Tom Hanks Softens His Stance on Mormons

Tom should stick to "special" roles.

He backtracks on one of the few decent things he's ever done.

Last week, Tom Hanks made some surprising remarks about Mormons who supported California's Prop 8. The proposition, which sought to amend the California State constitution to prevent gays and lesbians from marrying, was heavily funded by the Mormon church (based in Salt Lake City, Utah). Hanks went on record with Fox News, saying:

"The truth is a lot of Mormons gave a lot of money to the church to make Prop 8 happen, there are a lot of people who feel that is un-American, and I am one of them."

But it seems he's rethought his choice of words and has told People the following:

Last week, I labeled members of the Mormon church who supported California's Proposition 8 as "un-American." I believe Proposition 8 is counter to the promise of our Constitution; it is codified discrimination. But everyone has a right to vote their conscience – nothing could be more American. To say members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who contributed to Proposition 8 are "un-American" creates more division when the time calls for respectful disagreement. No one should use "un- American" lightly or in haste. I did. I should not have.

Sincerely,
Tom Hanks

Tom gets in touch with a dude.

Whether he was bowing to outside pressure, or decided it might be better for the show he's the executive producer of - Big Love - if he just cleared the air, we're disappointed with him. It seems pretty clearly un-American to combine religious views with your political preferences, and the Mormon church should be more acutely aware of that than virtually any other group out there.

Then again, we're pretty used to being disappointed by Tom Hanks at this point.