SB1070 Update: Republic chimes in on Mormons and SB1070

by David Safier

The AZ Republic's Daniel González wrote a long, detailed article about divisions inside the Mormon Church over SB1070.

[Russell] Pearce, a devout Mormon, has been the driving force behind virtually every bill introduced in recent years aimed at clamping down on illegal immigrants. Mormon officials say Pearce does not speak for the church, which has not taken a stance on Arizona's law or the issue of immigration.

Still, it has put the church on the defensive.

Kenneth Patrick Smith, a Mesa lawyer and president of the Valencia Branch, a Spanish-speaking LDS congregation in Mesa, said missionaries from his church have had doors slammed in their faces since Arizona's new law was signed by Gov. Jan Brewer in April.

"They say, 'Why would we want to hear anything from a religion that would do this to the Hispanic community?' " said Smith, who emphasized that he was speaking for himself, not the church. "It's a great disconnect because on one hand the missionaries are out there preaching brotherly love, kindness, charity, tolerance, faith, hope, etc., and then they see on TV a quote-unquote Mormon pushing this legislation that makes them not only . . . terrified but terrorized."

[snip]

Many Latinos who view the new law as unjust and discriminatory blame not only Pearce but the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That is making it hard for Mormons to proselytize to the state's 1.8 million Latinos, whom the church views as key to future growth.

The Mormon church has taken a firm stand that it hasn't taken a stand on SB1070.

Kim Farah, a spokeswoman for the LDS headquarters in Salt Lake City, said in an e-mail that elected officials who are Mormons do not represent the position of the church. She said the church has also not taken a position on immigration, which is "clearly the province of government."

"However, Church leaders have urged compassion and careful reflection when addressing immigration issues affecting millions of people," she said in the e-mail.

Some Latino members, however, would like the church to do more.

Many faiths are making this a religious issue. When Tucson's Catholic Bishop Gerald Kicanas speaks out against the law, he's elevated enough in the church hierarchy that his statement carries some serious weight. Jews don't have the same kind of hierarchy, nor do Protestants, so no one actually can speak for the faith in the same way. But Jewish rabbis and Christian ministers are going on the record against SB1070 and for comprehensive immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship.

The Mormon religious establishment, on the other hand, has remained silent on the issue. Within the church, however, it looks like there is a battle raging.

AND THE STAR? Our own daily has maintained a virtual blackout on the topic of SB1070 and religious leaders. There was no mention of the delegation of 7 Arizona religious leaders going to DC last week. And thus far, the subject of Mormons and SB1070 hasn't been mentioned. (And no, that's not a northern Arizona issue. It's an Arizona issue.)

Oh, wait, the Star had a picture of Rev. Al Sharpton talking against SB1070, a story that makes the whole thing look ridiculous in lots of people's eyes, since Sharpton's name borders on being a punchline in the country, rightly or wrongly (a bit of both, in my opinion).

The Sharpton event, by the way, was in Phoenix, but somehow it was
deemed worthy of coverage by the Star. Go figure.

But respected Arizona religious leaders? Not worth covering, I guess. It might make some of the Star's advertisers nervous.