New Mormon policy on gay families is dividing even the faithful; church clarifies stance
http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/31...y-families
[Video in link]
In other words, you can have all the differing opinions you want, but you just can't talk about them or advocate for them if they differ from what church officials say.
http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/31...y-families
[Video in link]
Quote:A new LDS Church policy toward gay families triggered an avalanche of emotional responses from faithful Mormons trying to understand why children in such unions won't be eligible for a naming blessing, baptism or mission call without the approval of the faith's top leaders.
Quote:"I worry for the church that this may cause more hurt than it helps," he [Philip Barlow, professor of Mormon history and culture at Utah State University] said. "The issue has enough potency to further tear at the social fabric of the church over time."
He believes LDS leaders are concerned that if they don't "deepen the boundary" on gay marriage in this way, it will become more accepted among Mormons going forward, a slippery-slope argument bolstered by the nation's rapid acceptance of gay marriage in the past decade.
Quote:In a blog post on "A Well-Behaved Mormon Woman," he wrote that the policy "has the effect of not putting children at the center of a conflict between their household and the teachings of their church."
"It allows family autonomy and reduces conflict and secrecy," he argued. "For the prospective member, it helps them not have to lose vital family relationships (and, if they are under 18, food and shelter)."
This argument, also presented by Christofferson, doesn't fly with Jana Riess, a columnist at Religion News Service and a Mormon convert.
She believes there are softer ways to handle any dissonance between a child's home life and religious views, which would be better dealt with by bishops, not a hard-and-fast policy.
She also views the rule as counter to the teachings of the family-centric faith, including that children are not responsible for their parents' transgressions.
"I come from a family where my father had mental illness. There were a lot of problems and issues with my father. One of the most freeing aspects of LDS theology to me is that I'm only responsible for my own sins. I don't have to pay the price for what my father did."
Riess also complained that the new policy is selective and inconsistent because it ignores other types of families.
"It is very, very interesting," she said, "that we don't have anything like this for children who are born out of wedlock in heterosexual relationships."
In a blog item, she also noted the children of murderers can receive a blessing and be baptized.
"I'm really sad about this," she said, because the faith has been making strides toward accepting gay people. "It feels like this is kind of a slam in the other direction."
It also makes her wonder. She knows top Mormon authorities have said members can remain in good standing and support gay marriage, but if people in such unions are apostates, then to what degree do church leaders consider gay allies, like herself, to be apostates, too?
"That is pretty devastating," Riess said.
Christofferson addressed this.
"The church, of course, doesn't attempt to practice mind control and people have varying opinions," he said. "It is only a problem if there is advocacy and people lobby and advocate against the standard and the very clear and expressed position of the church."
In other words, you can have all the differing opinions you want, but you just can't talk about them or advocate for them if they differ from what church officials say.
Teenaged X-Files obsession + Bermuda Triangle episode + Self-led school research project = Atheist.