Excommunication is no longer a Jewish practice, though I could certainly come up with a few candidates if it were ever restored. It is, however, a last resort for Mormon leaders who are faced with public apostates in their congregations. Immediately after learning yesterday that Mormon feminist Kate Kelly had been excommunicated by her former bishop, two Jewish women sent me emails asking how Mormons could justify his action. Since their letters came just a day after a discussion with a member of my congregation on this topic, I wanted to explain to my Jewish readers why most Mormons aren’t losing sleep over this.
First of all, Mormons are free to believe whatever they want. In Kate’s case, she believes that there is “gender inequality” in the LDS Church because women cannot hold the priesthood, which allows men to preside over congregations, services, and ordinances. Kate’s beliefs about women and the priesthood are not unique, and she is hardly the first LDS woman to share them with others. I’m fairly positive that there are Mormon women in most if not all wards (large congregations) in the country who hold similar views.
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