phxated_wymanThe Republic reports that the LDS is suffering some backlash because SB 1070 author Russell Pearce is a Mormon:

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.”

The church itself says it doesn’t have a position on the legislation, though Pearce himself uses the church’s teachings to defend his law:

Pearce has repeatedly said his efforts to drive illegal immigrants out of Arizona and keep them from coming here is based on the Mormon Church’s 13 Articles of Faith, which includes obeying the law.

Pearce is a cretin and ordinarily it wouldn’t be fair to tar the church with his membership. But even the Catholic Church has smacked Pearce’s hateful bill; just by being silent, the Mormons are fostering bigotry …

…. as they have of course done against homosexuals.

Previously in PHXated: “Temples of Bigotry”