Church Response to Cheney Protest

I’m a little surprised but the Church released a statement in response to the gathering Cheney Protest.

The press release is largely in response to a SL Trib editorial in support of the Vice President’s appearance and a snarky op-ed by Trib Columnist Rebecca Walsh.

Walsh comes across as bitter and defensive, rejecting the Church’s repeated statements of neutrality in favor of conspiracies she prefers to see. Yes, shockingly enough the Church has had some relations with Republicans. Most prominent LDS politicians have been part of the GOP in the recent past. But that is changing.

Would a more politically appropriate position have been to reject a standing Vice-President from appearing?  Would BYU have rejected Vice President Gore? I don’t believe so.

But don’t worry, there will be some balance.   As the release states Senator Reid will be coming to BYU this fall, as arranged prior to the Cheney appearance. Plus, BYU is allowing students to protest Cheney’s visit, an rare gesture.

The release ends:

Is it appropriate for a university — even one that espouses a policy of political neutrality — to have as featured speakers the holders of some of the highest offices in the land? Of course it is. And whoever the visitor — the vice president, the majority leader of the Senate or the chief justice of the Supreme Court (another scheduled fall speaker) — the university and the student body will listen, evaluate and react to them as intelligent citizens capable of making up their own minds about their messages.

UPDATE: Originally, I thought the release was in response to Bruce Van Orden’s SL Trib letter as I couldn’t find the Walsh column. I was mystified why the Church would take issue with Van Orden’s relatively mild letter. Messenger and Advocate has more coverage and pointed me to the Walsh column. Thanks.

(Possibly) Related posts:

1. When LDS Church Representatives Meet with the State Legislature
2. Explaining the temple as a response to Big Love