The word is out, prominent leaders of the Mormon church are pushing financial and voter support for Prop 8, the ballot measure which asks California voters to discriminate against one group of people. Yes in 2008, that is what we are voting on. Thanks to Courage Campaign efforts, the mainstream media is starting to put a face on some of the culprits who believe discrimination is o.k. and some folks inside the church are beginning to become uncomfortable with it.

The Oakland Tribune captures the rift that has been created inside the Mormon Church since its leaders chose to push their weight behind discrimination.

• "I do expect the church to face a high cost -- both externally and internally -- for its prominent part in the campaign," said LDS sociologist and Proposition 8 supporter Armand Mauss of Irvine. He said he believes church leaders feel a "prophetic imperative" to speak out against same-sex marriage.

• "The internal cost will consist of ruptured relationships between and among LDS members of opposing positions, sometimes by friends of long standing and equally strong records of church activity," Mauss said. "In some cases, it will result in disaffection and disaffiliation from the church because of the ways in which their dissent has been handled by local leaders."

• Robert Rees, a former LDS bishop in California, said he has not witnessed this much divisiveness in the church over a political issue in the past 50 years. Whatever the vote's outcome, Rees said, "it will take considerable humility, charity and forgiveness to heal the wounds caused by this initiative."

In today's SF Chronicle, Christine Alonso, a member of the LDS church talks openly about her disappointment and fear with her church.

• "Don't think they're all against you," …."I'm afraid that a gay or lesbian friend might hear that I'm Mormon and think that I want to tear their marriage apart."

The Chronicle also reveals a bit of a larger issue of fundamental fairness, somewhat as some wonder why the politically unpopular Mormons have been apparently singled out for their support of Prop 8 when other religious heavyweights have not been.

Dante Atkins, a Courage Campaign activist and officer of the LA County Young Democrats provides the money quote regarding the religious targeting.

• "If one religious group is putting close to the majority of the money and the effort into passing this proposition, it is fair to single them out."

Its own members are growing uncomfortable with church activities surrounding Prop 8. Are you?