SALT LAKE CITY - Mormon church leaders will ask California members to join the effort to amend that state's constitution to define marriage as being between a man and a woman.
A June 20 letter sent to Mormon congregation bishops and signed by church president Thomas S. Monson and his two top counselors calls upon Mormons to donate "means and time" to the ballot measure. A note on the letter says it should be read during church services June 29, but it was published on several Internet Web sites Saturday.
Scott Trotter, a spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said today that the letter is authentic. Trotter declined to comment further, saying the letter states the church's reasons for getting involved.
The church will work with a coalition of churches and other conservative groups that put the California Marriage Protection Act on the Nov. 4 ballot to assure its passage, the letter states.
In May, California's Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, saying gays could not be denied civil marriage licenses.
"The church's teachings and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and the formation of families is central to the Creator's plan for His children," the four paragraph letter states.
"We ask that you do all you can to support the proposed constitutional amendment by donating of your means and time to ensure that marriage in California
Mormon church enters fight over gay marriage
San Jose Mercury News, USA
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