The fact that California’s 55 Electoral College votes went for President-elect Barack Obama was of no surprise on Tuesday. What has confused liberals in our state and across the nation is the passage of Proposition 8, amending our Constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. And those on the opposing end have taken to visibly demonstrating their anger, targeting the Mormon church.
Outside the Los Angeles temple Thursday, dozens of protesters screamed “Bigots” and “Shame on You” at half a dozen men in button-down shirts and ties who looked out at the demonstration from behind the temple’s closed gates.
Opponents organized a similar rally outside the Salt Lake City temple , as well as launching groups on Facebook and a website to challenge the church’s tax-exempt status. Least we not forget their call to boycott Utah’s tourism industry and Sundance Film Festival, despite the fact that the proposition was on the California ballot. Whether their efforts are successful or not, it’s interesting that gay marriage advocates have chosen to blast their discontent solely at the LDS church. Several organizations and churches endorsed Prop. 8, including the Roman Catholic Church (with $1 million coming from the Knights of Columbus), Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, and Focus on the Family.
True a large number of contributions came from Mormom individuals, as well as non-Californians, but is the outrage directed at Mormons due to past prejudice? Should Catholics be prepared for protests outside our parishes on Sunday? Perhaps, but have these activists forgotten to field a protest in Compton, with polls showing 7 out 10 African-Americans voted in favor of Prop. 8? Or are they waiting to take the streets of Santa Ana in storm because it would only be “fair” to call the more than half Latino population that also supported Prop. 8, “bigots?”
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