following request:

“Steve – Below find a link to a deplorable No on 8 television commercial hitting the airwaves tomorrow. This commercial depicts faux Mormon Missionaries invading the home of a lesbian couple, ransacking the house in search of the couple’s marriage license, taking the couple’s wedding rings, etc. This is a blatant display of religious bigotry that has no place in political discourse. We urge Equality for All, Senator Feinstein, Superintendent O’Connell and the No on 8 Campaign to immediately denounce this commercial and join us in urging television stations to refuse to air it. After all, we must always oppose discrimination and intolerance whenever we see it.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.”

Separately, an interfaith coalition of religious leaders representing many faiths will be releasing a statement condemning the ad."
-CW