Thanks to the author of “Ways to raise (11/8)” for a thoughtful commentary on gay parenting as portrayed in “Modern Family.”
Allow me to add clarification to give him and others more to think about.
As he noted, The Family Proclamation states: “Children are entitled to … be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.”
While helpful, this doesn’t directly address the issue of what to do when we compare gay parents to orphanages, as both clearly fail to meet the standards taught.
However, there are still two contrasts between seeing lovable movies about orphans and watching Modern Family.
First, in orphan films, the kids struggle to find a mother and a father. In “Modern Family,” there is no expectation the child will achieve the ideal.
This would be like a film glorifying orphanages as a suitable setting for raising a family.
Second, For the Strength of Youth counsels us to avoid “entertainment that in any way presents immorality … as acceptable.”
While I have not seen “Modern Family,” it appears to present a homosexual, and hence immoral, relationship as acceptable.
As Elder Dallin H. Oaks taught us, tolerance does not mean acceptance. We cannot accept immoral behavior.
While I am not in a leadership position where I can classify any TV show as bad, I chose to write this to add to the discussion of standards in the context of what our prophets and apostles have taught.
Michael Worley
La Canada, Calif.
