Prop. 8 foes criticized for Mormon missionary home invasion ad

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Bishop Blaire: The ad is “a blatant display of religious bigotry and intolerance,”

Comments: 23

Sacramento, Calif., Nov 4, 2008 / 12:20 pm (CNA).- In what one Catholic bishop called “a blatant display of religious bigotry and intolerance,” a commercial advocating a “no” vote on Proposition 8 depicts Mormon missionaries invading the homes of a lesbian couple.

The California ballot’s Proposition 8 would restore the legal definition of marriage to being between one man and one woman. Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court imposed same-sex marriage on the state.

In the 60 second commercial, produced by the Courage Campaign Issues Committee, two missionaries knock on a door and say they are from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They tell the lesbian couple “we are here to take away your rights.”

They enter the house, take away the women’s rings, and ransack their home looking for their marriage license. Finding it, they tear it up.

At the close of the commercial, the missionaries walk away, saying “that was too easy, yeah, what should we ban next?”

“The message behind the commercial is the Mormon Church is literally invading the houses of Californians through their TV sets, spreading lies and taking peoples’ lives away from them,” Rick Jacobs of the anti-Prop. 8 Courage Campaign told CBS Channel 2 KUTV. “The church has been hiding behind its secrecy.”

Jacobs said the commercial will air today in various parts of California on MSNBC and CNN.

Scott Trotter, a spokesman with the LDS Church, responded to the advertisement:

“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.”

The California Catholic Conference on Monday condemned the ad as “bigoted and intolerant.”

Most Rev. Stephen Blaire, Bishop of Stockton and President of the California Catholic Conference, commented in a press release, calling the ad “a blatant display of religious bigotry and intolerance” and expressing dismay any public media outlet would air it.

“The YES on 8 campaign is not about discrimination and intolerance; it is about restoring the traditional definition of marriage for the good of society and children," said Bishop Blaire. "All individuals and groups, whether religious or not, have both a right and a responsibility to participate in a civil debate about this important issue. From the beginning of this campaign the Catholic Conference has stressed the importance of mutual respect and denounces this type of religious bigotry."

The ad is viewable on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q28UwAyzUkE

Comments: 23

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Lily
SLC, Utah 11/24/2008 06:40 PM EST

This is not about equality, it's about perverse sex. Be honest.

Published by: Hub Freeman
Los Angeles, CA 11/15/2008 12:00 AM EST

The Mormon retreat on Proposition 8 is very revealing! The Mormon vote may indeed have only been 2% of California voters…and Hitler and Osama Bin Laden are only 2 people in the world’s history – hate has a monumental impact!

Mormon’s and Catholic’s – how does it feel to be part of a persecuted minority?

Published by: Deseret Spectacle
SLC, UT USA 11/08/2008 09:51 PM EST

What do you Prop.8 proponents expect? The gay and lesbian communities aren't trying to take away Mormons rights. But that is exactly what is being perpetrated on them. You think this ad is harsh? How would you feel if you were being singled out with a Constitutional amendment and not allowed to marry the person you love. I live in Utah and have experienced the cultural mood here, but this time the LDS Church has gone too far. They deserve this backlash.

Published by: paul
Nanaimo, BC Canada 11/07/2008 05:15 PM EST

I am greatful to those that voted "YES". I am a Mormon and am shocked by the anti-Mormon hate protesting our temples and spreading misleading information about our people. If the gays did this to Jews or Muslims they would be in jail for hatemongering. Were is the justice? Why can we not rise up with our wonderful fellow Christian and fight a cause against moral decay in our Nation. We have a right to free speach. I have a new deep appreciation for all those of other faiths that stand by us shoulder to shoulder defending traditional marriage and family values.

Published by: Stephen
Los Angeles, CA 11/07/2008 05:11 PM EST

You go Catholics!

Protect marriage!

Published by: Doug
SLC/UT/USA 11/06/2008 10:45 PM EST

In all this talk of love and hate and rights, there is no mention of wisdom, judgment and righteousness. The Mormons are called Mormons, because they believe the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon reveals that this land belongs to its former inhabitants, promised to them as an eternal inheritance, by the hand of the God of Israel.

