By Kathleen Gilbert
SACRAMENTO, California, November 4, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Proposition 8 supporters have expressed horror and outrage at the smearing of religious values in the latest anti-Proposition 8 advertisement, which ominously warns that the Mormon Church is trying to “take over” California’s government.
The television ad released on Election Day by the Courage Campaign Issues Committee depicts two young Mormon men invading a lesbian couple’s home to steal their wedding rings and rip up their marriage license.
“Fact: members of the Mormon Church have given over $20 million to pass proposition 8,” says a female voice.
“You can’t do this,” the lesbians protest as the two young Mormon men rifle through their personal belongings. “Who’s going to stop us?” the Mormon “missionaries” respond with an evil laugh.
After the skit unfolds, the narrator concludes, “Say no to a church taking over your government. Vote no on proposition 8.”
(To view the ad on Youtube, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q28UwAyzUkE)
Proposition 8 is a measure on the California ballot designed to uphold true marriage. The rivaling campaigns have fought a bitter struggle in past months over the measure, which would reaffirm the majority vote of the Californian people in 2000 that was overturned by activist judges earlier this year.
Several religious and faith groups, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS), or Mormon Church, have banded together to support Proposition 8 in a broad interfaith coalition unlike any other in California’s history.
“This ad reaches new lows of religious bigotry and intolerance,” said Yes on 8 Chairman Ron Prentice. “We hope that the leadership of the No on 8 campaign – including Senator Feinstein, Mayor Newsom and Superintendent O’Connell – as well as all Californians regardless of their position on Proposition 8, will not only condemn the ad but join us in asking television stations to refuse to air it.
“After all, the No on 8 campaign has been running their own television commercials saying we must all oppose discrimination and intolerance whenever we see it. The bigotry this ad shows to members of the Latter Day Saints church demands action now.”
Yes on 8 Campaign Manager Frank Schubert also asked Steve Smith, Campaign Manager for the No on Proposition 8 Campaign, to pull the offensive ad. “This is a blatant display of religious bigotry that has no place in political discourse,” wrote Schubert in an email to Smith, according to kutv.com.
Representing the Latter Day Saints Church, the ad’s primary targets, Scott Trotter released this statement:
“The Church has joined a broad-based coalition in defense of traditional marriage. While we feel this is important to all of society, we have always emphasized that respect be given to those who feel differently on this issue.
“It is unfortunate that some who oppose this proposition have not given the Church this same courtesy.”
Yesterday Bishop Stephen Blaire, the President of the California Catholic Conference, also denounced the “No on 8” ad’s trampling of constitutional religious rights.
“The YES on 8 campaign is not about discrimination and intolerance; it is about restoring the traditional definition of marriage for the good of society and children,” said Bishop Blaire. “All individuals and groups, whether religious or not, have both a right and a responsibility to participate in a civil debate about this important issue. From the beginning of this campaign the Catholic Conference has stressed the importance of mutual respect and denounces this type of religious bigotry.”
To view the ad on Youtube, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q28UwAyzUkE
To contact the No on 8 campaign:
357 South Fairfax Ave., #508
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Los Angeles: (323) 957-4741
San Diego: (619) 379-8585
San Francisco: (415) 252-8132
The Yes on 8 campaign website: https://www.protectmarriage.com