Belleville News Democrat 12/11/03
Religion Today
MARK THIESSEN
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY – The Mormon practice of posthumously
baptizing non-Mormons, which has angered Jews and others in
the past, is now creating tensions with another religion –
the Russian Orthodox Church.
Religion Today
MARK THIESSEN
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY – The Mormon practice of posthumously
baptizing non-Mormons, which has angered Jews and others in
the past, is now creating tensions with another religion –
the Russian Orthodox Church.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is funding
the preservation
– at 10 cents a sheet – of thousands of names of dead
Russian Orthodox
Church members.
The church flatly rejects allegations that it is buying the
names of dead
souls, and insists the effort in Russia is aimed only at
providing an archive
of genealogical data for the public good. However, critics
contend the
church is using the names for its oft-criticized ritual
called proxy baptism, a
practice they say is rife with ethical and moral
problems.
Read more:
http://www.belleville.com/mld/newsdemocrat/7468326.htm
Links:
Mormon church: http://www.lds.org
Mormon church’ genealogy site: http://www.familysearch.org
Via RAIN via ARCHIVES Listserv