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Author Archives: ptmadmin
‘That doesn’t mean that President Oaks understands politics’ — LDS duo argues against Respect for Marriage Act
In The Salt Lake Tribune’s latest “Mormon Land” podcast, Mero and Reid explain their belief that the Utah-based church should stay out of politics and the so-called culture wars. Here are excerpts:
What was your initial reaction when you heard about the church’s support of the Respect for Marriage Act?
Mero • It certainly surprised me because it’s in total contradiction to church doctrine. You know, we oppose same-sex marriage for doctrinal reasons and you would think that any church would make any move that would support its doctrine.
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‘Mormon Land’: Our church is wrong on the Respect for Marriage Act, say two well-known Orthodox members
When The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced its support of the Respect for Marriage Act, which is designed to codify same-sex marriage while safeguarding religions from embracing such unions in their policies and practices, many members, especially LGBTQ allies, rejoiced.
Not all of the faithful, however, agreed with the historic decision.
Paul Mero, former president of the conservative Sutherland Institute think tank, for one, says the Utah-based faith’s backing of LGBTQ rights in recent years led to this unwise and unnecessary move. And Stuart Reid, a former Army chaplain, state senator, and public affairs representative for the church, says it’s misguided to tacitly endorse civil same-sex marriage when the practice is viewed doctrinally as an “abomination” to God.
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The LDS Church should get out of politics, especially the modern American culture war
The LDS Church opposes same-sex marriage but supports every gay right that leads logically to same-sex marriage. They conspire in Utah with gay activists to finally pass a statewide nondiscrimination bill but, in doing so, assure legal discrimination against the very same gay community by exempting the church from its provisions. They then invent “same-sex attraction” while condemning those who fall under its spell…
Everything the LDS Church has touched politically in this culture war is a tangled mess and has resulted in exactly the opposite of the desired outcome. Time and again, it has tried to serve the Lord without offending the devil. Please, for the sake of us faithful adherents, get out of politics, especially the modern American culture war. Preach sound doctrine, such as found in The Family: A Proclamation to the World, and let us, true believers, in both faith and citizenship, govern ourselves.
Posted in Editorial Commentaries
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Not Approaching Zion
Every other month, we receive a copy of LDS Living magazine, I suppose because we shop at the Deseret Book store. Each issue is filled with uplifting stories about LDS personalities or LDS who have overcome great hardships with inspiring stories. Notwithstanding those People magazine-type articles, LDS Living is a commercial for the LDS Church. But not just the LDS Church. LDS Living is a commercial for LDS products — you know, food storage, Holy Land tours, comfort foods, religious conferences, event venues, and, of course, products from Deseret Book. And, not oddly but uniquely, addiction treatment centers and fertility clinics advertise on its pages.
Posted in Personal Commentaries
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The LDS Church should surrender its tax-exempt status
Being free of taxation is not what makes a church, or a person, do the right thing.
In his recent opinion, “Government shouldn’t decide which churches ‘deserve’ a tax exemption,” my dear friend and long-time colleague Bill Duncan dutifully defends against critics of tax exemptions for religious institutions. But times have changed, so, new rules.
I could write a book explaining why our side, institutionally, should step away from old ways to protect what we’ve already lost, get out of culture wars that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints never should be a part of, and let the Lord, not governments, protect us.
Posted in Editorial Commentaries
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Removing Classrooms from the Battlefield: Pratt’s Dark Legacy and the Redemptive Promise of School Choice
Removing Classrooms from the Battlefield: Pratt’s Dark Legacy and the Redemptive Promise of School Choice[1]
Daniel E. Witte, Esq., and Paul Mero[2]
Utah’s new school voucher law has meant many things to many people. For the 43 percent of our Hispanic and African American public-school students who do not graduate with a diploma, the voucher law represented a sense of hope and opportunity. For anti-voucher advocates who have a romanticized view of public schools, the voucher law is un-American and a threat to our democratic values.
Posted in Freedom Series
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News Articles and Op-Eds
Harvard Kennedy School of Government, May 25, 2018, “Negotiating a Coalition of the Willing: Curt Bramble and the Utah Immigration Fight,” HKS Case 2127.0 (Winig/John F. Kennedy School of Government)
The Washington Post, Friday, March 11, 2011, “Immigration reform, the ‘Utah Way’” (Hockstader)
Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday, March 1, 2009, “Mero’s No Common Ground Initiative” (Walsh)
The Herald, Tuesday, August 2, 1983, “BYU newspaper will focus on conservative challenges” (Caras/Ross)
Posted in Bibliography By Type
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Personal Writings/Creations
“How the contenders stack up,” a comparison chart of institutions thought of the “fundamental unit of society, designed for “The Natural Family: A Manifesto” book, published by Sutherland Institute, 2006.
The Natural Family: A Manifesto, special edition, jointly published by The Howard Center and Sutherland Institute, 2005 (Carlson/Mero).
“Back seat drivers henpeck current belt debate,” most likely a draft submitted unsuccessfully as an op-ed, no date.
“Potheads make bad laws,” original draft of placed op-ed, attached to a lengthy email response thanking me for the op-ed, April 12, 2018, response by Michael Jones.
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Writings on behalf of Employers
“Saving Education & Ourselves: The Moral Case of Self-Reliance in Education,” Sutherland Institute, March 2003.
“Neighbors in Need: A New Approach to Compassionate Poverty Relief,” Sutherland Institute, May 2002.
“How Congress Supports and Funds Organized Homosexuality,” American Priorities, 1994.
“How Congress Supports and Funds Organized Homosexuality,” Congressman Robert K. Dornan, July 1995.
“First Freedoms Compact,” Sutherland Institute’s FairToAll.org campaign, launched October 8, 2013.
Posted in Bibliography By Type
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How to Acquire Greed in God’s Sacred Name: A Case Study
Inspired by Hugh Nibley’s short essay, How to Write an Anti-Mormon Book, for years I have meant to write a response to a former employer’s screed in favor of greed. This former employer shall remain anonymous, partly out of a bit of contextual respect and partly because anyone who defends greed in public likely would defend it in court. Suffice it to say he was a salesman extraordinaire for get-rich-quick schemes. And my interest in his remarks is because he identified as a faithful Latter-day Saint. read more