Quote:
Originally Posted by CardiacCoug
That's probably true, but I think that discipline is applied very inconsistently in the Church. A lot of things depend on local leadership. To me this is essentially a political issue and so I'm disappointed the Church would discipline members for a disagreement on a political issue rather than a core doctrine of the Church.
When I lived in St. Louis and there was legislation regarding expansion of riverboat gambling, the Church asked us to donate money and campaign against the legislation. One of the more prominent, active members stood up in Priesthood meeting and said he didn't like being told how to vote and he wasn't going to participate. I don't think it ever occurred to anybody that he should be disciplined for this. Maybe if we had different local leadership things would have been different, though.
I may be wrong, but I think the majority of the Quorum of the Twelve and First Presidency support an individual member's right to disagree on Proposition 8 or other similar issues. However, there are probably a lot of Bishops and Stake Presidents who feel differently.
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Some would argue that the distinction is this: you can think it is wrong, but don't say anything. If you do say something, don't reference the church leaders. But if you say something and reference the church leaders publicly, they will come and lay waste to your fields, destroy you and your eternal posterity, then will come with everything they have.
Of course, I don't really think the excommunication matters in terms of this guy's eternal welfare. Maybe I am a Stage IV.