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579 Comments
- Verchiel77, on 03/04/2009, -22/+191Civil Unions, now.
Puts the lie to any notion that this is about being "anti-gay marriage;" it's about being anti-gay. - aussiejan, on 03/05/2009, -23/+134I am so disappointed with the Mormon church. I have long enjoyed the Mormon Tabernacle Choir but I have stopped buying their CDs because of their intolerant and repressive stance against gay marriage. Who are any of us to say how others should live their lives when they are not hurting themselves or anybody else?
Leave consenting adults the hell alone! - inactive, on 03/05/2009, -21/+108Seems to me that if they're using private church websites... it's time for them to start paying taxes (as ALL churches should). Hey, all the churches SHOULD want to pay taxes and help out this country they profess to love so much...and that way they get to do what they are already doing behind closed doors or "wanting" to do so badly... talk about all the political spin, lies, and hate they want out in plain view.
- GrandmaSheila, on 03/05/2009, -20/+97don't let them do to Illinois what they did to California, I hope everybody shares this.
- Alheithinn, on 03/05/2009, -21/+90It's interesting that the Mormons were able to align themselves with the mainstream Christian Evangelicals in this cause because those Evangelicals don't think Mormons are "real" Christians but a cult. They were more than willing to accept the help of this cult, however, to strip the gay-lesbian community of their civil rights.
- inactive, on 03/05/2009, -19/+88I second Gayjesus' comments. If you are going to use the church as tool to affect political outcomes, then you need to pay taxes. C'mon IRS...go get 'em!
- GeographyJoe, on 03/05/2009, -19/+74Grotesque misuse of the tax-exempt status. Call your representatives today. Make the Church PAY.
- beersk, on 03/05/2009, -9/+50It's about rights for gay people, not hijacking your holy (divorce-and-infidelity-ridden) institution of marriage. Don't like civil unions? Don't get one. In the meantime, I would like to be able to jointly file taxes with my girlfriend.
- siriusly, on 03/05/2009, -7/+48You're entitled to your beliefs, and you have a right (1st Amendment) to express them; however, you have NO right (again, 1st Amendment) to infringe the rights of others or to force your beliefs upon them.
- nhansen, on 03/05/2009, -9/+47So many Mormon experts here on digg, I had no idea.
The article simply attempts to demonstrate (somewhat poorly) how the church's internal websites "could" be used to "rally the troops." As a Mormon, and as an administrator of one of these sites, I can tell you a few things that might put the church's web sites in context:
1) Disclaimer: I did not support prop 8, and I am not in the minority in my ward or among my "church peers."
2) A ward may have say 500 registered 'members' in its boundaries. About half of those are considered totally inactive and the other half considered "semi-active" (meaning they come to church occasionally and attend other activities during the week). About half of those (say 150) are very active (come every week, and hold a temple recommend)
3) about half of that number (where are we now, 75?) are registered to use the church web portal and
4) a little more than half of those sign in somewhat regularly - so that puts us at about maybe 40
5) When a message is sent out, it has to be screened by the site administrator (in the case of my ward, that's me) and then is sent on to registered users. These sites are pretty low-tech and in my experience, get little use - so to suggest that there is some sort of mass planning to get all of those 500 members to go vote one way is absurd.
6) While it may be fun to think so, we're not automatons who do what ever we're told. We're real people, who often struggle to find a balance within our faith and with issues of the day. No one is forced or coerced to do anything, ever - this violates one of our core doctrines, that of agency. - 22pages, on 03/05/2009, -13/+48Boycott all Mormon-affiliated businesses.
Who has a list? - shounenyuki, on 03/05/2009, -19/+53**** the LDS, during high school i was beat up twice by Mormons for being openly gay, and now they threaten my rights for a third god damned time... I am to the point now I make sure I do not funnel any money to local or private companies that help fund Mormon activities
- JenniferInMO, on 03/05/2009, -14/+45Illinois has some good, thinking honorable people. Even the more rural parts of Illinois which is more conservative is not populated by haters and religious extremists. I have a good deal of respect for the voters of Illinois (despite some of their nasty state and local politicians).
- inactive, on 03/05/2009, -15/+45We in Illinois didn't take too kindly to Mormons in the 1800s. They aren't going to find it much better in the 2000s.
- HopeForTomorrow, on 03/05/2009, -4/+31Yes, people being of a different sexual orientation is a threat to god and faith, we must eliminate it!.
Now, let's repeal the first amendment so people may not speak anymore blasphemies.
</s> - graphictruth, on 03/05/2009, -19/+46Reading their words about the way they think about those "icky gay people" kinda gives you a real "need to scrub with bleach" sensation.
