The truth is non-partisan

In the aftermath of the recent election, we may find ourselves oddly
on the defensive regarding our support for the Yes on Proposition 8
cause. Our young people have been especially subject to mean-spirited
comments by high school friends and teachers. We have nothing to be
ashamed of. We did nothing wrong. In fact, we did everything that a
civic-minded American can and should do. I have put together a few
facts that help me to appreciate our position better. For example:

1. Mormons make up less than 2 percent of the population of
California. There are approximately 800,000 LDS out of a total total
population of approximately 34 million.Mormon voters were less than 5
percent of the yes vote.

2. If one estimates that 250,000 LDS are registered voters (the rest
being children), then LDS voters made up 4.6 percent of the yes vote
and 2.4 percent of the total Proposition 8 vote.

3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated
no money to the Yes on 8 campaign. Individual members of the church
were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their
constitutional right to free speech, donated whatever they felt like
donating.

4. The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign.
Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32
million, making it the most expensive non-presidential election in the
country.

5. Advertising messages for the Yes on 8 campaign are based on case
law and real-life situations. The No on 8 supporters have insisted
that the Yes on 8 messaging is based on lies. Every Yes on 8 claim is
supported.

6. The majority of our friends and neighbors voted Yes on 8. Los
Angeles County voted in favor of Yes on 8. Ventura County voted in
favor of Yes on 8.

7. African-Americans overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls
show that 70 percent of black voters chose Yes on 8. This was
interesting because the majority of these voters voted for
President-elect Obama. No on 8 supporters had assumed that Obama
voters would vote No on 8.

8. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that
the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8 and cited religious beliefs
(assumed to be primarily Catholic).

9. The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious
organizations. Catholics, evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews,
Muslims -- all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10
million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California. Mormons
were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8
coalition members.

10. Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8. Our faith accords
that each person be allowed to choose for him or herself. Church
leaders have asked members to treat other members with "civility,
respect and love," despite their differing views.

11. The church did not violate the principle of separation of church
and state. This principle is derived from the First Amendment to the
United States' Constitution, which reads, "Congress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof?" The phrase "separation of church and state", which
does not appear in the Constitution itself, is generally traced to an
1802 letter by Thomas Jefferson, although it has since been quoted in
several opinions handed down by the United States Supreme Court in
recent years. The LDS Church is under no obligation to refrain from
participating in the political process to the extent permitted by law.
U.S. election law is very clear that churches may not endorse
candidates, but may support issues. The church has always been very
careful on this matter and occasionally (not often) chooses to support
causes that it feels to be of a moral nature.

12. Supporters of Proposition 8 did exactly what the Constitution
provides for all citizens: they exercised their First Amendment rights
to speak out on an issue that concerned them, make contributions to a
cause that they support and then vote in the regular electoral
process. For the most part, this seems to have been done in an open,
fair and civil way. Opponents of 8 have accused supporters of being
bigots, liars and worse. The fact is, we simply did what Americans do
-- we spoke up, we campaigned and we voted....

These are my personal opinions and thoughts; any errors are mine and
in no way reflect official church policy or doctrine.

Thanks,
Kevin Hamilton

MormonTimes.com is produced by the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, Utah.
It is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints.

// posted by John Fisher @ 6:46 AM