IN AN unprecedented protest, 1,500 Mormons have quit the church over its decision to refuse baptism to the children of married same-sex couples unless they renounce their parents.



The mass resignation at the heart of Mormonism in Utah came after a leaked policy document revealed that children of same-sex couples will only be accepted by the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS) if they renounce their parents after they turn 18.

It is the first mass resignation in the church’s 185-year history in response to a specific policy and is expected to cause ructions throughout the worldwide church which has 15 million members and 85,000 missionaries scattered over the globe.

“I don’t know that there’s any precedent for this,” said Patrick Mason, professor of Mormon Studies at Claremont University. He compared the protest with “late 20th-century protest movements”, such as the Arab Spring.

GRIEF

The significance of the weekend’s events cannot be underplayed, as resigning from the church is not a decision any Mormon can take lightly.

In renouncing their faith, the 1,500 members are lost to heaven, according to Mormon theology – a matter of much grief for their families.

Many said they had no other choice.

Damien Steadman who is transgender, resigned with his partner Shelby, saying the news of the policy confirmed their belief they were not wanted by the church.

“If we had kids together and they wanted to be LDS, I wouldn’t want them to make that decision, but I would support it,” he said. “Now, they can’t. For them to be castigated and cast aside because of me being trans, that’s not right.”

Eric Loertscher, who was born into a Mormon family, said he had been unhappy with aspects of his faith for more than 10 years but this was the last straw.

“My family is very opposed to me doing this, but I don’t think things are going to get better.”

Another protester, Sylvia Lesser said many of her friends were in same-sex marriages but were now in fear of being excommunicated and were upset because their children could not be baptised.

“It’s mean and it’s spiteful,” said Lesser, carrying a sign saying: “This ‘Policy’ Harms All Of Us!!!”

































































Sarah Isaacson holds a sign as she resigns her membership to the church in Salt Lake City



UPSET

Church leaders passed the policy last week after shocking liberal members who thought the LDS had begun to relax its previously strict anti-gay stance. However same-sex marriage has now been added to those sins classed as renunciation of the faith and is therefore subject to church discipline, including excommunication.

Children of same-sex couples who have already been baptised can apparently remain in the church and those who no longer live with their same-sex parents will be eligible for baptism.

The revelation of the policy will see about 1,500 letters of resignation delivered to the church’s HQ in Salt Lake City today after hundreds of people queued for hours to resign officially at the offices of attorney Mark Naugle. “We had an incredible turnout,” said Naugle. “The fact that it affects children really upset people,”

Protester Sarah Braegger added: “When I read this policy, I knew it was time for me to take a stand. I couldn’t wrap my mind around a church that claims to be Christian and excludes certain people.”

LANDMARK

The church’s new policy has been prompted by the landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court this summer that made same-sex marriage legal. Orthodox Mormon theology holds that marriage is eternal and should be between a man and a woman.

Earlier this year the church signalled it would back equality laws with regards to employment and housing but said it could not sanction same-sex marriage.

“Sexual relations other than between a man and a woman who are married are contrary to the laws of god.

“Such doctrine comes from sacred scripture and we are not at liberty to change it,” said a spokesperson.

Church leaders have also protested about the “erosion of religious liberties” in the US which they claim is the result of intimidation from gay rights supporters.

They are unlikely to relax their stance on marriage because of Saturday’s protest, according to Mason.

“Their sense is, ‘We can ride this out’,” he said.

However he added that it was significant that even conservative members of the LDS were disturbed by the policy.

“There’s a quality and a depth to the outburst of discontent that I have not seen before,” said Mason.

ANGEL

Mormonism was founded by Joseph Smith in the 1820s during an intense religious revival known as the Second Great Awakening.

Smith said an angel told him where to find golden plates on which God had revealed the Book of Mormon, giving instructions on how to establish the true Christian Church.

Smith was killed by an anti-Mormon mob in 1844 and the church was taken over by Brigham Young who led followers to Utah where the church, with its practice of polygamy, was established. Just over a decade after Smith’s death, Mormonism had attracted tens of thousands of followers.

Opposition from US Congress eventually led the church to announce the end of polygamy but several fundamentalist groups broke off in protest and attempt to continue the practice now.

Despite dissent, the mainstream church has grown. Its theology holds that sacraments or “saving ordinances” for salvation include baptism and marriage.