SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jewish leaders released statements today surrounding baptisms of Holocaust victims in LDS temples.
"Over the years, survivors of the Holocaust have pointed out to the Church that its practice of posthumous proxy baptism has unintentionally caused pain due to the inclusion of names of those who perished in the Holocaust. As a result of dialogue and extraordinary efforts of the Church, computer systems and policy initiatives have been put in place that resolve this issue, which is greatly appreciated by the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, the result of which will be felt throughout the world."
"It is gratifying that the good faith efforts undertaken over the years to deal with an important issue of sensitivity to the Jewish Holocaust survivor community have eliminated a source of tension between our two groups, enhancing our ability to cooperate, including in important programs of humanitarian aid across the world."
The Jewish Week newspaper says the new pact "stipulates that the Mormon Church will allow Jewish Holocaust victims to be the only category exempt from Church doctrine that calls for vicarious baptism for the dead, giving souls the choice to enter the Kingdom of God."
And the paper, based in New York says "As a result of the resolution, both sides predict major efforts of future cooperation."
The Jewish Week website has an
in-depth article on this agreement.
