Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Vatican letter directs bishops to keep parish records from Mormons

This is creating a churn in the genealogy world:

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- In an effort to block posthumous rebaptisms by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Catholic dioceses throughout the world have been directed by the Vatican not to give information in parish registers to the Mormons' Genealogical Society of Utah.


This is unfortunate but it had to happen some time. This same topic came up a few months ago and I recall hearing a priest at Catholic University interviewed. He said something to the effect that the practice of posthumously baptizing faithful Catholic ancestors of faithful Catholics "is inappropriate but ultimately harmless". I tend to agree with him although I also understand the emotions motivating cutting off access. I hope there will be an agreement some time soon, with both sides giving some ground. The Mormons could start things off by agreeing to weed out "baptisms" of "Mr. and Mrs. Eugenio Pacelli" for crying out loud.

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