On Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:29:03 -0700, Chambers wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> One of the largest financial contributors (if not the single largest
>> contributor) to the pro-Proposition 8 vote was the LDS Church and its
>> membership.
> 
> Its membership, not the Church itself.  As a rule the Church itself
> stays out of politics, other than to say "Follow your conscience."

Um, maybe that's what they want people to believe, but the Church itself 
is credited for donating just over $55,000.  That's in the Church's name.

That doesn't include Church-owned businesses or individuals with a lot of 
pull.

> In fact, just about every election the leaders are asked to read a
> statement to the congregations reminding them that
> 
> 1) The Church does not tell you how to vote. 2) Church facilities may
> not be used for political purposes 3) The Church does not endorse any
> specific individual OR piece of legislation
> 4) You should vote.

Yes, they *say* that, and that's the official stance that keeps them from 
running afoul of the laws that govern their ability to participate in 
politics.  However if you talk to people who are members of the church, 
they'll generally tell you that while the church takes no official 
position, it's pretty clear which position is desirable.

My wife has a gay brother (who was married in California to his partner 
before Prop 8 passed) who used to be LDS.  My wife used to be LDS, and 
her father is a bishop.  I work in an office in Utah county, where one of 
the largest conservative groups of LDS members live.

Fact of the matter is that for out-of-state contributions in support of 
Prop 8, Utah ranked 1st with more than 50% of out-of-state 
contributions.  It's no coincidence that the LDS Church's home state made 
such a large contribution - and I think it's highly unlikely that it 
wasn't because of the Church pushing a socially conservative agenda.  
Remember that this is a church that has repressed women since its 
inception and minorities until relatively recently.

It's also highly ironic that the Church's historic "marriage" is 
polygamistic (still practiced by some sects, as much as the Church tries 
to distance itself from its history and sects like the FLDS) and they 
"fought" for "traditional marriage".  Personally, I find that highly 
amusing.

Jim

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