Posted on 11/11/2009 6:01:17 AM PST by Colofornian
Salt Lake City has become the first Utah city to offer housing and employment protections for gays and lesbians — an action supported by the Mormon Church.
The City Council, in a unanimous vote Tuesday, passed a pair of nondiscrimination ordinances that would bar landlords and employers from discriminating based on sexuality — a protection not currently afforded under state or federal laws.
In a rare public appearance before local lawmakers, a representative from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints read a supporting statement at a public hearing before the Salt Lake City Council regarding the ordinances proposed by Mayor Ralph Becker.
"The church supports this ordinance because it is fair and reasonable and does not do violence to the institution of marriage," said Michael Otterson, managing director of the LDS Church's public affairs office.
Otterson added that the statement of support is consistent with the church's prior position on such matters, as well as its stance on marriage.
SNIP
In addition to agreeing with Becker's approach to the ordinances, the church also recognizes the proposal attempts to balance vital issues of religious freedom, Otterson said.
"In drafting this ordinance, the city has granted common-sense rights that should be available to everyone, while safeguarding the crucial rights of religious organizations — for example, in their hiring of people whose lives are in harmony with their tenets, or when providing housing for their university students and others that preserve religious requirements," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at deseretnews.com ...
As the mother of a homosexual son, I will tell you there is no darker hell than watching a young man desend from handsome, educated, talented, loved by all his family and friends into a mean, deceitful, lying, freak....bleach blond mohawk, tattoos, filthy mouth, hiv positive....it just gets unglier and uglier.
We all love him as we always have, but he is beyond our reach.
All of these pro-homosexual laws and compromises only enable, and encourage this behavior and breaks my heart. What on earth is wrong with a society that encourages young people to destroy themselves with this absolutely self destructive, deseases ridden, pukey stuff?
A homosexual is not defined by who they are, but by what they do, and it’s ugly.
Definitely. Otherwise, some of those city council members would have been way out on a limb minus protection they were seeking from church sanction.
There's many grassroots Mormons who are upset -- or who'll be upon learning -- about this. Like this one woman the Salt Lake Trib quoted this morning:
...Jessica Rodrigues argued homosexuality is akin to pornography and said residents should have the right not to associate with gay people. "It is a moral wrong to pass this ordinance," she said, "It is awful that you get the support of the LDS Church on this."
Source: Salt Lake Trib, "Salt Lake City adopts pro-gay statutes -- with LDS Church support," Nov. 11, 2009 http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_13758070
It’s a good thing that most intelligent conservatives disagree with you. If I do not want to rent to someone who makes bad lifestyle choices that is my right and NO ONE will make me do otherwise. This has nothing to do with race or ethnicity, which is something a person cannot help. Being gay is a choice and is no better than being an alcholic or drug addict, and I will not rent to them.
So if you own a business or property then I guess you have no right to decide who is associated with your business or property based upon their open expression of homosexual sexual views and associated behavior? This type of legislation is anti-freedom and will be used to create lawsuits whereas any business owners will feel as if they will have to give preferential treatment to those who openly profess their homosexual behavior in the workplace or be brought to court. It is sad that so many in our country do not see the issues as they really are.
There is no reason to protect expressions in public of homosexual behavior.
It is disgusting that the Mormon Church gave into gay thugs. Gays must be taking a cue from SEIU on how to harrass people or else they are members.
Sickening thought isn’t it?
Yes. And unfortunately, none of this ever is limited to homosexual behavior. These ordinances are usually based upon vague "sexual orientation" language. So, imagine being a business owner or workplace manager. Now sit down & write a long list of various "sexual orientations" -- and all of these so-called "what-they-do-in-the-privacy-of-their-own-homes" can be imposed into very public business. (For example, an exhibitionist could be deemed a "sexual orientation"...as public clothing codes start going by the wayside, good luck trying to pre-empt that "sexual orientation" in your place of work. Every "sexual orientation" under the sun becomes a protected class status)
The Mormon Church issued this message about 10 years ago and to my knowledge is still in effect:
“People inquire about our position on those who consider themselves so-called gays and lesbians...and who have certain inclinations which are powerful and which may be difficult to control. Most people have inclinations of one kind or another at various times. If they do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Church, then they are subject to the discipline of the Church, just as others are”...”We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation. To permit such would be to make light of the very serious and sacred foundation of God-sanctioned marriage and its very purpose, the rearing of families”
My understanding is:
Members of the church are encouraged to treat each other with love and respect, Being a homosexual is not a sin, engaging in homosexual activity is a sin because you are breaking the law of chastity, This law applies to ALL Single members of the church and not just homosexuals.Single members must remain celebate outside of marriage.
