The new church policy, which follows a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that legalized same-sex marriage, also prohibits natural or adopted children of gay married couples from being baptized in the faith until they turn 18, leave their parents’ home and personally disavow same-sex marriage or cohabitation.
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He said the furious blowback is leading to widespread speculation that church leaders are working on revisions to the policy, which was leaked to the public after being emailed to local church leaders around the world.
“I have a friend who sent a resignation letter and months later had members of the church knocking at his door trying to reactivate him”, Furtado said.
Thousands plan a mass exodus from the Mormon church this weekend over its decision to no longer baptize the children of gay parents. The policy forbids baby blessings or baptisms for the children of anyone who has cohabited in a same-sex relationship.
Any person who marries someone of the same sex will also be listed as “apostasy”, which means they shall be excommunicated as they have rejected church teachings. A few longtime advocates say they know dozens of Mormons quitting over the new policy. Leaving the church is slightly more complicated than most and actually has certain legal requirements that must be fulfilled.
“The church has always been on record as opposing same-sex marriages”, spokesman Eric Hawkins said when the policy was announced. Representatives for Morley and Mumford declined to comment; the Tribune could not immediately reach the other performers or their agents for comment.
“It is impossible for me to be a part of a religion that would attack its own members and punish them by denying their children involvement in the church”. The move is as clever as it is draconian.
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Church members have left testimony on the Facebook page explaining the reasoning behind their plans to resign from the church. “It requires a particular streak of evil genius to manufacture such a ‘Sophie’s choice'”. A public group resignation is planned for Saturday and reports are surfacing that church leadership may already be preparing to tweak the controversial edict.
