Hundreds of Mormons resign in Utah same-sex policy protest

SALT LAKE CITY: Hundreds of Latter- day Saints mailed or handed in letters quitting the Mormon church on Saturday to protest a new policy barring children of married same- sex couples from being baptised until they are adults.

Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints ( LDS) approved the policy last week. It added same-sex marriage to acts considered to be a renunciation of the Mormon faith and thus subject to church discipline, including excommunication.

“This is about compassion and supporting our community,” said Brooke Swallow, one of the organisers of the protest in a city park. “No longer are we going to keep our mouths shut.”

About 1,000 people showed up at the park across the street from the headquarters complex of the Utah- based church. Long lines of Mormons handed resignation letters to Mark Naugle, an attorney who made sure the forms were complete and promised to mail them the next day.

Others joined a procession to a downtown mailbox and then twice circled Temple Square, home of the faith’s flagship temple.

“I resigned today,” said Paul Pratt, one of the protesters. “I haven’t been active for 17 years. It’s time to separate. I don’t need a bunch of (church leaders) telling me what to do.” The church has more than 15 million adherents and 85,000 missionaries around the world. — Reuters