Mormon leaders urge compassion for gays
Two women protesters are approached by Mormon Church security and asked to leave the Main Street Plaza July 12, 2009, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The protesters defied church security warnings and walked onto the plaza anyway to protest the detention and handcuffing of two gay men for holding hands and one kissing the other on the cheek there on July 9. The men were also sited by the Salt Lake City police. / Getty Images
SALT LAKE CITY Mormon leaders unveiled a new website Thursday encouraging church members to be more compassionate in discussions about homosexuality.
Church officials insist they haven't changed the Mormon teaching that marriage is only between a man and a woman and that same-sex relationships are sinful. However, the website includes an appeal to gay and lesbian Mormons to stay in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"Reconciling same-sex attraction with a religious life can present an especially trying dilemma," church leaders wrote on the website. "Anyone who lives in both worlds can attest to its difficulty. But with faith, love and perspective, it can be done."
Mormons faced intense criticism after church leaders helped fund and lead the fight for California's Proposition 8, a constitutional ban on gay marriage that voters adopted in 2008 after the state Supreme Court ruled that gay Californians could marry.
Mormon officials said they were stunned by the backlash from gay activists and from many Mormons who felt the church was wrong to take such a prominent role in favor of the ballot measure. Since then, church leaders in Salt Lake City and elsewhere have been trying to reach out to gays and lesbians to heal tensions.
"We must not judge anyone for the feelings they experience," church authorities wrote, saying homosexuality "should not be viewed as a disease or illness."
The website rarely uses the words "gay" or "lesbian," the terms preferred by the gay community. Instead, the site refers mostly to people "with same-sex attraction" and features testimony from gay Mormon men and women who are not in same-sex relationships.
Still, John Gustav-Wrathall, 49, said it was significant that the site used the term gay or lesbian at all. He was excommunicated from the LDS church in 1986 after revealing to his bishop that he was gay.
"This is huge," said Gustav-Wrathall, who has been with his partner for 20 years. "I don't see any hint of condemnation."
The website, titled "Love One Another: A Discussion on Same-Sex Attraction," states that it reflects the views of the highest authorities of the church.
The site states that gay and lesbian Mormons who are not in same-sex relationships can have `full fellowship in the church," including holding the priesthood and participating in temple rituals — a privilege reserved only for church members in good standing. And the church said it would no longer "necessarily advise" gays to "marry those of the opposite sex."
"Same-sex attraction itself is not a sin, but yielding to it is," the website states. "However, through repentance Jesus Christ will offer forgiveness."
Valerie Larabee, executive director of the Utah Pride Center in Salt Lake City, an advocacy and service group for gays and lesbians, called the campaign a step forward.
She said it could reduce the isolation Mormon gays and lesbians feel if church members don't "automatically reject somebody who wants to talk about this." Many gay Mormons say they have been rejected by their families and have left the church.
Still, Larabee said the effort falls far short since the church hasn't changed its opposition to gay and lesbian relationships.
"I'm still hopeful that the church will acknowledge that our marriages should be respected," she said.
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This is a step in the right direction toward acceptance; however, no person or group of people should expect a religion to change its core beliefs due to popular demand. Mormons believe in the sacredness of family, and they define this as a unit with a mother, father, and when possible, children. Changing the stance on this will not happen because it is a fundamental change in the core system of the church.
That does not mean that acceptance of all people cannot happen. We accept and love all that we can, and I know some are more open than others in this.
Another point brought up is the tithing the church receives. Mormons are tithed at 10%. It is a gift we give to God. It is used to do good all over the world, to build temples and churches, and to support other church programs. It is not given to any specific people as pay or used for anyone to live on. It all goes right back into the church, its members, and the world. Missing tithing from people is never a reason for any member or group to rope people into our religion.
These members, many of them at least, just genuinely want to help people, support people, and live the values set out for them. We just don't all know quite how to do that.
If you are going to criticize someone, please take the time to try and understand their views, whether you are gay, Mormon, or otherwise.
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Well good Mormons are required to tithe 10% of their income to the church.
Think that has anything to do with all this "compassion"??? LOL!
They probably think they can "cast out the demons" or cure the sickness that makes them gay, all while taking their money, of course.....