But it was taken from them, and given to strangers, because of their transgression, after they had been visited and taught by Christ himself. Yet the promise to their fathers was that they would be restored to the knowledge of Christ, which was had anciently by their fathers, and they would be restored to their land, when the strangers, brought to this land by the hand of God, turned from him in turn.

The Mormons believe this from the book: "And now, we can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity."

Fighting against the acceptance of perversion is not an act of hate. It’s an act of love. If we allow ourselves to ripen in iniquity, we’ll be swept off the face of this land, just as surely as the former cities here were shaken to pieces, burned in consuming fire and sunk into the depths of the sea, because of iniquity.

If Mormons didn't love people, they wouldn't care.

Published by: Interesting
TX 11/05/2008 06:20 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

Gay people have the same right as straight people. They can marry someone of the opposite sex just as a "straight person" can. Gays aren't interested in equality they are interested in rights that no one has and they are more interested in redefining. They aren't interested in society but in themselves. What's next? Beastiality being given the status of marriage? A cow is a cow and isn't a horse no matter how many laws you pass. Marriage is between a man and a woman. All the other stuff is something else. Call it something else but it isn't marriage! I don't have one ounce of hate for anyone who is "gay". But some of you seriously injury your credibility and expose your lack of civility by stooping to this level of propaganda. If I was in California, I would vote yes on 8 not because I want to injure the gay community but someone has to bring some sense of reality to them and think about what they really are trying to do.

Published by: DavidL
US 11/05/2008 04:52 PM EST

In addition to CNN, the commercial above also ran on Comedy Central. It is pure hatred towards a single religious group.

If it was members of the Jewish, Catholic, or Muslim faith being targeted, it would've never aired on national television.

Having seen the video, I fear for the safety of the Mormon missionaries serving in California.

That advertisement is pure evil, and should've never gone on the air.

Published by: Dr. Guy
Chicago, Illinois 11/05/2008 11:00 AM EST

It is good and proper for the Catholic's to speak out against the bigotry directed to Mormon's. It is the same type of hate that the "enlightened" left secular agenda which they attempt to disguise in a cloak of "tolerance." It is about time we call this bigots by their proper name.

Published by: Ashley Jones
Boise, ID, USA 11/04/2008 11:29 PM EST

Thank you everyone who realizes what a hoax this commercial is. The LDS church works to promote what is good and moral. I am appalled at the level of intolerance this shows from people who seem to be working for tolerance. I am tolerant of gays and they can do as they please, but marriage is defined from the beginning as being between a man and a woman. Nothing should be allowed to change that. That is what our church supports.

Published by: John Pack Lambert
Sterling Heights, MI USA 11/04/2008 08:54 PM EST

This add is a total lie. To began with the missioaries of the LDS Church do not ever involve themselves in political campaigns.
Even in California, where the church has urged involvement in the cmapaign on members, missionaries are not involved in the campaign.
Those involved in the campaign are church members who are residents and citizens of Califonia and who have every right to participate in politics in California.
The accusations that the church is busing members in from out of state are false. The fact that most out of state donations have been to the no on 8 side clearly indicates the extent to which any claim the LDS Church involvement is an out of state campaign is total hogwash.
To Mr. Root,
What you fail to realize is that the anti-8 people have lied about many things. They have regularly denied the truth that proposition 8 will have zero effect on domestic partnerships and that domestic partnerships in California grant all rights that the state of California grants to married couples.
Vote yes on 8. It is your only chance for freedom.

Published by: justme
san fran/ca/us 11/04/2008 08:25 PM EST

Has it really came to this. I couldn't beleive what I was watching. Does the no campaign know how bad this makes them look, and what it makes people think when they watch this. Its HATE. No Church should be looked at this way. This add should not be on the air. I would never want my kids to see something like this. I am changing my vote to YES. This is a VERY SAD day.

