 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Affirmation Issues Statement on the May 2008 Ruling of the California Supreme Court “We encourage LDS leaders to find a new focus by preaching and living a Gospel of love and respect toward all peoples and all families” May 30, 2008 Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons commends the California Supreme Court for their decision striking down the denial of marriage equality to same-sex couples. “One of the core elements of the right to establish an officially recognized family that is embodied in the California constitutional right to marry is a couple's right to have their family relationship accorded dignity and respect equal to that accorded other officially recognized families, and assigning a different designation for the family relationship of same-sex couples while reserving the historic designation of 'marriage' exclusively for opposite-sex couples poses at least a serious risk of denying the family relationship of same-sex couples such equal dignity and respect.“Like all Mormons, the members of Affirmation believe strongly in the worth and sanctity of families—all families. We believe that the presence of more committed marriages will strengthen our society rather than weaken it. Like Mormons throughout the world, we believe that our homes can be like a small piece of Heaven, and that every person should have the opportunity to realize their hopes and dreams by being able to marry the person they love. We affirm the worth and dignity of all individuals, straight or gay, as children of a loving Creator. Affirmation members look forward to the day that the LDS Church will be a welcoming place for gay Mormons and their families. It is ironic that a church which in the past has been so persecuted and excluded for practicing an alternative family model (polygamous families), can now be so invested in condemning and making illegal another alternative family model (same-sex couples and their children). But this ruling really isn't about Mormon families. It is not about temple marriage, or any form of religious marriage for that matter. It has nothing to do with doctrine. This is about civil marriage as an institution of the state—a legal institution based on core societal values, such as the worth and dignity of the family unit. Religions are not being asked to marry anyone they don't want to marry. We urge the leaders of the LDS Church to use their energies and their funds not to work to overturn the Court ruling affirming the worth of the family, not to meddle in politics, not to spread fear, or demonize our families, but rather to work with us to counsel and assist individuals and families who have been devastated by the Church’s teachings that have caused family members to reject their children who are gay. We encourage LDS leaders to find a new focus by preaching and living a Gospel of love and respect toward all peoples and all families. Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons W. Olin Thomas III Executive Director David W. Melson Assistant Executive Director James R. Morris Assistant Executive Director
|
www.affirmation.org