A natural or adopted child of a parent living in a same-gender relationship, whether the couple is married or cohabiting, may not receive a name and a blessing.
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She said she spoke to a former regional church leader who said, if he was still in leadership, that he would ignore the policy as it pertains to children.
Church officials said in a news release Friday that the rules issued last week are meant to prevent children from being caught in a tug-of-war between teachings at home and church.
The changes align with the way the church addresses children in polygamous families, said Matthew Bowman, associate professor of history at Henderson State University.
They appear to be in response to a US Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage legal nationwide in June. Only then, and after they renounce the practice of same-sex living, would they be baptized, confirmed, and ordained in the church. But to formally sever ties with the church is to say that a person is rejecting the Mormon vision of the afterlife, and potentially devastating family members who live their lives so close to a few of the faith’s holiest sites. “The policy also marks the first time a Christian church has enshrined a baptismal ban on children of same-sex couples”, according to the HRC.
Like others, Parry was there to officially resign from the church, adding she hasn’t been active in the faith for years. More than 500 people are expected at the protest Saturday in Salt Lake City.
An informal poll of people who had joined the event’s Facebook page revealed that the vast majority who were resigning Saturday or planned to mail in their letters later either marked “I haven’t believed [in church theology] for years” or were “Inactive”. “Most people are disaffected from the church already, and this was the final straw”.
Most of the protesters carried signs with them that say, “Standing on the side of love”, and “These policies harm all of us”, according to the LGBTQ Nation. A group of pro-ERA Mormon women – including later-excommunicated leader Sonia Johnson – chained themselves to the gates of a Mormon temple in Washington, and other activists caused a stir in Ogden, Utah, where they publicly burned Mormon temple garments in protest, Charles McCollum wrote for the Cache Valley Herald Journal.
“It is hard for people to leave the Church”. It bans children of such couples from taking part in the Church and refuses them baptisms.
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Though the church didn’t specifically address joint custody like Kitchen has with his ex-wife, he thinks the clarification gives his local church leader discretion to avoid implementing the rules against his children.