Published by: zeebop989
Mission Vallejo, California 11/04/2008 07:53 PM EST

This commercial is the worst attempt at a convincing argument I have ever seen. It makes me seriously question the mental fortitude and morality of the Gay community. The brand of tolerance that they use is ridiculous because it uses the age old narrow minded assumption that people's decisions don't affect others. The potential consequences of this is not evident to those who are narrow minded. Mormons are one of the easiest groups in America to bully, and one thing you can learn from this is that the Gay community is backed by twisted liberal nuts. The ad is completely hypocritical. It is a bunch of desperate liberals trying to take advantage of the ignorant. The Mormons are not the ones slapping America in the face, but the ultra left backers of commercials like this are.

Published by: Kauri Johnson
Honolulu, Hawaii 11/04/2008 07:03 PM EST

Apparently the Gay and Lesbian community is just as intolerant as everyone else. I am disgusted by this "AD"

Published by: Diane
Oceanside, CA 11/04/2008 06:54 PM EST

The intolerance of Prop 8 foes is incredible. Hey Pomona, THAT is not happening!! The abusive, underhanded, despicable tactics of some of the foes of Prop 8 are disgraceful.

Published by: Richard
Long Beach 11/04/2008 06:48 PM EST

This just demonstrates that the "NO on 8" proponents have no logic or reality to their claims.

Like a small child who just throws a tantrum because they can not express anything sensibly. This actually is slander, not free expression. So much for their desires for "tolerance." It appears that they just want to receive tolerance, not show it.

I believe this was produced by a fringe group, and not supported by the general G/L population. I hope that Gay/Lesbian leadership will, in fact, lead by publicly denouncing this ad, rather than snickering, or raising fists.

As far as I have experienced, "Prop 8" proponents have no desire to amend the Civil Union laws to remove civil rights from gays. They definitely have not even thought about commiting illegal acts.

Published by: Matthew
San Francisco/CA/U.S.A. 11/04/2008 05:52 PM EST

This is what journalism and social communications has come to: Caricature. It's untruth by any other name.

Published by: Steve
Boston 11/04/2008 03:58 PM EST

Rate: Regular

Proponents of Prop 8 don't like this ad? After their campaign of bigotry, intolerance, fear mongering and lies, they have no right to complain. This ad may be a bit extreme but it's only giving the 'Yes on 8' a small taste of their own medicine.

Published by: Roy L. Mack
Westlake Village, CA 11/04/2008 03:27 PM EST

Rate: Excellent

I just changed my vote from No to YES - I value tolerance for all but not at the cost of bigotry and intolerance for good people who have a different view of what's good for society. I will now vote YES on PROP 8, I can't reward such hatred by Gay-Lesbian groups.

Published by: DaveM
San Diego CA, USA 11/04/2008 02:54 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

This is outrageous. The only intolerance portrayed by this ad comes directly from its producers. We all have a right to support or oppose any political or moral point of view. Can't they make their point without portraying these upstanding young men, who would never dream of such vile acts, as thugs and criminals? If they knew them, they'd see the shame in this attack.

Please vote YES on 8. Let's answer this with our vote.

Published by: Greling Jackson
Pomona, California 11/04/2008 02:46 PM EST

Rate: Bad

That ad only speaks the truth about what is really happening. No bigotry or intolerance, but the 100% pure truth of just who is backing this and what it will do to millions of Californians. NO ON PROP. 8. NO TO DISCRIMINATION! SEPARATE CHURCH & HATE!

Published by: Jeffrey Root
Salinas/CA/ 11/04/2008 02:39 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

I am a No on 8 supporter but this video is rediculous. If the No on 8 campaign supports this add I will be forced to change my vote. Lying is not the way to win.

Published by: Jojo
Ca 11/04/2008 02:11 PM EST

Rate: Regular

You saying its not about discrimination and intolerance doesnt make it the truth. When you vote yes to take away my right to be your equal under the law it is exactly what you say it isnt. This is my life not yours. You have no right to it.

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