John Taylor
Director of Interfaith Relations
Office of Public Affairs
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints
15 E South Temple
Salt Lake City, Utah 8415
January 29, 2015
Dear Mr. Taylor,
On behalf of the members of Interfaith Alliance, I write to express our appreciation of the Church of Latter-Days-Saints’ change in policy regarding certain civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. We are glad you have joined the cause to which we committed many years ago, affirming that civil equality for LGBT individuals and religious freedom for all Americans exist in harmony with each other. We look forward to working with the LDS Church to advance both ideals.
Of course, there are inevitable differences about how Interfaith Alliance and the Church set the contours of those two ideals. I invite you into conversation on the subject any time; I hope we can contribute to your understanding of the impact of religious teachings on people inside and outside any faith community, and I know I have much to learn from the principled values of the Mormons and how you came to this momentous decision.
The history of many faith communities in the United States – yours and mine included – is replete with examples of the damage of religiously motivated discrimination. The participation of Mormons, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Catholics, atheists or any other subscriber to a belief system in American public life should not be dependent on the doctrines of those around them. Likewise, the civil rights of the LGBT community should be subject only to American law, not to religious belief. Surely, we can protect the rights of houses of worship, clergy and religious institutions without giving a legal imprimatur to religious doctrine or discrimination.
As a long-time activist for civil rights and religious freedom, I know that lasting change is incremental. The announcement you made this week represents another step in the remarkable process of equal protection under the law that is both hallmark and aspiration in the United States. None of us can predict when we will be satisfied that religious freedom and civil rights have reached the proper expression and perfect balance, but we all know it is not yet. I welcome you into fellowship with the members of more than seventy-five faith communities who make up Interfaith Alliance as we work to protect faith and freedom.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Jack Moline,
Executive Director
Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.