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| Mormons plan 'mass resignation' over policies for gay people | Mormons plan 'mass resignation' over policies for gay people |
| (1 day later) | |
| A group of Mormons have planned a "mass resignation" after leaders changed church policies regarding gay people. | A group of Mormons have planned a "mass resignation" after leaders changed church policies regarding gay people. |
| The rules, which were not meant to be made public, say children living with a gay parent cannot be baptised until they are 18 and only when they renounce homosexuality. | The rules, which were not meant to be made public, say children living with a gay parent cannot be baptised until they are 18 and only when they renounce homosexuality. |
| The new rules also say members can be expelled from the church if they enter into a gay marriage. | The new rules also say members can be expelled from the church if they enter into a gay marriage. |
| Both liberal and conservative Mormon groups have criticised the changes. | Both liberal and conservative Mormon groups have criticised the changes. |
| "The surprising impact has been the amount of people who are confused and troubled and disturbed and, frankly, repulsed," Mormon scholar Patrick Mason told Reuters. | "The surprising impact has been the amount of people who are confused and troubled and disturbed and, frankly, repulsed," Mormon scholar Patrick Mason told Reuters. |
| "And these aren't just progressives and LGBT advocates. They are saying, 'This doesn't feel right. This doesn't square with me.'" | "And these aren't just progressives and LGBT advocates. They are saying, 'This doesn't feel right. This doesn't square with me.'" |
| It is a departure for the church, which recently has softened its approach on gay issues and backed a Utah state law that provided legal protections for gay people. | It is a departure for the church, which recently has softened its approach on gay issues and backed a Utah state law that provided legal protections for gay people. |
| The new policies appear in an internal church handbook, but the changes were leaked to the public this month. | The new policies appear in an internal church handbook, but the changes were leaked to the public this month. |
| They appear to be in response to a US Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage legal nationwide in June. | They appear to be in response to a US Supreme Court ruling that made gay marriage legal nationwide in June. |
| Church officials defended the change, saying in a statement: "All children are to be treated with utmost respect and love. They are welcome to attend Church meetings and participate in Church activities." | |
| Mr Mason said the backlash had been so great that church officials may be forced to revise the rules. | |
| More than 1,000 people plan to attend the "mass resignation" rally on Saturday at a park across from the church's headquarters in Salt Lake City. | More than 1,000 people plan to attend the "mass resignation" rally on Saturday at a park across from the church's headquarters in Salt Lake City. |
| However, it is unclear how many of those people have already left the Mormon church. | However, it is unclear how many of those people have already left the Mormon church. |
| Church member Sarah Epperson plans to resign at the rally on Saturday. | Church member Sarah Epperson plans to resign at the rally on Saturday. |
| "Any church that wants to claim itself as a Christian organisation that uses Jesus Christ the saviour to somehow exclude any group of people is not anything that I want to be a part of," Ms Epperson told the New York Times. | "Any church that wants to claim itself as a Christian organisation that uses Jesus Christ the saviour to somehow exclude any group of people is not anything that I want to be a part of," Ms Epperson told the New York Times. |