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U.S. NEWS Friday 5 april 2019

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Mormons ease opposition to same-sex couples and their kids

By BRADY McCOMBS and of gay parents can now be faith toward more com-
LINDSAY WHITEHURST baptized as long as their passion on LGBTQ issues
Associated Press parents approve the bap- while sticking to doctrinal
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The tisms and acknowledge opposition of intimacy be-
Church of Jesus Christ of that the children will be tween people in same-sex
Latter-day Saints on Thurs- taught church doctrine. relationships, said Patrick
day repealed rules that People in same-sex rela- Mason, a religion profes-
banned baptisms for chil- tionships will no longer be sor at Claremont Graduate
dren of gay parents and considered “apostates,” University in California who
that labeled same-sex a term the religion uses for studies the faith.
couples as sinners eligible people who teach inac- “That policy always
for expulsion — marking curate doctrine or pub- seemed out of step,” Ma-
a reversal of policies con- licly defy guidance from son said.
demned as jarring detours church leaders. Apostates Membership growth in the
from a push by the faith to can be kicked out of the religion has stagnated in
be more compassionate religion. In this Nov. 14, 2015 file photo, Sandy Newcomb poses for a recent years, and young
about LGBTQ issues. That label was widely con- photograph with a rainbow flag as people gather for a mass members opposed the pol-
LGBTQ church members demned by LGBQT mem- resignation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints icies at much higher rates
and groups that support bers and allies as being in Salt Lake City. than older members, said
them expressed relief demeaning and hurtful to Associated Press Jana Riess, who surveyed
about what they called an people who already strug- bers of the faith. group, said there’s a “great members of the religion for
important step forward for gle to find acceptance in The announcement came feeling of being heard” be- her book, “The Next Mor-
the faith. However, they the faith. two days before Saturday’s cause the changes came mons: How Millennials Are
also said they were angry “It was a stigma. It was like twice-yearly church con- after an outcry from church Changing the LDS Church.”
about the harm the 2015 wearing a Scarlet letter,” ference in Salt Lake City. members. Faith leaders had previous-
policies had caused and said Nathan Kitchen, a gay It was unclear if church “We saw the church cor- ly explained that the 2015
the lack of an apology by Mormon father of five chil- leaders will speak more rect a mistake in record rules were designed to pro-
church leaders. dren from Gilbert, Arizona. about the changes during time,” Munson said. “Usual- tect children by not putting
In a statement posted on- “You are cut off, you are a speeches at the confer- ly these things take maybe them in a potential tug-of-
line, church leaders de- pariah.” ence. 100 years or more.” war between the beliefs of
scribed the changes as Kitchen said he cried when Erika Munson, co-founder The move undoes the same-sex couples raising
“very positive policies” he heard the news about of the Mormons Building one major detour from a them and teachings and
that should help “affected the new policies. Kitchen, Bridges LGBTQ advocacy decade-long path by the activities at church. q
families.” The faith’s highest also the president of an
leadership group, known organization called Affir-
as the First Presidency, mation that supports LG-
made the decision after BTQ church members, said
“fervent, united prayer to the old policies had fueled
understand the will of the painful custody battles as
Lord on these matters,” the straight parents tried to en-
statement said. sure their children could be
The faith widely known as full members of the faith.
the Mormon church said it Wendy Montgomery, an
is not changing its doctrinal Arizona mother of a gay
opposition to gay marriage son, said she’s pleased the
and still considers same-sex rules have been changed
relationships to be a “seri- but believes the harm
ous transgression.” caused by the previous
“We want to reduce the policies can’t be undone.
hate and contention so The lifelong church mem-
common today,” the state- ber left the religion after
ment said. the 2015 policy was insti-
The rules approved by tuted.
global church leaders in “It deeply wounded and
2015 had prohibited bap- traumatized every single
tisms for children living LGBQT Mormon that I
with gay parents until the know,” said Montgomery,
children turned 18 and dis- a member of a mothers
avowed same-sex relation- group called “Mama Drag-
ships. ons” that advocates for
With the change, children parents with LGTBQ mem-