What is Truth?: The LDS Church and Sexual Abuse

Posted on August 9, 2022 by ptmadmin

Note: This commentary is a part of my “Saints Who Swear” series wherein I challenge attacks from apostates and haters of the LDS Church. I have chosen to use very salty language. I swear, a lot. If swear words offend you in the slightest, please do not read on.

After reading reports about the Associated Press’s “expose” more than implying LDS Church culpability in certain cases of actual sexual abuse of children by “members” of the Church — and the joyous pleadings on social media from every corner of the LDS Haters Club — I have some thoughts, to put it politely, the last polite framing included in this commentary. read more

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I, swear

Posted on August 2, 2022 by ptmadmin

Over a business lunch just off Capitol Hill in Austin, Texas, a new colleague seemed shocked to know I was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “You’re a Mormon?” he asked with not a small amount of incredulity. My mind raced to discern why he was surprised. And then it hit me, “Ah. I get it. I swear. Right?” He nodded affirmatively.

My new colleague was not being overly sensitive. My swearing is reflective of unfiltered quality over quantity. I’m good at it. A damn or a hell would not have set off his perception alarms about my faith. He knew the strong expletives I used were intentional. Swearing is behavioral and I own it. read more

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The LDS Church should surrender its tax-exempt status

Posted on May 9, 2022 by ptmadmin

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. read more

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Removing Classrooms from the Battlefield: Pratt’s Dark Legacy and the Redemptive Promise of School Choice

Posted on January 3, 2022 by ptmadmin

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. read more

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News Articles and Op-Eds

Posted on December 9, 2021 by ptmadmin

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) read more

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Personal Writings/Creations

Posted on December 9, 2021 by ptmadmin

“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. read more

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Writings on behalf of Employers

Posted on December 9, 2021 by ptmadmin

“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. read more

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Books Authored

Posted on December 9, 2021 by ptmadmin

“Unworthy: An Autobiography of the Imposter,” Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, October 2018.

“The Natural Family: A Manifesto, Spence Publishing Company, 2007.

“Exceptional Utah: Leading America in Faith, Family, and Freedom,” Sutherland Institute, 2013.

“Preserving Sacred Ground: A Responsible Citizen’s Approach to Same-Sex Politics, edited by Stanley D. Rasmussen, Sutherland Institute, 2009.

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Mentions in Books

Posted on December 9, 2021 by ptmadmin

“Lesbians, Gay Men, and the Law,” edited by William B. Rubenstein, The New Press, NY, 1993.

“There Goes the Neighborhood: How Communities Overcome Prejudice and Meet the Challenge of American Immigration,” by Ali Noorani, Prometheus Books, 2007.

“Kiss and Tell: Surveying Sex in the Twentieth Century,” by Julia A. Ericksen with Sally A. Steffen, Harvard University Press, 1999.

“Quiverfull: Inside the Christian Patriarchy Movement,” by Kathryn Joyce, Beacon Press, 2009.

“The New Know-Nothings: The Political Foes of the Scientific Study of Human Nature,” by Morton Hunt, Transaction Publishers, 1999. read more

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Single Folders/Single Subjects (located in storage)

Posted on December 9, 2021 by ptmadmin

Yellow folder: Western Scholar materials (BYU student newspaper created by Steve Reiher, Flora Parker, and Paul Mero).

Green folder: PTM schoolwork from BYU.

Red folder: Homeschool materials and communications with the school district and Commonwealth of Virginia, circa 1988.

Plain folder: Mero church talks/remarks.

Blue/Green folder: Culture Watch Leadership Bulletin (a project of Projects for America, Mero first 501c3).

Lime Green folder: Photos.

White folder: PTM mental/emotional/personality assessments. read more

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