Mormons and Catholics Waste Church Resources Fighting Marriage Equality

categories: Catholic LGBT, Gay Marriage, Gay Rights and Religion, Marriage Equality, No on 1, Proposition 8, Religion and LGBT Rights

Published October 14, 2009 @ 04:57AM PT

Sen. Harry Reid

Sen. Harry Reid is the highest-ranking member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints serving in Congress. His church was one of the biggest funders of the anti-gay ballot initiative in California, Prop 8, which rescinded marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. Sen. Reid is now saying that as a whole, the Mormon Church has bigger fish to fry than fighting marriage equality.

According to the Salt Lake City Tribune, Sen. Reid regretted the divisiveness caused by the Mormon Church's involvement in Prop 8, and wished the institutional church would have spent resources on something much more productive to society.

"He said that he thought it was a waste of church resources and good will," LGBT rights activist Derek Washington told the Tribune. "He said he didn't think it was appropriate."

Sounds about right. Spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to take away the civil rights of gays and lesbians doesn't sound like the type of investment anyone should support, let alone the Senate Majority Leader. Now let's see if we can find a Catholic politician to criticize that Church's behemoth money dump in Maine to do discriminate against gay and lesbian couples. Numbers were released yesterday in the state, and the Catholic Diocese of Portland donated $245,000 to fight marriage equality in the state.

Meanwhile, God was heard to say yesterday, "Do you know how many hungry people $245,000 could feed." Way to misplace your priorities, Catholic Church.

(Photo courtesy of Public Radio)

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Comments (27)

Well, at least someone has said that he regrets what you did.

Now all he has to do is fight to reverse the damage it caused. I doubt he will however, it would be another "large waste of money" for the church.

If anyone is going to burn in hell, it will be the people who try to use their religion as clubs. They need to stop wasting money and put it to a good cause. Maybe people would like them a bit more.

But probably not.

Posted by Paul Hockhousen on 10/14/2009 @ 06:45AM PT
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It's always been fascinating that the organizations that should be the forefront of social tolerance and education against bigotry are actually responsible for fueling a significant portion. Jesus affiliated with the destitute, prostitute and diseased. If God loves everyone, why can't we love one another?

Posted by Fred Frankenberg on 10/14/2009 @ 07:08AM PT
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Well said. I completely agree.

Posted by Christine Clarke on 10/19/2009 @ 10:09AM PT
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It amazes me how hypocritical and damaging the religious communities can be when it comes to arguing against human rights. It's as though they really do not read their "good books" or they pick and chose what is relevant and what isn't. Religion and politics DO NOT MIX; religious communities can certainly have their opinions, but once they begin to throw money into lobbying on the political stage, they are crossing the line. They DO NOT SPEAK for the nation. When they do, they become self righteous, dictatorial, and often prejudicial. My solution would be to tax the religious communities. They are 'for profis' like everyone else, and they are most definitely political. TAX the churches and religious organizations that interfere with government. They should concentrate on taking care of the social and spiritual needs of their own communities.

Posted by Barbara McNamara on 10/14/2009 @ 08:22AM PT
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put the money to a better cause

Posted by sebastian telfair on 10/14/2009 @ 08:49AM PT
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The Mormon church spends so much money on the building of their churches that they don't help the poor or anyone else. They need to work at being compassionate towards the gays instead of fighting our lifestyle. It is strange that a religion that would put men first and have them on a pedestal fights vehemently against gay rights.

Posted by Martin Martinez on 10/14/2009 @ 08:59AM PT
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Mr. martinez...

While I agree with you overall...Homosexuality isnt a lifestyle.

By referring to it as such then by implication, you are also saying that heterosexuality is a lifestyle and believe me sir...It isnt.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/14/2009 @ 02:18PM PT
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It is reasonable to say that these scandal-ridden churches are unworthy of any contributions. Their funding of theocratic legislation campaigns and the worst of candidates reveals their refusal to evolve past the Dark Ages. They have built empires based on shameful actions. Rev. Bookburn - Radio Volta

Posted by Rev Bookburn on 10/14/2009 @ 10:22AM PT
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let both of those churches, among others, go bankrupt !!!

please don't bail them out Obama.

Posted by jeffrey C oldman on 10/14/2009 @ 11:07AM PT
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is an organization made of conservatism with an incorrect view of LGBT rights. It's good that Harry Reid has said that the church has misplaced its resources. Spending money or donating, of any amount, for the purpose in trying to take away LGBT rights is unjustified. It's weird that Harry Reid is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, since he is more liberal than that church.

Posted by Edwin Bonilla on 10/14/2009 @ 01:25PM PT
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You know what they say mr. bonilla...

In every good bunch, youll find a few sour grapes...Is it possible that the reverse may also be true ?

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/15/2009 @ 01:36PM PT
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if the church wants to waste money this way we should take there tax exempt statues away i think that would change there tune and keep em from wasting money this way when they should be using the money to feed the poor help the sick and needy

Posted by brad james jr on 10/14/2009 @ 02:00PM PT
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Buddha taught love and respect for every being in the whole universe, of course Buddism doesn't get involved in marriage issues, that is between the individuals and government. They just teach that every thought, deed and action should be motivated by compassion, not self interest. Just for perspective.

Posted by Gary Silvia on 10/14/2009 @ 02:32PM PT
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A religious organization should be able to try and spread it's message through preaching and what it teaches to it's own followers. People should have the right to live by those teachings, or not...they should not try and have their teachings enforced via secular leaders.

There is no direction in the scriptures by Jesus or any of the original Apostles to try and spread influence via the power of government.

