Leaders of gay Mormon group criticize church

Published: Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 12:15 a.m. MDT
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Leaders of a support group for gay and lesbian Mormons on Saturday criticized their church for its efforts to ban gay marriage in California.

Olin Thomas, executive director of Affirmation, says The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is using fear to sway voters. His remarks came during the group's annual conference in Los Angeles.

On Nov. 4, California voters will decide whether to ban same-sex marriage in the state's constitution. The LDS Church is part of a coalition of conservative groups working to pass Proposition 8, which would overturn the California court ruling that legalized gay marriage.

Thomas said church leaders were wrong in saying last week that failing to pass the proposition would force churches to sanction same-sex marriage and force schools to teach children to place gay and heterosexual marriages on equal footing.

Three senior church leaders on Wednesday addressed members in a satellite broadcast to church buildings in California, Utah, Hawaii and Idaho. They called on Latter-day Saints to step up efforts to pass the proposition.

Recent comments

J,

You still haven't read the decision. I can tell.

No, I cannot…

YY4U | Oct. 17, 2008 at 8:49 p.m.

Come on YY4U. You cannot stop anyone from speaking up through their…

J | Oct. 15, 2008 at 2:49 p.m.

The LDS Church is wrong on this issue. The California Supreme Court…

YY4U | Oct. 15, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.