The Mormons know how to keep everyone guessing. A week ago, they were looking more and more like the liberals in the conservative-on-sexual-matters religious world. Last month, LDS apostle Dallin H. Oaks surprised church members by publicly criticizing defiant Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, and earlier this year the church sponsored compromise legislation in Utah that combined protections for religious freedom with anti-discrimination measures sought by LGBT activists.
Then late last week, it emerged that the faith’s leaders had made two significant changes to the church’s policy handbook for local leaders. Under the new policy, a Mormon who enters into a legal same-sex marriage is considered apostate and will be required to face church discipline and likely excommunication. Furthermore, the church now forbids the blessing, baptism and ordination of children with parents in same-sex relationships, whether or not the same-sex couple has full custody. At the age of 18, these children may seek to join the church, but only if they no longer live in a same-sex household, have disavowed the practices of same-sex cohabitation and marriage, and have received the specific permission of the church’s First Presidency.
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