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LDS Church apologizes to Catholics

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LTo Rosen: | 1:00 p.m. March 16, 2008

Your points are well taken; but should we kick them out of the Church over this? What are churches for, for crying out loud? The and cry to "kick them out of the Church" that we hear everywhere these days, is ridiculous.

Elaine J. | 1:36 p.m. March 16, 2008

Wow, after reading a few of these comments, it sounds as if a lot of anger is not only being directed at these missionaries, but also at the LDS Church. I've noticed on the news for quite a few years, when a Mormon commits a crime, their religion is one of the first thing told about them, but they don't seem to do that with other religions. Why is that? A lot of people are making comments on what punishment these missionaries deserve, but that's not up to us. What did Jesus say in Luke 6:37-38? "Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:..For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Wasn't it also Jesus, while handing on the cross said "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do". His life was an example to us and we should follow Him and not be so quick to judge. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Anonymous | 2:37 p.m. March 16, 2008

I cannot imagine what Church members have been reading or hearing when they claim they have never heard anything negative taught about other religions.

Are you so blinded by your own biases? Just take off your LDS glasses for a moment and imagine that you are Catholic. Now imagine how you would feel about the following:

Joseph-Smith-History: ï¿½all their creeds were an abomination in [Godï¿½s] sight; that those professors were all corrupt.ï¿½

Talmage: The Great Apostasy - detailed analysis of failings, faults, errors, and sins of the Catholic Church and leaders.

Elder Holland: Conference Talk October 2007 - attacked Catholic doctrine of the Trinity, saying it is "a Trinitarian notion never set forth in the scriptures because it is not true."

Interestingly, C.S. Lewis is quoted repeatedly by LDS Apostles in Conference talks, yet C.S. Lewis was a Trinitarian! You cannot understand C.S. Lewis without understanding his Trinitarian Theology! And C.S. Lewis disagrees explicitly with Holland.

Holland said, "We agree with our critics on at least that pointï¿½that such a formulation for divinity is truly incomprehensible." But C.S. Lewis made it comprehensible. See Mere Christianity: The Three-Personal God. If you disagree, stop quoting C.S. Lewis at all!

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 5:11 p.m. March 16, 2008

Religious tolerance is given lip-service only because intolerance is built into the sacred writings of the largest religions - Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

It is time we acknowledged that no real foundation exists within the canons of these religions for religious tolerance and religious diversity.

Verl Doman | 6:30 p.m. March 16, 2008

Just Ed,

Your comments were very "Christlike". I cannot forget the Amish whose children were murdered in the School in Pennsylvania and how truly forgiving they were. Your comments and the Amish are example we can all do well to emmulate.

Dewaine M. Brown | 9:54 p.m. March 16, 2008

Mormon College Students volunteered their labor time and the Catholic Church members raised $6,000
to complete landscaping for a newly constructed chapel in the then eastern part of Las Vegas.
A student at UNLV was working towards getting a degree in archectural landscaping. He approached Father Ben with the idea that he and other college students would landscape their church grounds if he could bring the approximate needs of plants, trees, grass seed and irrigation system.
When this was completed, my friend Dominic Bianchi asked if I knew what some Mormon boys had done to the Catholic Church on Mountain Vista.
When he said they had done it for $6,000 and donated labor, when Father Ben stated the appraisal to have it done commercially was $30,000.
This was in the late 1970's. It never reached the newspapers, as it shouldn't. It was a service project by this young man and some of his Institue friends.

Anonymous | 11:13 p.m. March 16, 2008

Religious intolerance and persecution are not to be treated lightly. The most monstrous crimes against humanity have invariably been inspired by unjustified belief and religious dogma.

Some argue that the most horrific crimes against humanity were motivated by secular/atheistic ideologies. This is simply untrue. Auschwitz, the gulag, and the killing fields are not examples of what happens when people become TOO CRITICAL of unjustified beliefs; on the contrary, these horrors testify to the dangers of not thinking critically enough even about secular ideologies and the dogmas they perpetuate. Communism was little more than a political religion.

But even so, at the heart of Mao's political apparatus was a rigid ideology (Lysenko's socialist biology), and the anti-Semitism that built the crematoria brick by brick comes by way of Christian theology (Deuteronomy13:12-16; see The Protocols of the Elders of Zion; G. Lewy, The Catholic Church and Nazi Germany).

