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Catholics told not to give LDS parish data

I'm still trying to figure out why it bothers people that mormons do baptisms for the dead if non-mormons don't believe that it has any effect.

HAH! Good one.

I completely agree with Julie... If it is "erroneous" in their view, then what is the big deal?

My Catholic aunt used to fuss about her nephew being 'baptized' posthumously, until she realized it was a gift of love, as if she went to her Rosary or her votive candles with a prayer for a dying or dead loved one.
And she readily accepts that if the LDS Church has the authority from God, to give this gift of choice, she wants to do His will and receive it.
But if it is not true authority, no one is hurt by the exercise; it was still a gift of love.

Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead? I Corinthians 15:29

I love these churches who on the one hand, will do almost anything to attack, embarass and arm twist the LDS Church. But then, the second there's a fire at one of their churches, or a natural disaster somewhere, they churches often turn around and beg for the LDS Church's assistance.

I suppose if being Christian means kicking someone, then asking for their help, only to turn around and kick them again, then maybe the LDS Church isn't Christian after all.

I cannot believe the Catholic church is being so stingy and dog-in-the-manger.

It's not true that we baptize EVERYONE ... it has to be submitted by a family member for that to happen. But it would be nice to have all the information for geneology.

I sometimes wonder if the Pope is thinking clearly. Does he not know the scripture about turning the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the father?

Churches were once the only record keepers, not governments.
Catholics and many other churches have -- for many decades -- received the benefit of having their (highly perishable) parish records copied for them at no cost and no strings attached, by the LDS church.
Those microfilms have saved important local records after fires, floods, mold, mice, and bugs destroyed the originals.

And Julie is right on --- what are they worried they will lose, if they DON'T believe the LDS have any authority? But if the LDS baptisms ARE God's command and therefore effective, wouldn't you want to embrace that? Clear thinking requires one or the other, not both.

Wait! The Pope (Catholics) say that a Mormon must be rebaptized if they join the Catholic church.
So obviously they dont' believe in Mormon baptism.

So why does this bother them?
I figure if they believe this way then give the Mormon's all the names they can handle and more and keep them busy for years.....

Hmm... did the Pope talk out of both sides of his mouth when he was in the USA? OR did something happen in the meeting with the two GAs?

The reason I do my family history is so that I know all about my ancestors. Where they were born, etc. And alot of times to know that kind of data requires records. Is it a bad thing to know about your own ancestors? I don't think so. Not just members of the LDS faith research their family lines, so I don't understand why the Catholic Church would be hesitant in releasing parish records. Aren't members of the Catholic Church interested in their family lines? What if a member of their family many generations past were not Catholic but of some other religion wouldn't they want access to vital information from that particular Church?

The Catholic Church owns the records they can do what they wish. I would hope that LDS authorities might at least have the chance to explain the value of those records when made available to anyone searching for a link to their ancestors. It's also important to stress that there will NOT be an LDS Church in heaven or any other church. The purpose of church is earthly, having nothing to do with what happens after judgement. The role of the church is to inform members on what they need do to be in the presence of their God after death.
Rather than take offense with a practice the LDS Church might be doing, one could look upon baptism for the dead as an unselfish and caring ritual, which if not accepted by the person who's name is used means nothing. If the Catholic church believes that the LDS Church is in error, what does it matter?
The universal availability of the records should mean more than any offense to an LDS ritual.

Another evidence of religious close-mindedness. Are they nervous about losing membership or what? What silly notion they come up with? LDS are merely interested in seeking out their ancestors. What's wrong with that?

It might surprise you, but some people don't like Mormons. Would it bother mormons if let's say the FLDS were re-doing the temple ordinances because they figured the mainstream LDS had gone astray.

The LDS church would be all over that like white on rice. So why be surprised that other churches don't like the LDS church doing the same?

It is hard for me as a convert to the LDS Church to understand this. At no time in my life as a Lutheran or a Mormon would I have been offended by someone lighting a candle for one of my dead relativess at the Catholic church. If Catholics believe that their prayers for the dead are effective, regardless of the religion of the deceased, why should they be offended if the Mormons have a different belief about providing blessings for the dead. This is a sad day for tolerance and mutual respect between the two religions!

I agree with Julie--what's the rub if you don't believe baptisms for the dead have any effect?

Did the Catholic church also decide to refuse LDS humanitarian aid in the future?

I guess I can see the Catholic church's point--if my version of "truth" did not include a doctrinal ordinance clearly mentioned (and practiced) in the New Testament times, I might have some "grave reservations" too.

It shouldn't bother anyone what LDS members do, especially if what they do is false and has no physical or eternal consequence.

I'm still trying to figure out why so many faiths believe their God isn't "god" enough to save those who die without being baptized/receiving rites in mortality? If there is a God, why are God's hands tied in offering salvation? I don't understand why mortals must receive ordinances physically to receive an eternal blessing from God. Isn't God all-powerful and able to grant whatever blessings suit? Truly, I have never understood this. To me, it seems adherents of most faiths worship a divine being who has been severely hampered in ability to actually be all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. Every time I study further there are restrictions on God's ability to eternally bless, forgive and love.

Julie, perhaps they consider the possibility that mormons are right but don't want to admit it. I agree with your point. If I don't think some faith's ideas are true or right I'm not going to worry about it. I don't care if they want to proxy baptise anything that moves, or in this case, doesn't move, for if its not a true practice it does not matter in the eternities anyway.

It makes the Catholic Church sound as if it is afraid LDS doctine might be correct! If the doctrine is wrong, what difference does it make? If it is correct, do you really want to put yourslf in direct opposition to God's will?

This makes the Catholic Church appear unsure of its doctrine.

Is the Catholic Church the only true church or not? If so, what's the big fuss over allowing people all over the world to see their parish records?
Surely Catholics are not trying to hide anything, or are they concerned about Mormons work for the dead?
So what! Catholics don't believe what the Mormons are doing anyway, so why are they creating the (Berlin) Wall? The Mormons don't have any up.