The Church of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) took formal steps this week to define marriage equality as a form of apostasy in its “Handbook of Instructions”, a guide for Mormon leaders that was leaked on social media.
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The handbook that contains the changes is cited by church leaders around the world as guidance for their teachings.
Married same-sex couples face excommunication from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints under a new policy that became public this week.
The NY Times reports that additional policy changes include the consideration of all Mormons in same-sex marriages to be apostates.
The LDS church has clarified to its leaders that being in a same-sex marriage is considered a form of apostasy.
“Children of same-sex couples are treasured”, Williams said.
“It’s just totally surprising”, Dehlin said of the policy. “All are welcome into our church according to our church rules”.
Even after children reach the prescribed age of 18, they will only be admitted to the church when they have moved out from the home of their gay parents, disavow all relationships and obtain permission from the top leadership of the church. Whereas in the past, bishops and stake presidents had a few leeway about whether to impose church discipline, now they will be required to discipline any LGBT church member who is married to or living with a partner of the same sex.
The church also played a role in the 2013 case, Kitchen vs. Herbert, one of the first gay marriage cases, decided by U.S. Judge Robert J. Shelby, who strongly ruled in favor of same-sex marriage. Last month, Dallin Oaks, a member of the LDS Church’s Twelve Apostles, said Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis erred in her decision to decline to sign same-sex marriage licenses, and he urged more balance, tolerance and civility in protecting religious freedom.
Mormons are matched only by Jehovah’s Witnesses in their disapproval of same-sex marriage. Many church members were particularly stung by the fierce backlash to Prop 8. Mormon Church leaders, and advocates who share its views, completed a compromise on the gay rights issue in Utah earlier this year.
LDS Church officials released a video of Elder D. Todd Christofferson speaking about the new policy. More than 70 percent of LGBT Mormons leave the church, 80 percent are trying to change their sexual orientation, and more than half reject their religious identity, according to a survey conducted by researchers from the University of Utah and Brigham Young University.
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The latest church action also comes after Salt Lake City, where the Mormon headquarters is located, this week elected Jackie Biskupski as the city’s first openly gay mayor.
