SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A new television ad sponsored by opponents of California’s Proposition 8 undeniably crosses the line of decency in its portrayal of religious supporters of the state’s marriage amendment, according to attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund. The ad portrays two male LDS missionaries forcibly invading the home of two young women.
“This ad demonstrates that the organizations opposed to Proposition 8 do not care one bit about tolerance. Instead, they openly engage in the worst forms of religious bigotry and intimidation,” said ADF Senior Counsel Glen Lavy, who argued before the California Supreme Court in defense of California’s Defense of Marriage Act in May.
“ADF has received numerous reports of vandalism and intimidation by Proposition 8 opponents in recent weeks. This ad is the most egregious and public example of the threatening approach sanctioned by groups opposed to the marriage amendment. All Californians should condemn and reject this irresponsible ad and the motives of the groups that ran it.”
The ad is sponsored by the Courage Campaign, described on its Web site as “an online organizing network in California” whose “partners include MoveOn.org, CREDO Mobile, Democracy for America, PowerPAC.org, United Healthcare Workers West (SEIU-UHW), CalPIRG, and the California Nurses Association.”
The ad portrays two male LDS missionaries knocking at the door of the home of two young women. Once the women answer, the two men forcibly invade the home, rummage through the women’s belongings--including an underwear drawer--in search of a marriage license. They then tear up the license in front of the women before leaving.
“The ad is obviously intended to malign religious supporters of the amendment,” Lavy said. “That is far from tolerance.”
Proposition 8 would amend the California Constitution to legally define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. For more information, visit www.protectmarriage.com.
ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.
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