From Deseret News archives:
Posthumous baptism is a terrible insult to Jews
Unfortunately friends sometimes step on the toes of friends, causing great pain. This is the essence of the controversy over posthumous baptism of Jews by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The dictionary definition of baptism is "the ceremony or sacrament of admitting a person into Christianity." What can be more insulting to a non-Christian than to perform this religious ritual on their ancestors? Baptism is particularly insulting to Jews because it reminds them of the centuries of persecution against Jews by Christians where their ancestors were given a choice; be baptized or suffer death. There are many Mormons living today who can trace their family history back to people who chose Option 1. Jewish history books are filled with martyrs who chose Option 2.
Some of my Mormon friends have told me the ritual is an act of love. While this may be true, something that is intended as an act of love that causes the receiver pain becomes an act of cruelty.
The bottom line is that no person has a right to involve someone else's family in their religion. As I have told many of my Mormon friends, to many Jews including myself "baptize" is the second ugliest word in the English language. The ugliest word is "gassed." The third ugliest word is "raped."
To many Jews, "baptized" has a greater emotional reaction because to them and me to posthumously baptize a Jew is to rape his soul.
Gary Mokotoff is on the board of directors of the Federation of Genealogical Societies and Association of Professional Genealogists.
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