By Alan Hansen
Feb, 2000

Here is a letter I sent to the San Jose Mercury News reporter who is covering proposition 22:

I am a Mormon, I live in Tracy, California, and I am firmly against the church's support of Proposition 22. I saw your article in the Mercury news on the subject and I wanted to make some comments, and let you know where to reach me in case I can help you in researching a follow-up article on this volatile issue.

First, I think it is important to distinguish between the church's support of Proposition 22, and the support of the members. In my area, it was announced that only about 25% of the canvassing has been done, and I believe this shows a passive attitude toward the ballot measure on the part of the church members. It is difficult to know how much of the fund raising has been accomplished, but it is my guess that only a very small percentage of church members have contributed to the campaign, and the amounts collected have fallen far short of the church's goal. The church petitioned wealthiest members to contribute, so in the areas where contributions met the church assigned assessments, it is likely that a small number of donors contributed those amounts.

Second, the church's support of the campaign is intrusive in my life. When I attend church, I go there hoping to get close to God. I go to study the life of Jesus, and to learn to live like him. I go to repent of my sins, and rededicate myself to righteous living. I go to church to improve myself. When my church tells me how to vote, or where to spend my political dollars, it takes away from my opportunity to worship and consider God in my life. The church can teach that homosexuals should not marry, and can enforce that doctrine by not performing such marriages, and it can do so without venturing outside the boundaries of religious conduct. Then I can use the morals I have learned to decide what I should and should not vote on.

Third, the church's support of the campaign is harmful. The church believes that a unit of society called "The family" will be protected through passage of the Knight initiative. I challenge any church member or supporter of the initiative to tell me how it will help my family. I further challenge them to tell me how it will help any family. The biggest challenge for the Knight initiative supporters is this: I challenge them to tell me how the passage of the Knight initiative will help families where children are adopted by same sex parents. Clearly, children of same sex parents will not be able to have one parent at home (a desirable attribute for a strong family), if medical benefits are not extended to the parent at home.

Fourth, the church's support of the Knight initiative is not representative of my views. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) is made up of its members. When the media portrays "The church" as supporting Proposition 22, I am placed in a difficult position. I think a more accurate representation of the church's support is that the church's corporation has contributed money, and is soliciting individual contributions from members even though many members do not agree with the church's campaign. If this type of wording was used, then I could be spared the mantle of being a "Mormon bigot," as Bernie Ward of KGO radio called the members of the church.

Fifth, the church's cannon requires that the church not mingle its influence in political matters. The church's cannon includes a book called, "The Doctrine and Covenants." In the 134th section of the book, the church's stance on political matters is set out. I suggest everyone read it, and it is available on-line.

Finally, I believe the church's support of the Knight Initiative goes against the higher law that Jesus taught. We need to love each other. We need to forgive each other, and we need to do our best to do what is right in our own life. We need to learn, and grow each and every day. We need to be tolerant. We need to teach by example and with great patience. We need to not drive a wedge between the Mormon's and the homosexual community, rather, we need to love each other and find areas where we can work together for the betterment of mankind.

Best regards,
Alan Hansen