SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - A man being called a Mormon critic of Mitt Romney now faces possible excommunication.
David Twede, the managing editor of the MormonThink.com website, will soon appear before an LDS disciplinary council to answer questions about his controversial writings.
But, in very strong language, the LDS Church is making clear there is another side to this story.
The headline on the Daily Beast website says, “Mormons want to excommunicate Romney critic.”
It's one of the most popular articles Friday on the Daily Beast website.
It tells the story of David Twede, a 5th generation Mormon.
Twede has also written several controversial articles about Mitt Romney, the LDS Church and Temple activity.
According to the Daily Beast, Twede says he recently met with 4 LDS Church officials in Florida and was told to "cease and desist."
In fact, a letter posted on Twede's blog says he's been invited to a disciplinary council hearing on September 30th.
The letter says that this is because he's "reported to have been in apostasy."
But the headline suggesting Twede faces excommunication because of his Romney comments may be misleading.
In an exclusive email to ABC 4, Twede says he believes it's his comments about LDS temple activity which are most troubling to the LDS Church.
And late Friday afternoon, a statement from the LDS Church seems to back that up.
It says,
"It is patently false for someone to suggest they face Church discipline for having questions or for expressing a political view. The Church is an advocate of individual choice. It is a core tenet of our faith."
The LDS Church also says excommunication is only one possible outcome here.
Other disciplinary options are possible and, according to the Church, more common.
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