Guardian Angel | 11:45 a.m. March 17, 2008

These young missionaries, for what ever reason, made a decision to do something that will most likely affect them for a long time. I am not a Mormon, nor do I believe what they believe, but I know that the Mormon Church would find this totally unacceptable behavior for any of their members. I'm sure it will be handled in a way that will help correct this type of behavior in the future, and that they will be forgiven by their church and the community where it happened.

Denice | 1:42 p.m. March 17, 2008

Russ, Darren B. and others,

This behavior is NOT in the "genes" of the "Mormon's" I'd never do something like that! I don't feel that other churches are lower than the dirt. I don't feel that they have all truths. And I simply don't believe in what they believe. While I was on my mission, people criticized and stood outside the dedication of our temple saying "we aren't christian" because we don't believe in the trinity. Elder Holland simply was explaining why we don't believe in the trinity. People also criticized us for not having a cross in our worship services, around our necks, etc. Although I know the scriptures of why people worship the cross. I don't believe in wearing a cross around my neck because it was the murder weapon. If a family member died by gun,knife, etc., I wouldn't go hanging them around my neck. I wouldn't put it in my worship services. I would put pictures of them up. I would teach people about them and how Christ made it possible to be with them again. Sadly, there are in every church,culture,etc A,B,C,D,F members etc. I'm sorry you're acquainted with C,D,& F members. Hopefully they'll repent.

Denice Continued | 2:42 p.m. March 17, 2008

P.s. People are capable of repenting as did the apostle Paul. People who are F members can become D members and those who are D members C,C can become B members and B, A members. That's the beauty of repentance. These boys made a terrible choice and will pay the consequences for it. But the beauty of Jesus Christ is that he made it possible for everybody to repent and become better. Without Jesus Christ's atonement, all would be hardened, fallen and lost. These boys as well as many Catholic priests, and other individuals made wrong choices and will have to suffer the consequences. Only those who deny the Holy Ghost will not receive forgiveness. I'm paraphrasing "Though their sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow. Though their sins be as crimson, they shall be as wool." Be careful about judging others, for with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged. Christ is the judge and we are given judgement to judge between good and evil. We need to judge that which is good as being from Christ. But see you don't judge wrongfully, but lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not.

Morgana | 9:40 p.m. March 18, 2008

"Those missionaries who have since returned home will face disciplinary action from the church," the statement read."

TRANSLATION: A slap on the wrist!

"The missionary who was still serving in Colorado has also been disciplined and his mission terminated." TRANSLATION: Another slap on the wrist!

Anonymous | 6:33 a.m. March 21, 2008

Does anyone know of any other articles, on the blogs, on similar topics that allow all you guys to "RIP" on eachother. I have found it quite entertaining but sadly many speak as though they are an autority trying to get others to "SEE" the light.

I appreciate the comments that are just opinion. I'm sad to see comments that are bent on proving points or disproving others in 200 words or less.

Bashing religions... I just don't get it.

California Reader | 1:01 a.m. March 24, 2008

I just read the comment from someone who "blames the parents". I have no doubt that the parents did their best in raising these men. Do not try to excuse away the bad behavior of yourself or others by blaming parents. These men have their agency and chose to do wrong. We all need to take responsibility for our own actions and not point the finger of blame at the parents.

Anonymous | 5:06 a.m. May 1, 2008

Whether one is Mormon or Catholic this act has a purpose, with all to understand...not from our "own understanding" but from Our Heavenly Fathers..yes I agree that those involved should be dealt with and consequences served....AFTER the hurt we need to apply the principle of forgiveness, We must all be reminded that each of us "can chose for ourselves". The gift of agency. Our actions will determine our place in the after life.

Marcelo Carioca | 6:50 a.m. June 17, 2009

The thing had happened and LDS Church issued an apologize. So what is the problem ? No one, I mean, no organized group wants to be represented by people who make mistakes, but the naked truth is: It was a joke performed by young men ! They didnt break the statue ! They just made fun pics ! I'd seen commentaries and critizes thet this is despicable and unexcuseable, but this is hipocrits ! Everybody was one younger ! You are telling us that you guys were perfect citizens by the time you were young ? Come on !
Sad the their mission was terminated and they have to face a diciplinary action ! But The Jesus Christ Church has an image to consider, in old and new eras.

Best regards from Brazil

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