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LDS Church apologizes to Catholics

When I heard of this story and saw the photos I was disgusted and am still that these Elders would be sensless enough to:
1. do what they did
2. put it out out the world wide web for all to see

The act of what they did strikes a deep chord with those of other faiths and wreaks of hypocrosy.

Due to the public component of this story there must be swift and harsh punishment for those involved from a church PR standpoint.

With that said, I really feel sorry for the Elders involved, not so much the real sensless one who put it on the web (no remorse, no maturation since 2006, no reverence for the calling he once held).

The punishment, public embarrassment and reprocussions of their actions will far outwiegh thier acts. I really feel sorry for them, especially if no harm was meant.

It's amazing how one moment of misjudgement can undo all the positive impact these men have ever made in the church. Not only undo but be far more negative than positive. I'm sure this was not thier intention. I think that is the definition of immaturity and stupidity

I served my mission in Colorado. It is sad that this took place. It is sad when people go on missions who don't feel faith that strongly, because they then treat other faiths with the respect they show their own. These missionaries clearly did not understand faith very well, and what it means to respect people.

I hope the members of this community can accept our apology for a senseless act. I think in the MTC they should have a "Respecting Others 101" class. The problem is that when you are nineteen it is difficult ot represent a religion and a people, but you do!

Amazing that some Mormons defend these missionaries or make excuses.

These missionaries have shown your true colors. You do not care about truth. You only care about appearing right and destroying the faiths of others.

We are NOT impressed.

When a Catholic does something wrong, Mormons say the entire Catholic Church is in apostasy.

When Mormons do something wrong, including apostles and leaders, you stubbornly insist "the LDS Church is still true" but the INDIVIDUAL is blamed for making a mistake!

This is a horrible double standard.

And don't claim this is NOT your doctrine! It is in your scriptures. These things are being taught in Sunday School, and Priesthood meeting, and Gospel Doctrine class, and at LDS Seminaries, and even in Elder Holland's Conference talk where he made fun of the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity!

This disrespect for the Catholic Church runs deep, goes all the way to the top, and has a long history in the LDS Church. You are disingenuous to say otherwise.

What I don't like about all of this is the desire to ruin these young men's lives.
I for one, have made many mistakes in my life...nothing horrible, nothing that could not be repaired and forgiven...and I am glad that I don't have to live with the shame forever or keep paying for them.

Let these guys say their apologies and make restitution if necessary and then MOVE ON.

As for the need of "Respecting Others 101". No, that is already done. Missionaries in the MTC are warned about how their actions can cause severe damage. This is not the first time a missionary has done a dumb thing that caused a lot of damage in a community. Actually, when I was in the MTC, we reviewed past stories that were much worse than this.

And if there was one thing I didn't like, was the high number of mission rules that were in place just because one dumb elder did a dumb thing.

Darren B....
Are you going to cut and paste your same comment on ALL 4 bazillion news sites that I am sure will be rabidly foaming at the mouth to print this story? It's getting bo-ring.

They got what they deserved....Its not the 1st time that a Colorado Missionary has done wrong.....but they should do "the time for their crime" Ever heard of consequences for our actions? Wrong is Wrong and Right is Right. They knew what they were doing. I'm sick of reading how missionaries feel
its in their "right" to do whatever and thinking they can get away with it! Enough already!
A Ex Return Missionary that served his time

I must apologize for the actions which these missionaries committed. Though I must honestly admit that I think they should be punished. However, as many religions believe, the mormons, catholics, presbyterian, hindu, and several others believe that individuals are not perfect. Even outside of christian belief it is not a fair statement to say that an entire people are bad. I think that anyone with a belief in a higher state of being, which enriches their lives is a good religion. There are good people in every religion. But yes, people do make mistakes, and as such they must suffer the consequences. It is not that the LDS faith thinks or feels less towards other religions, that is simply not true. In their attempts to convert others to their faith, they suggest that they might build upon the faith that already exists. People are not perfect, and we should not expect them to be, but that does not mean that expectations should not exist. Please do not take offense to what an individual may do to offend you. The LDS faith beliefs in a gospel of perfect faith. Not perfect people possessing perfect faith.

