these boys need support and help and forgiveness.
what kind of church would "disfellowship", excommunicate, or punish them....
what kind of christians are you people.
it appears your sort of mean-spirited religion fosters this kind of behavior.

There are over 50,000 missionaries currently serving throughout the world. I recall serving as a missionary when the Sister's were killed in the Carolina's and we HAD to remove our nametags for 2 weeks for security reasons. Being a missionary is a priveledge and honor, no matter what age, some people never learn respect or manners or descency regarding other people. Don't just condemn the religion, look at the individual first.

TO cseattle ".....I recall serving as a missionary when the Sister's were killed in the Carolina's and we HAD to remove our nametags for 2 weeks for security reasons. Being a missionary is a priveledge and honor, no matter what age...."

If you were truly a soldier of God, you wouldn't need to remove nametags for security reasons, which means that you guys weren't secure enough in your souls and lacked faith that God will protect you.

Being a missionary is only a priviledge to the LDS church, which is their systematic way to recruit for members, hence, more tithing, and more properties to buy and more ownership of things as they grow. The more they have, the more power they get to exercise over others.

This is the same with all religions, not just the LDS, so it's not as the sweet sounding priviledge one is led to believe.

The destructive radicals of the Muslims who are suicide bombers tend to be preached the same way as well, that is, it's a priviledge and honor to die and kill others with them. This is their sad and pathetic belief system, and it's absolutely delusional.

As a catholic, this story almost made me cry...this statue was of a martyr the lack of respect shown makes me physically ill. On the other hand there are good people who have voiced outrage, apoligized and even some who are trying to make reperations;these actions have given me some peace. Those that bring up crimes of catholics or crimes of mormons only bring more pain into this discussion.
The real point is that this parish has been DEEPLY injured (if you don't understand how/why please ask) and there is a need for these young men to be held accountable by the LDS church. I know being sent home from a mission is a HUGE deal but I know that from being married to an LDS man. To most Catholics it sounds like the Church is protecting these men. To the silent majority of reasonable and good people of both faiths who will have to endure the hate, ignorance, intolerance, and fear resulting from this incident ; I send all my sympathy