Guest post by Kaimi.
Well known LDS political pundit Glenn Beck recently told his radio listeners that they should leave churches with the words "social justice" or "economic justice" on their websites:
I beg you, look for the words ’social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church Web site. If you find it, run as fast as you can. Social justice and economic justice, they are code words. Now, am I advising people to leave their church? Yes!
This overheated rhetoric has already drawn fire from Catholics and Protestants. But it’s not just Protestants and Catholics who are in trouble. In fact, if Glenn followed his own instructions, he’d be an ex-Mormon. Let’s try it out, shall we?
Step one: Look for the words ’social justice’ or ‘economic justice’ on your church Web site. This is easily enough accomplished with the handy search function at LDS.org.
Among the results is this 1986 Ensign article by Elder James E. Faust of the Quorum of the Twelve. It very clearly contains the words economic justice — and they are described in a good way, by an apostle — and it is indeed on the church’s website:
It is unfortunate that it is taking so long to bring full economic justice to women. The feminization of poverty is both real and tragic. That is why you should work very hard to prepare for your future by gaining some marketable skills.
Step two, of course, is If you find it, run as fast as you can.
The end result is very clear: Any LDS church members who decide to follow Glenn Beck’s (very clear) instructions on this topic, will leave the church.
File as exhibit 200 (or is it 2000?) in the "be careful with your overheated rhetoric" file.
Kaimipono Wenger is Assistant Professor of Law at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California. His legal scholarship addresses civil rights and racial justice issues. He blogs at Times and Seasons and Concurring Opinions.