Recovery Board
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Recovery from Mormonism (RfM) discussion forum.
In Maryland two members of the Church are orchestrating support for their personal campaign to overturn the law.
Quote:
WASHINGTON -- Mormons are gathering signatures to bring a referendum on Maryland's marriage equality law to the ballot in November, as the state's pro-gay marriage coalition hires a new leader and a recent poll shows more support in Maryland for the law.
The Washington Blade reports that Mormon Church members are actively working to overturn the law legalizing same-sex marriage that was signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley in March, making Maryland the eighth state to legalize gay marriage. Maryland's law will go into effect in January 2013, if the state's voters don't repeal the law in November.
The Blade published an email sent to Mormons in D.C. and southern Maryland, asking for help gathering 200,000 signatures to bring a referendum on the law to Maryland voters in November -- here is an excerpt from the email:
As you have probably heard, the Maryland legislature passed a same sex marriage bill last February. A coalition of inter-denominational churches throughout Maryland has joined together to try to get a referendum on the November ballot that would allow the residents of Maryland to vote on this bill before it becomes law. Martha Schaerr, who is a member of the LDS Church, is organizing signature collection within Montgomery County and within the LDS Church.
We need to collect approximately 200,000 signatures by the end of May. We are looking for people to gather signatures within the LDS community. If you are willing to help with this important effort please contact Martha Schaerr as soon as possible at martha.schaerr@gmail.com or Teressa Wallace at wallacemail@juno.com.
It is poignant to note that the Church has had a change of official policy and no longer see's fit to fight against same sex legislation.
Quote:
Mormon Church officials told The Blade that it is not involved with the referendum effort
So, this is obviously a personal campaign driven by the specific individuals named in the article.
Martha Schaerr and Teressa Wallace.
Quote:
Dale Jones, an LDS spokesperson, said the church has no direct involvement in the effort to overturn the marriage law in Maryland.
“While the Church’s position in support of traditional marriage is well established, the effort in Maryland is not being organized through the Church’s headquarters in Salt Lake City,” Jones said. “Members, of course, will make their own decisions regarding their involvement in local issues.”
So, shouldn't the Church be sanctioning these members for utilising the data held by the Church (Member e mail addresses) and using the institution of the Church, its name and its membership, to garner support for what is obviously their own personal political crusade?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/1 ... 21299.html
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2012 03:45AM by Stumbling.
Quote:
WASHINGTON -- Mormons are gathering signatures to bring a referendum on Maryland's marriage equality law to the ballot in November, as the state's pro-gay marriage coalition hires a new leader and a recent poll shows more support in Maryland for the law.
The Washington Blade reports that Mormon Church members are actively working to overturn the law legalizing same-sex marriage that was signed by Gov. Martin O'Malley in March, making Maryland the eighth state to legalize gay marriage. Maryland's law will go into effect in January 2013, if the state's voters don't repeal the law in November.
The Blade published an email sent to Mormons in D.C. and southern Maryland, asking for help gathering 200,000 signatures to bring a referendum on the law to Maryland voters in November -- here is an excerpt from the email:
As you have probably heard, the Maryland legislature passed a same sex marriage bill last February. A coalition of inter-denominational churches throughout Maryland has joined together to try to get a referendum on the November ballot that would allow the residents of Maryland to vote on this bill before it becomes law. Martha Schaerr, who is a member of the LDS Church, is organizing signature collection within Montgomery County and within the LDS Church.
We need to collect approximately 200,000 signatures by the end of May. We are looking for people to gather signatures within the LDS community. If you are willing to help with this important effort please contact Martha Schaerr as soon as possible at martha.schaerr@gmail.com or Teressa Wallace at wallacemail@juno.com.
It is poignant to note that the Church has had a change of official policy and no longer see's fit to fight against same sex legislation.
Quote:
Mormon Church officials told The Blade that it is not involved with the referendum effort
So, this is obviously a personal campaign driven by the specific individuals named in the article.
Martha Schaerr and Teressa Wallace.
Quote:
Dale Jones, an LDS spokesperson, said the church has no direct involvement in the effort to overturn the marriage law in Maryland.
“While the Church’s position in support of traditional marriage is well established, the effort in Maryland is not being organized through the Church’s headquarters in Salt Lake City,” Jones said. “Members, of course, will make their own decisions regarding their involvement in local issues.”
So, shouldn't the Church be sanctioning these members for utilising the data held by the Church (Member e mail addresses) and using the institution of the Church, its name and its membership, to garner support for what is obviously their own personal political crusade?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/1 ... 21299.html
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/13/2012 03:45AM by Stumbling.
I asked the same question when this story first can up on the board. The church is having someone else do its dirty work. Just covering their butts.
and at first they were doing these activities AS the church and the church members, but within a month or so, they continued doing the activities (using ward rosters, quorum and auxiliary organization lists and presidencies, etc.) but then officially as just a group of friends who happened to belong to the same wards. They were allowed to use ward and stake rosters and church computers, etc. and wholesale contacted every member, active or inactive, encouraging them to vote to ban gay marriage. Initially they also used church buildings and grounds for organizing, but at least in several locations they met "across the street" from the church, or on the sidewalk in front of the church, etc. so "the church" wasn't actually involved. All total nonsense.
I was still a member at the time and when I used my ward/stake directory to send letters and e-mail to people I actually knew here in Nebraska to ask them to speak out against the church's political involvement and to speak out in favor of the civil right of gay marriage, the church deleted my access to the church's online ward rosters, etc.
I was still a member at the time and when I used my ward/stake directory to send letters and e-mail to people I actually knew here in Nebraska to ask them to speak out against the church's political involvement and to speak out in favor of the civil right of gay marriage, the church deleted my access to the church's online ward rosters, etc.