Mormons, the law, and public need to know.

[_3sheets2thewind]

There is a website Conservative Babylon, which stated purpose is

Conservative Babylon
Exposing the Hypocrisy of the "Family Values" Crowd, One Right-Winger at a Time, Since 2003

I wonder though, is religious affiliation of a person arrested something the public needs to know? I currently know first hand of a incident where a religious leader was arrested on the most dispicable charges, but the news reporting on the account is very dry and brief. A synopsis of the reporting is this

Name of person
Arrest charge
initial plea
current state of the charged
and next court date.

No mention of the persons religion or position within the religious community. I have argued with a police officer about mentioning religious affiliation and the officer claimed "well it happened inside a Mormon church and is part of the public record so why shouldn't I mention the religion of the person" (this particular incident I argued with the police officer with, occurred in the mid 1990's in South East Texas.) I did not think and still do not think that religious affiliation was of any matter to the public.

The incident prompting the this thread happened this year. I still do not think that religious affiliation need be mentioned in this current story. Though I do find it very interesting that religious affiliation is not mention, I have my suspicions as to why the religious affiliation is not mentioned. The only reason I could think religious affiliation would need be mentioned would be if there were suspected victims who would need might have more courage to come forward knowing the person was arrested. Other than that type of situation I do not see the that that "the public" has any need to know religious affiliation.

So is there a public need or any need at all to know the religious affiliation of a person arrested for a crime?

[_bcspace]

So is there a public need or any need at all to know the religious affiliation of a person arrested for a crime?

No. I consider one's religion, or lack thereof, is a wholly private matter.

[_harmony]

So is there a public need or any need at all to know the religious affiliation of a person arrested for a crime?

Depends on if the person's religion had anything to do with the crime. The public has a right to know that which is relevant.

[_ludwigm]

So is there a public need or any need at all to know the religious affiliation of a person arrested for a crime?

No. I consider one's religion, or lack thereof, is a wholly private matter.

The director of media for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had a different opinion - and I am certain it was not his private initiative.

SALT LAKE CITY — The Mormon church recently launched an advertising campaign in nine U.S. markets, including St. Louis and Pittsburgh, that has generated buzz in news reports and blogs in those areas.
The campaign includes ads on television, radio, billboards, bus platforms and in the interior of transit vehicles that feature everyday Mormons talking about their regular lives and their faith. The profiles reach an international audience through Mormon.org and via digital and social media, Internet ads, Facebook and YouTube. As part of the campaign, church members are invited to share their profiles on the Mormon.org website.
The ads evolved solely from public reaction to past church campaigns, said Scott Swofford, director of media for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

You know, the message "This is who I am, and I am a Mormon."

[_MCB]

I don't think that it should be publicized in individual cases. This could add power to stereotypes. However, statistical studies of faith or lack thereof and arrest and conviction data could tell us much. We already have data on the fraud problem within LDS culture. Does one religious group have a propensity towards a particular crime more than another? Is one religious group targeted by the police, social services, and justice system more than another? How does this vary by geography and LDS demographics? Very good questions.
How about drunk driving convictions Catholic VS LDS?
Are atheists and agnostics more or less prone to certain crimes?

[_3sheets2thewind]

Depends on if the person's religion had anything to do with the crime. The public has a right to know that which is relevant.

that is how I see it as well.

person arrested for proposition a prostitute...no need to know the religion if any.
local youth group leader dealing in child pornography...might be a need to know.
local youth group leader admits to having images from the youth group....Yes, there is a need to know.

[_hatersinmyward]

There are a lot of crooked Utah County business dealings done by high ranking LDS leaders which should be mentioned.

If it's a felony charge and the accused person is currently 2nd councilor in a Bishop rick or higher that fact should always be mentioned in the media. If the accused has EVER served in a high church calling i.e. stake pres etc. and he's since been released, that fact should be mentioned as well.

In Utah the LDS control the media, so those facts have a good chance of not being mentioned.

Outside of Utah nobody cares if the guy was a Mormon.

[_MCB]

Isn't a criminal background check required when a person is being considered for a vulnerable position? And are the results considered seriously?

[_moksha]

SALT LAKE CITY — The Mormon church recently launched an advertising campaign in nine U.S. markets, including St. Louis and Pittsburgh, that has generated buzz in news reports and blogs in those areas.
The campaign includes ads on television, radio, billboards, bus platforms and in the interior of transit vehicles that feature everyday Mormons talking about their regular lives and their faith. The profiles reach an international audience through Mormon.org and via digital and social media, Internet ads, Facebook and YouTube. As part of the campaign, church members are invited to share their profiles on the Mormon.org website.
The ads evolved solely from public reaction to past church campaigns, said Scott Swofford, director of media for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

You know, the message "This is who I am, and I am a Mormon."

"Hi, my name is Igor. I work as a Procurement Specialist for the Transylvanian aristocracy. In my spare time I like to catch flies and I'm a Mormon."

-

[_ludwigm]

ads on television, radio, billboards, bus platforms and in the interior of transit vehicles that feature everyday Mormons talking about their regular lives and their faith
You know, the message "This is who I am, and I am a Mormon."

"Hi, my name is Igor. I work as a Procurement Specialist for the Transylvanian aristocracy. In my spare time I like to catch flies and I'm a Mormon."
-

No, my intention was different.
[off]
. Baby, do you understand me now?
. If sometimes, you see that I'm mad ...
. Don't you know no one alive can always be an angel,
. When everything goes wrong, you see some bad.
. (group harmony) But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good:
. (just Burdon) Oh Lord! Please don't let me be misunderstood ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2FT4FprxDg
(from 1965, I was 20 then...)
[/off]

I don't know other religions/denominations/sects which want to stress their affiliations as hard as Mormons.
Yes, there are people who paint colours on their face, there are people who wear orange packing. Jews go beyond that way, but their affiliation is not visible - in general. Their marking - if I use the correct word - is prescription, more or less official.
And these are not ads committed by media directors.

My opinion is that one's religion, or lack thereof, is a wholly private matter - and up to this point I agree with bcspace.

BUT (yes, there is a but)
IF there is a religion which wants to swing the affiliation (no, not the jews I am thinking about...), then be it.
See the examples:
- I regularly overrun the speed limit and I am a Mormon. (I think this happens - sometimes)
- I am serial killer and I am a Mormon. (OK, this was rude. Please choose another crime with higher probability)
- I am polygamist and child abuser and I am a Mormon. And I am Warren Jeffs.

In other words, the world wants to see both side.