The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says it will roll back many of its strict anti-LGBT practices, including allowing baptisms of children of gay couples and no longer considering gay couples “apostates.”
Dallin Oaks, one of the 3 apostles who make up the Mormon church’s First Presidency, the church’s highest governing body, made the announcement Thursday. Signaling the church’s intentions to become more inclusive towards gay church members, Oaks said it wants “to reduce the hate and contention so common today.” The announcement was made at the church’s annual convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.
“Effective immediately, children of parents who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender may be baptized without First presidency approval,” the church’s First Presidency said in a statement.
“Previously, our Handbook characterized same-gender marriage by a member as apostasy,” the church said in the statement. “While we still consider such a marriage to be a serious transgression, it will not be treated as apostasy for purposes of Church discipline. Instead, the immoral conduct in heterosexual or homosexual relationships will be treated in the same way.”
In 2015, the church made the decision to codify provisions disallowing same-sex couples from adopting children. Children who lived with gay parents could not participate in any conversation ceremonies or take part in any of the church’s activities. The decision also stipulated that gay individuals who married were subject to excommunication from the church.
“While we cannot change the Lord’s doctrine, we want our members and our policies to be considerate of those struggling with the challenges of mortality,” the church’s statement said. “We want to reduce the hate and contention so common today.”