I am religious and socially conservative and I view a religions involvement in politics as an abomination. I would rather focus my efforts and money accomplishing some good.

Posted by William Brown on 10/14/2009 @ 09:18PM PT
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I believe that we need to tax the churches. If they wish to meddle in politics, then let them pay for the priviledge. We are not a theocracy and the churches should have no say in how the country is run and what laws there are on the books.

Sadly these "churches" are so blinded by their homophobia that they would rather close down everything than to let LGBTQ people have full rights under the law.

I would love to see what sort of financial shape Catholic Charities and others are in in Maine. I am sure it would be very interesting. As has been mentioned above, there is so much good they could be doing for the poor, the hungry, and the homeless with the money they are wasting on this hate campaign.

As for the Mormons I doubt much goes into charity except for possibly their own members. They are the biggest bunch of hypocrites on earth--I get nauseated every time I see their stupid commercials on TV using Christian music and vignettes of Jesus. These jerks aren't even Christian. I think of what they do to their own LGBTQ sons and daughters and have managed to do to LGBTQ people in California and elsewhere, that nausea quickly turns to anger.

It's nice to see Sen. Reid criticised the LSD, erm LDS Church...it would be nice if he and others could find it in them to leave and find faith communities that don't thrive on hate.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/14/2009 @ 11:33PM PT
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Eloquently said. My thoughts exactly.

Posted by Moriah Stevenson on 10/16/2009 @ 09:50AM PT
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This will be their downfall and a mark against them in history. One that is motviated by ignorance and fear, the blind leading the blind, which Jesus sternly warned some similar church leaders about in his time 2000 years ago. It is such a crime, especially when LGBT children are hurt so severly by them.

I don't leave the Catholic Church because I feel I would be abandoning people to the cruelity of Benedict XVI and the hierarchy. My bishop Walter Hurley practically begged me to leave, stating so in the Grand Rapids Press. Leave and let them continue to freely abuse innocent children, in good conscience I cannot do this.

Thank God for the Episcopalians and Lutherans this summer voting to include LGBT people in their ordained ministries, including those in long term relationships and preparing liturgical ceremony rites for same sex marriages.

That helps to know the love of God is still active in the USA.

With all best wishes,

Marty

Posted by Fr. Marty Kurylowicz on 10/15/2009 @ 12:23PM PT
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Wish we had more good folks like you in the roman catholic church sir.

Blessed be.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/15/2009 @ 03:22PM PT
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Fr. Marty, I am sincerely impressed that your are willing to work from the inside to advance social justice and fight for just causes in spite of the enormous opposition within the church. Yours is an uphill battle, and I am so grateful that you have refused to step down, but fight for what you truly believe, and I, is the right path. Good luck to you.

Posted by Barbara McNamara on 10/16/2009 @ 12:08PM PT
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But some Evangelicals are joining us and leading. See this

RE: FAITH IN AMERICA, http://tinyurl.com/yg844ng

It starts: Brent Childers used to call himself a “Jesse Helms Republican” who justified his homophobic beliefs through biblical interpretation. But last weekend, as he marched in the Equality March in Washington, D.C., he stood alongside his lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender friends in support of their full human rights.

As executive director of Faith in America, Childers now works full time to incorporate an inclusive message of LGBT human equality into the Christian dialogue. His organization’s mission is to educate the public about the emotional and physical harm cased by “religion-based bigotry.”

Childers’s change of heart isn’t unique, either.

Posted by Lee Dorsey on 10/15/2009 @ 02:32PM PT
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Fr. Marty, may the God and Goddess bless you. It is true that someone needs to look out for the innocents still in the Catholic Church.

Lee, this is great news. Some evangelicals are finally "getting" it--you don't need to hate to be a good Christian. You need to love God?dess and spread that love to Their children.

Posted by Ioan Lightoller on 10/15/2009 @ 07:00PM PT
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There are a great deal more like us than you may think and growing every day.

Posted by William Brown on 10/15/2009 @ 10:22PM PT
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There are a great deal more like us than you may think and growing every day.

Posted by William Brown on 10/15/2009 @ 10:22PM PT
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Unfortunatly Will with what you say it always seems that for every supportive fundamentalist we take a step foward then ten steps back. We get a few supporters, then we lose a general election and our marriage rights are stripped from us, or our rights to raise our children.

Posted by Chris Marshall on 10/16/2009 @ 12:36AM PT
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Exactly miss lightoller...

And lucky for us all...Hate will never overcome love.

Posted by Thomas McHugh on 10/17/2009 @ 10:44AM PT
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One thing that I have noticed is that the Roman Catholic Church has not been able to marshal the millions that they were expecting to have to fight for the people's veto of gay marriage in Maine. I suspect that Mormon money will come pouring in the state in the last two weeks, but so far we have outraised them by 2 to 1 (which we need to do just to stay even in the polls). This is encouraging because it seems that the rank-and-file are losing their enthusiasm for denying us our rights. As we all know there are numerous "fag taxes" on us, from having to spend so much money on legal documents to protect our families and to have to donate to campaigns just to get something approaching equal rights, so I am glad that there is emerging a "homophobia tax," where the people who hate us are going to have to put their money where their hate is. That, by the way, is one reason why I think we need to go to the polls in California in 2010 rather than 2012. We need to make them exhaust themselves and their resources.

Posted by Jay Jonson on 10/17/2009 @ 05:54AM PT
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Harry Reid is a "moron" or is it "Mormon". It still does not change the fact that he and his cronies in Washington are idiots.

Posted by Radical Republican on 11/04/2009 @ 12:57PM PT
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Michael is the Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, and previously was Communications Director for Pax Christi USA, a progressive Catholic human rights organization.