- Elderon, on 03/05/2009, -4/+30FaithclubDotNet you disgust me. It's people like you that confirm my decision to be an atheist. You think Jesus would go around bashing people that are gay? Hardly, if he existed and was anything like I've read he'd probably talk to them, become friends with them, he certainly would not try and harm them in any way.
Whats that one quote something like "let one who is without sin cast the first stone"? or something to that effect. Perhaps you and others like you should stop interfering with gays and examine yourselves. You seem less christian then I am and I consider myself an atheist. - emib, on 03/05/2009, -1/+25Good Response and explanation of how the site workds. I hope some people read this.
- Hetman, on 03/05/2009, -8/+32Yea there called Civil rights and it would be nice if you would stop fighting against them also.
- tsunamitomi, on 03/05/2009, -10/+33LOL at this article. OK OK to get the facts straight this is one Bishop from a small ward 50-60 members who on his own accord sent out an email to his congregation. He should not have used the system for this and will probably get in trouble for it. Also a bishop is no a very high title in the LDS church, Bishops are unpaid volunteers, and yes they sometimes are dumb and make mistakes.
This does not represent the church leaderships opinions, this is about as far down the chain as you can get. - MacEnvy, on 03/05/2009, -5/+27I think it's funny that Mormons had to run because they were persecuted, and now they use their resources and influence to persecute others. Sounds like they didn't learn a lesson from their own history.
- tmonsta1, on 03/05/2009, -6/+28this isn't about people being entitled to their opinion
this is about you ***** forcing your opinion on everyone else
so jam your book written by bronze age goat herders up your ass - Hetman, on 03/05/2009, -17/+39Obviously the LDS were lying when they said it was just about the word "marriage" They really should pick up a bible and read it. They do not seem to live by it, I really do not even know why they call themselfs christians.
- Verchiel77, on 03/05/2009, -8/+29RTFA, chum. No one's talking about their precious noun of nouns, "marriage."
- bdfariello, on 03/05/2009, -4/+25Sort of like a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" sort of thing... Yeah, religious extremists of any kind are horrible people for forcing second-class citizenship on another group of people just because their holy book tells them in one or two lines WAY at the beginning that being gay is wrong.
- Suricou, on 03/05/2009, -1/+22Roughly translated, it means 'If we admit the gay people deserve any legal recognition, they'll claim they are equal to us heteros. We can't allow that."
- nepidae, on 03/05/2009, -1/+20Utah spending money to change a law in Cali is not a good thing...
- paintgrl, on 03/05/2009, -12/+31Please send this article to your friends and family to spread the word of what the Christian right, I am lumping all the religious people together, and let them see the church trying to take control in this country. The founding fathers would spin in their graves at the thought that religion of any kind had this much power and sway in the laws of this country.
- JenniferInMO, on 03/05/2009, -11/+30I have too enjoyed their music as well. I have always thought their beliefs were a little strange, but never thought they were a malevolent religion. I was honored to be invited to a Christmas Eve performance of the choir. I couldn't make it, but did see them practicing the night before. It was wonderful. How sad their members have now been represented by such a hate-filled leadership. They are all responsible for what their leadership does unless they speak out against it.
- nepidae, on 03/05/2009, -2/+21"Normal" marriage has a 50% divorce rate. How about you work on fixing up your own sham of an institution before you pass judgment.
- MacEnvy, on 03/05/2009, -5/+23Yup, time to revoke the tax-exempt status. They aren't even pretending to stay out of politics nowadays.
- mithrasinvictus, on 03/05/2009, -1/+19What would you like to vote out next? Interracial marriage?
- HopeForTomorrow, on 03/05/2009, -6/+24Isn't marriage a civil arrangement, anyways?
- pintomp3, on 03/05/2009, -2/+20Hate has a way of uniting people.
- KnowMad1982, on 03/05/2009, -7/+24Fine, then if your magic invisible man in the sky tells you not to marry someone of the same sex then DONT!
WE wont tell you that you cant, well let you make that decision for yourself.
This is exactly why religion is dying, because you ignorant hypocrites preach of love and morality and then you go out of your way to impede the rights and freedoms of anyone who doesnt think exactly like YOU DO!
Do you seriously not see the hypocrisy in that?? Are you that blinded by your unquestioned faith??
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO FORCE YOUR
BELIEFS ON ANYONE ELSE! GET YOUR SELF-RIGHTEOUS HEADS OUT OF YOUR BIBLE-THUMPING ASSES!
The sooner we evolve beyond blind faith and dogmatism into an age of reason and intellect, the better off everyone will be. - stevo9er, on 03/05/2009, -2/+19Your children will grow up to hate your ignorant ass.
