Moving the Bar

The Washington Post carries an AP story about the threatened excommunication of Buckley Jeppson from the LDS Church. Mormon leaders fault Buckley for being married to his husband in Canada.

In the past, the Mormon prophet Gordon Hinckley has declared that homosexuals are treated no different from heterosexuals. For example, Hinckley said in an interview published by the San Francisco Chronicle on March 13, 1997:

"Now, we have gays in the church. Good people. We take no action against such people—provided they don't become involved in transgression, sexual transgression. If they do, we do with them exactly what we'd do with heterosexuals who transgress. We have a very strong moral teaching concerning abstinence before marriage and total fidelity following marriage. And, regardless of whether they're heterosexuals or otherwise, if they step over that line there are certain sanctions, certain penalties that are imposed."

Now that gays and lesbians can actually get married, it seems that the LDS Church is about to establish a new standard. LDS leaders seem to prepare to declare marriage a sin.

You can read more about Buckley Jeppson's case at the web site of the Safe Space Coalition, which also provides you the opportunity to share your opinion about this issue with LDS leaders. The Safe Space Coalition is a group of Mormons and friends of Mormons who strive to provide a safe space beyond despair and suicide for gay and lesbian Latter-day Saints.