Rocking the Mormon world
Sometimes it is easy to predict when a CNS story is going to stir a huge buzz in the blogosphere, and that was certainly the case with our story last week on the Vatican’s effort to block posthumous rebaptisms by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon or LDS church. The story, which has been viewed more than 10,000 times as of this afternoon, reported that Catholic dioceses around the world have been directed not to give information in parish registers to the Mormons’ Genealogical Society of Utah.
That may not excite many ordinary Catholics in the pew, but it predictably struck a nerve in the Mormon world, where posthumous baptisms by proxy have been a common practice for more than a century. As CNS staff writer Chaz Muth reported, the practice allows the church’s faithful to have their ancestors baptized into their faith so they may be united in the afterlife.
One Mormon blog said the news “rocked the LDS genealogical world.” And stories this past weekend in The Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News generated hundreds of comments. A Utah Catholic priest also devoted a blog entry to the issue, generating his own set of a dozen or so comments.
Faithful readers may remember that this is the second time in just over two weeks that a CNS story has generated an interreligious buzz with the Mormon church. Our story during Pope Benedict’s U.S. trip on how representatives of the LDS church came to participate in a papal event for the first time — a story that came in second for most views during April –generated both gratitude from Mormons glad to see an emphasis on common beliefs as well as a huge debate on one evangelical site wondering why LDS representatives bothered to participate since, according to this site, Mormon founder Joseph Smith believed “that all other churches were wrong, an abomination and corrupt.”
Your CNS story had bone-headed errors in it about Mormons. It said, “Latter-day Saints regard Jesus and the Holy Spirit as children of the Father and the Heavenly Mother. They believe that baptism was instituted by the Father, not Christ, and that it goes back to Adam and Eve.”
The claim that the Holy Spirit is a child of the Heavenly Father and Mother is laughable. Honestly, where did you get this information? Also, the claim that baptism was instituted by the Father, not Christ? Hmm…sources?
Either, posthumous baptisms have no effect on the dead and so why have any concern…Or posthumous baptisms do have an effect on the dead and so what might that tell about the relationship between God and that organization? It seems irrational to be offended by that which is offered in love and yet has no real power to change a deceased religious association. And just as irrational to not convert to such an organization if it is really believed they have such power.
Here’s a “letter to the editor.” And since we don’t have a publication with a letters section, we’ll “publish” it here:
Dear Editors,
The Mormon practice of re-baptism may be at odds with the Catholic Church but these records are also of enormous genealogical importance for millions of people - and most are even willing to pay for access.
Sad to tell you this, but having been raised Catholic, I have found utter incompetence and favoritism toward certain parties whenever I have tried in good faith (and with a donation) to obtain baptism and death records from Catholic parishes in New Jersey. My experience was a disaster. The behavior of the parishes involved was a total disgrace.
The Mormons, however, are far more organized with maintaining genealogical records and far more generous with allowing Catholics to access what they have.
Not only should the Catholic Church work out the re-baptism issue fast but it should also allow the Mormons access to these records as caretakers for all of us since they are exprets.
Or perhaps the Catholic Church should come into the 21st century itself and begin digitalizing these important records before they turn to dust in rectory safes.
Sincerely,
Robert J. Spearing
Amateur Genealogist
You have got to be kidding me! People want to know about their families and their history. Sometimes, it will even lead them to find important information (like medical history) that might save their lives!
This is just another example of why I left the Catholic religion. The Catholic Church belongs in the dark ages!
The Catholic Church needs to focus on REAL issues, not coming up with new things to drive members away.
I’m not an expert on God, but it seems like God might want us to be able to find and know our families!
Another amateur genealogist (and prouder than ever to be an ex-Catholic).