SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - During his afternoon speech on Sunday at the LDS General Conference, apostle Dallin Oaks denounced single and same-sex parenthood.
Oaks, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, says children raised by a single parent or gay couple will be at a disadvantage.
"Divorcing parents inevitably teach a negative lesson," Oaks said.
Clair Mellenthin, LCSW says kids growing up in a single parent home can be a disadvantage.
"What we know sociologically and psychologically is there is truth to that," she said.
So what do Utahns think? Can single parents get the job done?
"I think they get it done," said Brit Stansfield, a married mother of two. "But is the mom home with the kids and interacting with them? No, because she's at work all the time"
Robert Smith, a married father of three, says it's a case-by-case type of situation.
"You can have that same love and protection in a single family home," he said.
"There are surely cases when a divorce is necessary for the good of the children, but those circumstances are exceptional," said Oaks. "In most marital contests the contending parents should give much greater weight to the interests of the children."
Mellenthin says kids do not suffer as a result of being raised by a same-sex couple.
"With a healthy, caring gay couple who raises a family, research is showing that kids are not at a disadvantage," she said.
ABC 4 talked with a spokesman with the LDS Church seeing if Oaks would be available for comment or if the church planned to release a statement. We were told Oaks' words speak for themselves.