Homosexual activity is sin that probably would keep a member from having a calling and taking sacrament on Sunday but unless the member is unrepentent would not lead to excommunication.
How?
Can any of the Mormon's on FR offer an explanation that justifies this?
Sometimes the header leading to the article is different than that actual title of the article.
Happens on FOXNEWS.com all the time.
>>”That’s because I changed it for you, just like I did yesterday.”<<
Good work, Mod! Thank you for keeping a sharp eye on his/her posts! Colofornian seems to have one purpose in life and that is to attack the LDS at every opportunity.
One has to question the reason for this. The Mormon-haters here have quickly forgotten the good that the Mormon church did (with the help of the Catholics) in defeating Prop. 8.
I’m so sorry to hear about that situation you’re in.
I’ll be praying for you.
OK, this looks presentable on paper (making a proper distinction between "orientation" and "behavior")...but let's extend the application here. Again, many of these city ordinances don't even try to define "sexual orientation."
So, imagine somebody applying at a child care agency or school or Lds seminary or Boy Scout group, saying that they have a "sexual orientation" toward children but they've never acted on it. No criminal record. No crimes have occurred. They say they're "clean" behaviorally.
So, you're just suppose to conclude as either a church administrator or somebody considering hiring such a person that their "sexual orientation" is irrelevant to everything because, after all, they haven't (to cite your Mormon message citation) "act[ed] upon these inclinations"??? Really???
Would YOU let such a person become a Cub Scout or Boy Scout leader?
What we fail to understand is that no matter how compassionate and accepting we want to be to the homosexual community, their public policy goals always seek to define morality for all. They impose their will upon others -- effectively telling them that people can no longer make any distinctions on sexual morality other than what is legal or illegal...and that changes according to how hard a given "sexual minority" lobbies lawmakers and accomplishes end runs thru the courts.
If you want your morality to be defined by the slogan "whatever is legal is moral," go for it. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord and exercise His morality.
I agree that this is about more than gay rights but is more about sexuality rights in general. I believe that eventually the agenda will move more towards attacking our right to legislate the age of consent. We already see left-wing activist groups who have no respect for age of consent legislation already. Homosexual activist groups are targeting the schools, Planned Parenthood has been caught multiple times ignoring age of consent legislation as well.
One argument that the left loves to use in regards to gay marriage is “how is hurting you if gays marry?” Of course there are many types of sexual expression that do not directly hurt you but are still morally wrong and dangerous to society. If someone exposes themselves to you in public they are not causing you any direct physical harm. It is only your morality that makes it offensive to you. The left-wing does not accept the morality of a majority as being just cause for legislation though so their agenda will lead to the things you claim if left unchallenged.
This news story is sad because it obvious that the Mormon church does not understand the issue.
Nope. I’m in disagreement.
For rentals imo it’s up to the landlord to make that decision under his property rights.
For employment I follow the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. I think it works quite well. My problem is that gays and lesbians want to be all out and in everyone’s face about it.
Only place I don’t have a problem is if the gay/lesbian is looking to purchase their own house. I think that how much money they have and credit worthiness should be the deciding factor on housing purchases.
Offering protections is one step closer to allowing gay/lesbian marriage. It also opens the door for frivolous “I was fired because I was gay” or “I was kicked out because I was gay” lawsuits when the person actually was a bad employee and didn’t pay their rent.
Thank you for your kind thoughts. My trust and confidence is in All Sovereign, Providencial God, Ruler over all.
We have forgotten that rules, laws, shame, consequences are there for our protection!
Divorce is a good example. When marriage was held in honor, and divorce was a shameful thing, abortion was not common and children were safe.
Unwed mothers were an embarrasment and shamed. That was a major restraint on promiscuity.
These helped keep babies, children and women safe and respected.
Perfect world, of course not? But look where lawlessness is taking us. The law is there to restrain people who will not restrain themselves, and that is for their good.
Interesting headline:
Mormon church supports Salt Lake City’s protections for gay rights
At its root and foundation the mormon church is not conservative.
Proof? See my tagline for the proof.
P.S. I know you agree, I’m just writing it “for the record”.
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