Read more here.
Perhaps in the coming days I will find a way to satirize this astounding act of bigotry. But right now all I feel is sadness. My heart goes out to the loving LDS families and individuals who will suffer because of this. But here's the thing:
You don't need to. You CAN leave!
I'm sorry to say this to my believing readers, I know it's not what you want to hear. But, in my opinion, any organization, religious or otherwise, that requires its members to shun their parents is nothing more than a cult.
Singer and civil rights activist, Nina Simone, said, "You've got to learn to leave the table when love's no longer being served."
To my liberal Mormon friends:
With all due respect - and I do respect you - I think it's time you left the table.
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I'm so sad too. It angers me to my core. The church is digging themselves a deep grave, and anyone who supports this decision deserves the church and the church deserves them.
ReplyDeleteThe new policy is so insanely over the top I almost wonder if LDS Inc. is trying to weed out the "liberals." I don't see how anyone can defend the church's decision to punish children for their parents actions.
DeleteWhat a load if crap. Seriously, I agree with you; it is time to leave the table. Love is no longer served here. I'm so glad my children are not young anymore and aren't going to have to watch as their friends all get baptized but they can't because I'm their mom and they live with me and my lawfully wedded spouse. Even if I'm not opposed they are not allowed membership. This is simply insane. But some are rising to the occasion and faithfully defending this bigotry.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad the I'm no longer a member of this bizarre little cult.
Yes, I've already started hearing the cries of "persecution" from the faithful. How lame.
DeleteIt's disgusting. The LDS is deliberately ostracizing LGBTQ families and pitting children against parents. This could deal a serious blow to the church. I hope plenty of Mormons leave.
ReplyDeleteWhen I told my husband Gary that I knew three people who sent in resignation letters over this (though they had been inactive for years), he said, "Why give the Church that much power? Just don't go anymore." I said, "But the Church is using you as a number to give themselves power. It's important to deduct yourself as a number in their tally. If people really knew they were only 3 million and not 15 million, THAT would be power against their oppression." We don't have power to change their policies or doctrine. We do have the power to leave and to have everyone know we left.
ReplyDeleteJohnny -- I officially defected from the Catholic Church for the same reasons. If enough people leave and the tithe money stops pouring in, religious leaders WILL notice.
DeleteIt's the best strategy we have.
DeleteAhab, I think a good number will leave and the faithful will dig in their heels and circle the wagons. Maybe that's what the Mormon leaders wanted.
ReplyDeleteJohnny, that's exactly what I said to my liberal Mormon friends when they asked me how I could leave the church. It's not a democracy. The only way to make a real statement is to leave and then publicly criticize it. LDS Inc. is reaping plenty of criticism over this, deservedly so.
The damage the church has done to itself is irreparable. Gotta love it.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit it does my heart good to think that even fewer people will be baptized into the Mormon Church now.
DeleteThe LDS leadership shot itself in the foot.
DeleteWith any luck they will just fade away. Sanctioned religious bigotry will not win any hearts, souls, or minds. If I hear anyone say, "And I'm a Mormon!" I will just tell them to get the hell away from me.
ReplyDeleteHa! Good for you, Jono.
DeleteThe church is already, by its own reporting, growing more slowly than it has in decades. This move, since it was leaked to the public, will make missionary work more difficult and it seems to be driving away a certain amount of the faithful members.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the church realized that the best way for them to survive is to further isolate their core following from the rest of the world. Better make sure those kids grow up without thinking that same-sex marriage is normal or acceptable or healthy or in any way positive.
I guess the good news is that this kind of seals their fate. As long as the church continues like this, its slide into cultural irrelevance is basically a guarantee.
I agree totally. My initial thought upon hearing about the church's latest policy change or clarification or whatever they would care to call it is that they were doing the families of people in the LGTB community the greatest favor that they ever could do for anyone. Of course it's wrong and it's discriminatory and it should be the choice of the individual, but separation from that vile institution is a also good thing.
ReplyDeleteOne of my professors said that the LDS church within a generation or so will recognize that it is clearly on the wrong side of history in regard to the gay issue and will change with the times. I'm not so sure I believe that they'll ever adapt in this regard. I think they'll be content to remain in the dark ages.
By then, their number may be very small. Only those with the very strongest of cultural ties or with a good chance of receiving a payout via G. A. status or some similar such thing will have any reason to even think of staying with the church with all the debunking information that is so readily available. And the payout may not be nearly so generous, as those who are paying into the system may one day be outnumbered by those receiving funds. Once finances become tight enough that the brass must tap into the principal, the corporate aspect of the church will be a distant memory.