- mentallyinhell, on 03/05/2009, -11/+27"Furthermore, while the bill legalizes civil unions, it will be used in the courts to show discrimination and will ultimately lead to court mandated same-sex marriages."
How the hell does that make any sense? - KnowMad1982, on 03/05/2009, -2/+18You dont see that you are using a religion based on someone named Jesus, who preached everlasting love and respect for fellow man, in order to rationalize banishing certain members of society and restricting their rights???
Do you honestly believe that Jesus would turn his back on gay people? Or ANYONE for that matter?
You idiots get so caught up in your narrow-minded interpretations of the bible that you overlook the basis for your entire ***** religion: Love and respect for ALL!
Dont use your religion as a vehicle for HATE, you stupid prejudiced *****. - calbff, on 03/05/2009, -3/+19Unfortunately for your argument, Christianity is not a requirement for US citizenship. Your logic may work if applied to people of the Christian faith, but that's quite different from all US citizens. Fail.
As for "every sinner needs God", what do you cite for that? The Bible? A lot of people, including myself, think the Bible is meaningless. Therefore your beliefs, to me, are meaningless. I do however strongly support your right to have those beliefs, so maybe you should try supporting the right of others' beliefs and lifestyles. - darkphenox, on 03/05/2009, -0/+15[citation needed]
- thelastcivilian, on 03/05/2009, -3/+18unfortunately true. :|
- jon30041, on 03/05/2009, -2/+17Well... Yeah. I don't think you're more disappointed than I am.
I was raised in the church. This is *****. - jitterbits, on 03/05/2009, -0/+15You may have never heard the term "Good News" before you got that Good News Bible (though I'm honestly not even sure how that's possible since the term is so freaking common), but we've heard your story. We know how you feel. Don't assume that repeating your beliefs ad nauseum will make god real to us. You don't know for a fact. You just believe very strongly.
Would you like it if we followed you around telling you god is dead? - MacEnvy, on 03/05/2009, -4/+19Screw you and your "subtle attacks on the church", you dogmatic piece of unAmerican trash. I've had enough of this *****. It's YOU who are doing the attacking, it's YOU who are perverting scripture, and it's YOU who are denying the right of every America to pursue their own happiness.
If you evangelicals followed the (quite clear) message of Jesus Christ, maybe more people would respect you. As it is, you're pushing more and more people away as ignorance and bigotry falls to better lines of communication and education.
In 20 years you'll be a smaller minority than ever, and I will relish your irrelevance. - HopeForTomorrow, on 03/05/2009, -1/+16Except these unions are civil unions. They are arranged by the state for tax purposes. It is politically and socially incorrect for gay couple to not be able to recieve the benefits that other couples may recieve. It's not a matter of faith, it's a matter of religious institutions trying to deny equal rights to all people on the basis of religion.
- mordeci, on 03/05/2009, -0/+15I'll type this quickly, since you're about to be buried for being a hate-filled moron.
"Being gay is an affront to God."
That is according your personal religious beliefs. Other people (both christians and non-christians) disagree. For some reason (insecurity, arrogance, trying to hide that you're secretly gay), you want the government to discriminate against anyone who doesn't share your religious beliefs. This is like saying non-Christians should not be allowed to get married, because being non-christian is a 'not too subtle attack on the church'.
Image you were in a country where your religious beliefs were in the minority and the majority wanted to take away your rights. How would you want to be treated? Are you treating others the way you would want to be treated? If the answer is yes, you're a liar. If the answer is no, you're a hypocrite.
Marriage is a legal institution, not one that applies only to those that share your particular religious beliefs. It is possible to be christian and still support the rights of others. It's rare, but I have seen it. If you are afraid that your religion will crumble if the government extends rights to those that disagree with you, then you have absolutely no faith in your religion. - bobburn1, on 03/05/2009, -13/+28Tax the mormon church. It's obviously not just a religious entity, but a political one as well. They are funding their anti-gay campaign throughout the nation like any interest group would. Tax them.
- Maddoktor2, on 03/05/2009, -12/+27Enough is enough - it's time to end the LDS's free ride.
The LDS should have its tax exempt status revoked.
It can play politics all it wants after that. - bluerei, on 03/05/2009, -13/+27As a member of the LDS church, I can tell you a Bishop does not represent the church as a whole, the Stake President does not either. They watch over their respective areas and report to area athorities. There is a Bishop over the entire church and even he still cannot take action without the approval of the Quorum of the Twelve and the Church Presidency. These are just members taking action and do not represent the church as a whole or it's views on this subject. I can tell you even though I live in Utah that I or anyone else in my stake has received an e-mail or statement on this issue to take action.
Members do not represent the church. - HopeForTomorrow, on 03/05/2009, -3/+17Yes, free thought is not recommended.
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