Vatican tells local bishops not to share parish data with LDS
David May 5th, 2008
What may be a blow to LDS Church efforts to digitize and index historical records, the Vatican has sent a letter to diocese around the world to not share parish records with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. From the Deseret News (May 4),
… the Vatican had "grave reservations" about the LDS Church’s practice of posthumous baptisms by proxy, a practice in which the names of the deceased are baptized into the LDS faith so that they may be united in the afterlife with LDS families, if they so choose.
The LDS Church has not made a statement yet regarding this issue.
Church spokesman Mike Otterson said the church may have more to say on the subject later in the week and that LDS officials had not yet made contact with Vatican representatives about the issue.
After having several instances where Jewish individuals have escalated concerns regarding LDS baptism of Jewish holocaust victims (see Deseret News, Dec 19 2006), this could also impact the Church’s relations with other organized religions.
Let me understand this by trying to apply this way to think to another subject:
I don’t believe in Santa Claus. But I make sure he can’t get through my cheminey by plugging it?
I knew I liked John Paul II for a good reason.
I hope that when all the paper record will have been lost people (I am not talking about members) will remember who’s fault it is.
What is the policy of LDS church on sharing its data base with public?
My understanding that temple records are not available for public view either.
Some of this could be useful to its own members on family history research.
@Roland
The full membership and temple ordinance data of living individuals are not shared by the Church. Both of these sources are available on the new FamilySearch web site because site security confirms your membership information prior to permitting access. However, for years anyone that wants to see if any temple work has been done for a deceased individual may look this information up in the IGI (International Genealogical Index) at http://www.familysearch.org
The Catholic perspective is that they don’t want to imply they condone a “heretical” LDS practice (baptizing for the dead). However, this is a very specific exclusion, deliberately targeting and seemingly marginalizing the LDS.
[…] Catholic church’s concerns about LDS baptism […]
I found at least one instance where LDS Church records lists the Confirmation Date of my ancestor as being before that of his Baptism Date (from 1860). New Family Search does not let me correct that.
How do I get a copy of the record to see which is the correct date.
If the records of the church are the basis for our admission into the celestial kingdom and how can I make sure they are done correctly?
Sounds like a lose/lose situation for both religions. Hopefully, they’ll reconsider.