"Tax the Mormon Church." one protester chanted. "How dare they legislate against love." another shouted to an AP camera.

The Mormon Church issued in response a written statement calling on the protesters "to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward each other. No one on either side of the question should be vilified, intimidated, harassed or subject to erroneous information," it read.

David Loder, a Mormon business manager and Proposition 8 supporter, told the LA Times that, "As a member of the LDS church we have known [and still do] the feeling of being ridiculed and mistreated because of our faith."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), or Mormon Church, was one among several religious groups who supported the true marriage ballot initiative, including Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox Jews. Despite massive funding from Hollywood and other groups to defeat Proposition 8, the initiative was voted into law by a 52% majority on Tuesday. Proposition 8 adds a sentence to the state constitution defining marriage as being between one man and one woman.

As soon as it became clear Tuesday night that California voters had decided in favor of true marriage, homosexual "rights" lobbyists reacted with outrage and immediately took action in the courts, claiming that Proposition 8 was an illegal revision of the constitution. (http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08110611.html)

Much of the anger of the homosexualist activists has been aimed at religious groups who helped pass Proposition 8. Many complain that such groups violated the separation of church and state by throwing their weight behind the marriage measure.

However, while the majority of religious groups in California supported the true marriage bill, the opposing campaign continues to receive vocal support from leaders of the Episcopalian Church of California. After the initiative passed, Episcopalian Bishop Marc Andrus of San Francisco issued a statement affirming that "those of us committed to civil rights for all" will "continue to work" to promote same-sex "marriage."

Bishop J. Jon Bruno of the Diocese of Los Angeles wrote in a November 5 statement, "I call upon Californians who supported Proposition 8 to make an honest and dedicated effort to learn more about the lives and experiences of lesbian and gay humanity whose constitutional rights are unfairly targeted by this measure."

Homosexual activists have also launched a website called InvalidateProp8.org calling for donations to fight Proposition 8 in the courts.

Lorri L. Jean, chief executive of the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center, told the LA Times that a postcard will be sent to the president of the Mormon Church for every $5 donated, condemning "the reprehensible role the Church of Latter-day Saints leadership played in denying all Californians equal rights under the law."

Homosexual "marriage" advocates have expressed their intention to continue fighting Proposition 8 in the courts, despite the fact that under California law homosexuals in domestic partnerships are currently entitled to nearly all the legal privileges accorded to married couples in such matters as taxes, estate planning and medical issues.

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Same-Sex "Marriage" Supporters Furious at California Loss: Lawsuits Filed Challenging Proposition 8 http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08110611.html

Victory: California Marriage Proposition 8 Passes in Historic Battle http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/nov/08110506.html