Hundreds of Mormons are officially removing themselves from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints because of the church’s policy on punishing same-sex couples. The policy has made many people angry. This doesn’t just include those in same-sex relationships. Many Mormons who have friends or family members who are homosexual feel the policy is way too harsh and has made them not want to be a part of the church anymore.

New Policy

The new policy states children who have parents in a same-sex relationship cannot be a part of the church and cannot be involved in church activities until they leave the home after they become adults. Even then, there is no guarantee they will be allowed to become part of the church. In order to be baptized, become missionaries, take classes, receive the church’s blessing, or become ordained, they need the permission of the top church officials after they have left the home. In addition, they would have to condemn same-sex cohabitation and marriage. Both the children and the same-sex parents are considered apostates, which is similar to being seen as a traitor or deserter of a religion.

Eric Hawkins, a spokesman for the church, stated “The church has long been on record as opposing same-sex marriages. While it respects the law of the land and acknowledges the right of others to think and act differently, it does not perform or accept same-sex marriage within its membership.”

Mormon Church Baptisms

Under Mormon Church doctrine, children are typically baptized when they are eight years old. However, church leaders feel children who are young are not able to comprehend their parents’ relationship or understand it is wrong in the Mormon Church’s eyes. That is why they decided children who have parents in a same-sex relationship, whether they are biological children or adopted children, should not be baptized until they are old enough to fully comprehend same-sex relationships and make the decision that they disagree with them.

Pro Bono Services

Mark Naugle is a lawyer whose family left the church about 15 years ago for unrelated reasons. He is offering his services pro bono to those who want to leave the church. He is helping them get the proper paperwork filed in order to make it official. While it doesn’t technically need to become official for someone to leave the church, it can save a lot of hassle. Oftentimes, when a person unofficially leaves the Mormon Church, church members will show up at his or her door and try to persuade that person to return. This can continue relentlessly, even if the person makes it clear he or she isn’t going back. For this reason, it is easiest for most people to make it official with the proper paperwork. Since the policy was revealed, Naugle has had over 1,700 people contact him.

Those Who Are Staying

Of course, the vast majority of Mormons aren’t planning on leaving the church. This is true for both people who agree with the church’s same-sex marriage views and those who do not. There are some who are attending services even though they feel the church’s policy on same-sex marriage is wrong. This can be for a variety of reasons:

• Professional reasons
• Family reasons
• For the community the church members provide
• Because they still agree with most other aspects of the Mormon faith