California Prop 8-Mormons lead the way in financing Yes

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Mon Oct-13-08 02:12 PM
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California Prop 8-Mormons lead the way in financing Yes

By Jennifer Garza - jgarza@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Monday, October 13, 2008

Pam and Rick Patterson have always followed teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and tried to live within their means.

He drives a 10-year-old Honda Civic to his job at Intel. She is a stay-at home mom who makes most of the family meals and bakes her own bread. The couple, who have five sons between the ages of 3 and 12, live in a comfortable but modest three-bedroom home in Folsom.

It's a traditional lifestyle they believe is now at risk. That's why the Pattersons recently made a huge financial sacrifice – they withdrew $50,000 from their savings and donated it to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign, the ballot measure that seeks to ban same-sex marriage.

"It was a decision we made very prayerfully and carefully," said Pam Patterson, 48. "Was it an easy decision? No. But it was a clear decision, one that had so much potential to benefit our children and their children."

Mormons such as the Pattersons have emerged as the leading financial contributors to the controversial Nov. 4 ballot measure. Church members have donated about 40 percent of the $22.8 million raised to pass the initiative since July, according to Frank Schubert, campaign manager for ProtectMarriage.com, the primary backer of the "yes" campaign.

Other religious groups have contributed, including a Catholic fraternal service organization – the Knights of Columbus – which donated more than $1 million. But no group has given more than the Mormons.

In a June letter to members, top church leaders urged them to "do what you can do" to support Prop. 8. Members have answered the call.

Mormons have sponsored meetings, knocked on doors, installed lawn signs, staffed phone banks and given generously.

Their financial dominance is getting their opponents' attention and raising concerns about the role of churches in state policymaking.

"I think anyone would be troubled by any one religion exerting that kind of financial influence in a decision about what our constitution is going to say," said Kate Kendell, executive director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights and a member of the executive committee of No on Prop 8.

"The amount of money the Mormon church is giving is alarming and sobering," she said. "This is a wake-up call."

Kendell said there are a number of people of faith who oppose the ban and who are working to defeat Prop. 8. "There is not one monolithic view on this, but surely this is a case where we're being massively outspent," Kendell said.

Opponents have raised about $17 million since July, according to Kendell.

She believes reports about the financial role Mormons are playing will motivate opponents of the measure. "Too many people are sitting on the sidelines," she said.

more at link
http://www.sacbee.com/111/v-print/story/1308945.html