Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Mormoms Baptize Slain Jews

OK folks, this ain't exactly Earth shattering news, but I find it of interest.

Mormons posthumously baptize slain Jewish reporter Daniel Pearl


Records indicate Pearl was baptized by proxy on June 1, 2011 at a Mormon temple in Twin Falls, Idaho, in practice that recently raised public outcry.
 
I just love expletives like public outcry.
 
Anyway, I have known of that practice for a lot of years now and find it offensive. I learned of it from a Mormon coworker. He just couldn't see why anybody would be offended.
 
Oh well. As a religious person myself, I understand my faith and practices would seem, to others, to say the least, odd. Odd practices abound amongst the various faiths.
 
Odd is OK, but the Mormons crossed a line in that in that they actively denounce the faith and practice of individual persons.
 
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints posthumously baptized slain Jewish reporter Daniel Pearl last year, the Boston Globe reported on Wednesday.




Pearl was kidnapped in Pakistan's biggest city of Karachi in January 2002, where he was researching a story for the Wall Street Journal on Islamist militants, and was later beheaded.


Jews are particularly offended by an attempt to alter the religion of Holocaust victims, who were murdered because of their religion, and the baptism of Holocaust survivors was supposed to have been barred by a 1995 agreement.


Mormons believe posthumous baptism by proxy allows deceased persons to receive the Gospel in the afterlife. The church believes departed souls can then accept or reject the baptismal rites and contends the offerings are not intended to offend anyone.


HAARETZ