Prominent Mormon Faces Excommunication for Backing Gay Marriage

[DonViejo]

Source: New York Times

The Mormon Church has moved to excommunicate the prominent Utah-based founder of an online forum for critical or doubting Mormons, charging him with apostasy for supporting same-sex marriage and the ordination of women and for questioning church teaching.

John P. Dehlin, host of the Mormon Stories website and podcast — a hub of discussion for thousands of disaffected Mormons — said his regional church leader had scheduled a disciplinary hearing on Jan. 25. Mr. Dehlin said he would be excommunicated if he refused to take down podcasts that are critical of the church and to disavow his support for women’s ordination and gay marriage.

“I would prefer for them to leave me alone,” he said in an interview, “but if given the choice between denying my conscience and facing excommunication, I’d much rather be excommunicated.”

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/16/us/john-dehlin-mormon-critic-facing-excommunication.html?emc=edit_na_20150115

[brooklynite]

1. John, it won't make any difference in your life...

Anyone who wouldn't associate with you because you were excommunicated isn't someone you want to associate with.

[Wellstone ruled]

2. Typical Cult response.

And these same persons of their Kangaroo Court backs Willard Romney. Duh!!!!

[siligut]

3. I have personal experience with the Mormon version of shunning

I learned quickly that the Utah Mormon community is quietly exclusive and those raised in the church place great value on fellowship and family.Too often the church has the ability to breakup friendships and families. Often ones career is interlaced with ones standing in the church. Disobedience is not tolerated and when possible will be made painful to keep others in line.

[Raster]

7. Raised in Southeastern Arizona, you know, the other Utah...

... saw dis-fellowshipping and excomunication first hand. The church's will is absolute and resistance is not tolerated... at least for most. Of course the high-and-mighty too have their "nasty bits" which get quietly swept under the rug. When it comes to the church, it truly is who you know. And who you blow.

[KamaAina]

9. You know who else does that? Scientology.

See you late Tuesday!

[dembotoz]

4. so if moderate Muslims need to take responsiblitiy to isis-am i as a Christian supposd to take

responsibility for the likes of these folks?

i hope not, cause between the fundies and the anti abortion freaks i am just about all responsiblied out

[KamaAina]

10. Actually, there are those who claim that Mormons are not Christians

several right here at DU.

This despite its official name being "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" and that they promote the Book of Mormon as "another testament of Jesus Christ".

[JI7]

5. Jon huntsman supports same sex marriage also

[RationalMan]

6. I was raised in the inter-mountain west and have a lot of history with Mormons.....

They, like most of the other "staunchly conservative" Christian traditions are terrified of anyone undermining the authority of the church.

I was raised in the conservative tradition of the Lutheran Church and they remain totally intransigent about ordaining women, recognizing LGBT persons or their relationships, abortion, etc.

What these organizations all have in common is the need to control their members. It is all about keeping them on a short leash. Members should not think for themselves or question elements of their faith. They are to blindly listen to church leaders and do as they are old. Their members are treated like children incapable of independent thought and conclusion.

I have no experience in Salt Lake City but in many small towns in the inter-mountain west, sometimes up to 75% of the townspeople are Mormons. They dominate local politics and local business. The bishops control the lives of their members. The bishop comes to your home and checks in on whether or not you are tithing. I have heard of cases where local businesses (owned by Mormons) who employed Mormons (highly likely) would provide the local bishop with the salary of employees so the bishop could press on the member to tithe correctly. The bishop often makes statements about the state of the household, the upbringing of the children, etc. They are a total mind control cult.

But they are in many ways no different than the Southern Baptists and other conservative traditions and the U.S. Bishops. It is all about control and money.

[KamaAina]

8. Nice post.

And welcome to DU!

[SoapBox]

11. The Cult is just damned creepy.

Spent a lot of time in and out of SLC...I was always just creeped out.

And in case no one thinks about it...they OWN the State of Utah.

[blkmusclmachine]

12. The Cult will not accept any dissenters.

[MsInformed]

13. WWJSD?

What Would Joseph Smith Do?
Claim a revelation from god!