I come as liberal and green as they come (at least for LDS) but I also have to say in this situation though it was a stupid mistake that they shouldn't have made it's not the end of the world. I served my mission in Asia and there were several times where missionaries had to be reminded that we are not 20 year old frat boys but representatives of the Church and cannot play on the statues and artifacts of generations past. I'm sure they were just having a little fun that got out of hand and now they will pay for and regret it. Everybody makes stupid mistakes, particularly 20 year old males. They should pay restitution and move on, not set-off a witch hunt within and without the church for all imperfect missionaries or members. Seriously, the Catholics, Baptists, Lutherans and others think we are wrong; we think they are wrong. But we live together and go forward. End of story.

If these young men were not affiliated with a church and were just plain Bill, Frank and Joe, the parish people would have their investigation, call the police and press charges. The police would then investigate, find the culprits and prosecute in a court of law. A sentence would be handed down and the men would have to fulfill the terms of their sentence. End of game, end of story and end of news coverage. However, the young men in question were LDS missionaries so I am sure this will go on forever even though the LDS Church has disciplined these men, turned their names over to the authorities, is making restitution, apologizing and looking for other ways to go above and beyond the original damage. People that hate the LDS church like Darrel B. will always be around to persecute us. Grow thicker skins people. You do not need to justify your every move to the world. You just need to make sure you are truly living your life so that it reflects the Savior. We love the Lord and we love our fellow man. Soften your hearts and always forgive. Live it 24/7 and your'e good to go.

I am saddened that "missionaries" would desecrate a venerated symbol of another faith. So much for "raising the bar" of worthiness for service. I blame the parents for not raising them better, the bishops at home for not conducting more thorough readiness interviews, and the mission leaders for their lack of supervision. Those elders obviously had too much time on their hands. As punishment, they should buy a new statue, go door-to-door and apologize to every Catholic of that parish, and say 500 rounds of the Rosary. I'm not joking, that's called penance - something elders preach and Catholics practice. And that's from a returned missionary who served in a Catholic country. I am ashamed of you guys and do NOT call you brothers. Those good parish memers are more my brothers and sisters than you are.

Fellow Mormons,

We cannot defend the missionaries who committed this act.

Let them be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the civil law, and let them be severely disciplined within the church. Excommunication would not be too harsh. Public shaming in the press is the least they deserve.

They used their sacred trust (1) to commit crimes and (2) to treat their fellow men cruelly. They did both of these things with deliberation and planning; it was no mere lapse in judgment.

Let us believing Mormons not now make a mistake of our own, by defending or excusing the wicked behavior of the these missionaries. Behavior that resembles theirs -- even in its subtler forms -- must be condemned, not encouraged. The culprits have besmerched the name of all the missionaries who perform their service with goodwill and love, and have threfore hampered them. Above all, they have treated viciously the very people they were sent forth to serve.

So please, fellow Mormons: please think twice before you decide to justify their crimes in print!

If these foolish young men were just plain old Jim, Frank and Bill, the parish would press charges. The police would investigate and arrests would be made. The court would then have a trial and a sentence would be handed down. The men would make restitution in whatever way the court saw fit. The media would yawn and stop coverage as soon as it was reported and this would go the way of all other small town news. However,the men were LDS missionaries and now we are going to hear about it forever even though the LDS church has apologized, given the men's names to authorities, is planning on making restitution and looking for ways to improve relationships with the people and parish. People like Darren B. will continue to take offense till the day they die, and the media will always denigrate us. So what? Get thicker skins and rededicate the living of your life as the Savior would have you live it. Especially the FORGIVE OTHERS part. And remember you don't give offense, offense is taken, which means if you're offended it's your choice to be.

I was raised in the church but have recently decided that the church is no longer for me but let me put to rest the idea Darren B. tries to make. I have deep respect for the LDS church and the Catholic church as well. I believe both institutions teach love and respect for each other and for mankind. What these missionaries did is unexcusable and deeply offensive. The actions of these three young men should not and do not reflect the LDS as a whole just as if a any other denomination should beheld accountable if an LDS church is vandalized. The fact is three young men made an extremely poor decision and only have themselves to blame.

The stories I've read so far haven't explained how this chapel is used. How could a statue that's been so severely broken, for example, go undetected for two years? Not saying this in some twisted defensive mode, just curious.

