The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints (the Mormons) on Friday issued a response to a
federal judge's December 20 ruling which declared Utah's gay marriage
ban invalid.
“Just as those who promote same-sex
marriage are entitled to civility, the same is true for those who
oppose it,” a
statement from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles to church leaders reads in part. “The Church insists on
its leaders' and members' constitutionally protected right to express
and advocate religious convictions on marriage, family, and morality
free from retaliation or retribution. The Church is also entitled to
maintain its standards of moral conduct and good standing for
members.”
Mormon leaders reiterated their
position that gay nuptials could not be celebrated in the Mormon
Church.
“Consistent with our fundamental
beliefs, Church officers will not employ their ecclesiastical
authority to perform marriages between two people of the same sex,
and the Church does not permit its meetinghouses or other properties
to be used for ceremonies, receptions, or other activities associated
with same-sex marriages.”
In 2008, the Mormon Church faced an
angry backlash for its role in the passage of Proposition 8,
California's now-ended constitutional amendment which put an end to
the marriages of gay and lesbian couples taking place in the state.
The guidance came on the same day that
hundreds of people rallied in Salt Lake City to ask Governor Gary
Herbert to drop the state's appeal in the marriage case.
(Related: At
Utah gay marriage rally, hundreds ask Gov. Gary Herbert to drop
appeal.)