The Mormon Church Announces That Children Of Same-Sex Couples can not Be

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is confirming new policies affecting members in same-sex relationships and their children, and the changes mean that children of same-sex couples can not become members of the LDS Church unless they are of legal age, are no longer living with their parents, and have disavowed the practice of same-sex relationships.

According to the new Church Handbook 1, those who are "in a same-gender marriage" are now declared apostates: a person who willingly or is deemed to have renounced a religious belief or principle.

As for children, the Church handbook apparently now says that children of same-sex parents living together, may not receive a "naming blessing", be baptized, receive the priesthood or serve a mission without permission from the First Presidency of the Church.

Church spokesman Eric Hawkins confirmed the documents were accurate, but he did not answer questions about the policies beyond stating that the church has a longstanding policy against gay marriage.

An activist who worked alongside LDS Church leaders to pass Utah's nondiscrimination law said all churches have the right to "welcome or exclude" whomever they choose - but he said the policy appears to punish children for their parents' same-sex attraction.

However, the LDS Church has also announced its members should honor the law of the land, and Elder Dallin H. Oaks, an apostle and top official in the church, said at a conference last month that public officials must perform their civic duties regardless of personal convictions, referring to Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis' refusal to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

Are in a same-gender marriage.

Under the new instructions, the children won't be allowed membership until reaching legal age and disavowing the practice of same-gender cohabitation and marriage. As they wrote, "The legalization of same-sex marriage following the Supreme Court ruling in June raised the question of whether there might be room for monogamous, legally married, same-sex couples in the church". This story has also been reported by the Salt Lake Tribune. According to a recent Pew Research report, seven in ten Mormons oppose same-sex marriage, one of the highest levels of opposition for any religious group. Most children in the LDS church are baptized when they are around eight years old. As the LDS church continues to paint itself into a corner, it risks becoming increasingly irrelevant to the developed world.