Religion Roundup
Vatican Withholds Parish Records from Mormons
Associated Press
May 5, 2008
SALT LAKE CITY - The Vatican has ordered Catholic dioceses worldwide to withhold member registries from Mormons who perform posthumous baptisms.
The order was issued by the Vatican Congregation for Clergy. Officials there said the step was taken to prevent Mormons from baptizing their Catholic ancestors.
Mormons believe posthumous baptisms allow their ancestors to be united with them in the afterlife.
The late Mormon President Gordon Hinckley said the baptismal rite is only an offer of membership that can be rejected in the afterlife by individuals.
The practice has come under fire from Jewish groups who say the names of Jewish Holocaust victims are still showing up in the church's genealogical database.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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