New York Times Targets Mormons

The New York Times editorial board is angry with the Mormon Church over new guidelines it issued earlier this month about children living in same-sex homes.

The Mormon Church issued guidelines to their local leaders making clear Church teaching on same-sex relationships and any children present in such a household. Though the Mormon Church has softened its public policy stance on gay issues, going so far as to endorse special protections for gays in employment, the Church has made clear that its core teachings have not changed.

Those in same-sex relationships, whether living together or “married,” are considered apostates and open to excommunication. Children living with same-sex couples will not be allowed to receive “priesthood ordinances” including baptism until they are 18 years old and only then if they are not then living in the same-sex household, and disavow same-sex relationships.

The reaction is what’s to be expected. Some Mormons have left the Church; petitions are circulating along with denunciations in the press. One petition is asking for eight specific singers to cancel their appearances with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The New York Times editorial board weighed in today with a scalding editorial claiming that Mormons are “leaving the church in droves” though a “mass resignation” last Saturday in Salt Lake City resulted in only 900 resignations, according to event organizers. The Times editorial board does not know if those 900 are practicing Mormons, fallen away Mormons, or have any connection to the Mormon Church at all. Nine-hundred resignations, however, represents only .00006 percent of the the Church’s 15 million members.

The Times editorial board grants that “religious organizations are entitled to set doctrine” but that they should expect a reaction from members when they “continue to label sex between people of the same gender a sin…”

The “droves” the New York Times editorial board says are leaving the Church very well could be more wishful thinking than actual fact.

Follow Austin Ruse on Twitter @austinruse