Why are you making excuses for these missionaries, their all ADULTS 19 years old not 19 months, c'mon they knew exactly what they were doing, making a mockery of other religion and yet they continue to do so and looked disgustingly proud of their action. Let the punishment fit the crime however harsh it may be, they deserve whatever they get, a lesson must be taught and learned by these 3. They left way too soon on their mission, they needed maybe 5 years or more to grow up and learn RESPECT for others. I'm appalled for their action and now the LDS Church steps in to mend the shattered pieces they left behind. I'm LDS all my life but I value my religion and was taught growing up to respect others no matter their race, color & religion, too bad these 3 skipped that course. They brought shame on themselves and their families, what selfish people only thinking of themselves and no one else. I feel bad and apologized to the Catholic Church worldwide, don't judge us because of 3 despicable ungreatful men. I valued and loved my religion just like anyone else.

I will not make excuses for these elders if it is ultimately proven they vandalized the shrine. However, at present we have photos of the men holding a statue's head and other photos of disrespectful but not vanadalizing acts. The statue's head was found just this week by the parish to be broken and had been placed back on the statue at some point. It will take a full investigation to determine whether the statue's head was already broken in 2006 or if the elders did it during their immature photoshoot. It is possible, however unlikely, that they found the head already broken and, after taking photos with it they evidently thought humorous, they replaced it on the statue, where it went unnoticed until this week. Let's wait and see what the Sheriff's investigation establishes, at least regarding whether any criminal acts such as vanadalism occurred or whether this was purely mockery without intent to damage. Clearly they were in the wrong, but let's not put the cart before the horse when assessing criminal culpability. And to those of you who served missions in predominantly Catholic countries, remember: He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.

How many who read of this will be willing to recognize that the sad actions of these three are a really weird exception to the norm, and not at all representative of the church or of missionaries in general?

Was Judas a typical Christian?

Wow Darren B. Seems like you've been waiting for something this to happen so you could go on your little temper tantrum.

I've never been in a Sunday School class, Seminary class, or any class in my Mormon upbringing that teaches about the Catholic Church.

You're trying to compare doctrinal errors to mistakes people make. It's not the molestation of children by a minority of Catholic priests that determines the truthfulness of your doctrines. The mistakes of any one person or group of people within a religion does not determine truth of their faith. We all do stupid things. We all have to chose our religious beliefs from doctrine we learn from the scriptures and leaders.

I'm glad these missionaries will be punished for their stupidity.

As an LDS member I also apologize for their actions and know that one day (if they haven't already) they will grow up and realize the foolishnes and disrespect of their actions.

I think that the LDS/Catholic relationship in Salt Lake is very good. We all could learn from our leader's example here, that although we have differing beliefs we can be the best of friends.

To Darren B - your correct and incorrect points are so horribly intertwined it is hard to know where to start. These missionaries showed their individual immaturity, not the church's true colors. We DO value truth, and we do NOT aim to destroy anyone's faith. You speak as if you know well what we teach, yet you either never really listened or you are misrepresenting what you've heard.

We teach that the apostasy spoken of in the Bible was a complete apostasy, not the partial apostasy that other faiths teach (and we don't tie this to one Catholic's misdeeds). We teach that there is good in ALL faiths and churches, but that something is missing in each of them. We also teach that each person is responsible for his own actions.

What is disingenuous is taking the actions (however reprehensible) of a few people and painting an entire global organization with the same brush. I've known many Catholics - some I respect, some I don't. But I base that on their individual actions, not their religion.

By the way, I wonder how non-Catholic Christians feel about you claiming the Trinity doctrine as solely Catholic?

>>"These missionaries have shown your true colors. You do not care about truth. You only care about appearing right and destroying the faiths of others."

You are painting with a very broad brush.

>>"We are NOT impressed."

Just who is the "we," YOU are authorized to speak for?

>>"When a Catholic does something wrong, Mormons say the entire Catholic Church is in apostasy."

Simply not true.

>>"When Mormons do something wrong, including apostles and leaders, you stubbornly insist "the LDS Church is still true" but the INDIVIDUAL is blamed for making a mistake!"

Please. A believing Catholic or Evangelical would say the same thing. Priests who are pedophiles, for instance, do not represent the whole Catholic Church. The Reverend Ted Haggard does not represent all Evangelicals.

>>"And don't claim this is NOT your doctrine!"

Yes, we do claim that our Church is true. This is a claim you can expect us not to back away from.

>>"This disrespect for the Catholic Church runs deep, goes all the way to the top, and has a long history in the LDS Church. You are disingenuous to say otherwise"

Not true. Again you are painting with way to broad a brush.