Preclude the ugliness

In the aftermath of the LDS Church's support of Proposition 8, it may be tempting to view the angry and disappointed responses as confirming evidence of the principle-based nature of that support, but in an era when much-needed sensitivity is derided as so much political correctness, I can't help but wonder if a strong public stand in favor of fair housing, employment, etc., on the part of the church during the buildup to the proposition vote would have been more firmly rooted in principle and precluded some of the resulting ugliness as well as the perception of persecution on both sides.

Joseph Price

San Jose, Calif.