Salt Lake City-
The Church of Jesus Christ of the latter
On Thursday, day Saints abolished the rules prohibiting the baptism of gay parents and children and put the same label
As a sexual partner of a sinner eligible for deportation
This marks a reversal of policy, which has been condemned as a catalyst for greater sympathy for the issue of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
The LGBTQ church members and groups who support them are pleased with what they call a significant step forward in faith.
However, they also said they were angry at the harm caused by 2015 policies and the failure of church leaders to apologize.
In a statement posted online, church leaders describe these changes as "very positive policies" and should help "affected families ".
"The supreme leadership group of faith, known as the first chairman, made a decision after" eager, united prayer to understand God's will on these issues, "the statement said . ".
The faith, known as the Mormon church, says it has not changed its theoretical opposition to same-sex marriage and still thinks it is the same --
Sexual relations are "serious violations ".
"We want to reduce the hatred and debate that is so prevalent today," the statement said . ".
The rules approved by global church leaders in 2015 prohibit children living with gay parents from being baptized until they reach the age of 18 and deny this --
Sexual relations.
With this change, as long as the parents approve baptism and acknowledge that the child will accept the church doctrine, the child of a gay parent can now be baptized. People in same-
Sexual relations will no longer be considered "apostate", the term used by religion to teach inaccurate teachings or to openly defy the guidance of church leaders.
Apostate can be kicked out of religion.
LGBQT members and allies have widely condemned the label as belittling and hurting those who have already sought acceptance in their faith.
"It's a shame.
It's like wearing a scarlet letter, "said Nathan Kitchen, a gay Mormon father of five children in Gilbert, Arizona.
"You are cut off, you are an abandoned person.
"The Kitchen said he cried when he heard news of the new policy.
The kitchen, also the chairman of an organization called "affirmation", which supports members of the gay, bisexual and transgender church, said the old policy triggered a painful custody dispute, because heterosexual parents try to make sure that their children become full members of the faith.
Wendy Montgomery, an Arizona mother of a gay son, said she was happy that the rules had changed, but she believed that the harm caused by previous policies could not be eliminated.
After the 2015 policy was formulated, members of the lifelong Church left religion.
"Every LGBQT Mormon I know is deeply hurt and scarred," Montgomery said, who is a member of a mother group called "Dragon Mom,"
The news came two days before Saturday.
The annual church meeting in Salt Lake City.
It is not clear whether church leaders will talk more about these changes as they speak at the meeting.
Common Erika Munson
The founder of the Mormon architecture Bridge LGBTQ advocacy group said, "It feels good to hear this voice," as the change took place after strong protests from church members.
"We see the church correcting a mistake in a record period of time," Munson said . ".
"Usually these things may take 100 or more.
"This has broken a major detour in the past ten years --
Faith is on the long road to more compassion on the issue of gay, bisexual and transgender people, while insisting on the theoretical opposition to close relationships between Homosexuality
Patrick Mason, a religious professor at Claremont Graduate University in California, said he studied sexual relations.
He said the policy appears to have damaged the image of the church and touched the nerves of liberal and conservative, orthodox members.
"This policy always seems inappropriate," Mason said . "
Jana Riess, who surveyed religious members in her book, said that the growth of religious members has stagnated in recent years and that young members have opposed policies at a much higher rate than older members, "the next Mormon: how Millennials Change the ld church.
"Faith leaders have previously explained that 2015 rules are designed to protect children by not putting children on potential tugs --of-
War between the same beliefs
Sex couples raise them, teach and move in church.
Russell M, chairman of the Church
Nelson, who was at the time a member of a governing body that helped the president lead the church, defended the policy in his 2016 speech, said he had received a revelation at the time --
President Thomas.
Monson and other leaders gave them "spiritual confirmation" that the rules were correct after many states legalized same-sex marriage.
Matthew Bowman, associate professor of history at Henderson State University in akadlefiya, Arkansas, said that the speed at which church leaders and Nelson change their routes on this issue is rare and surprising, people who study faith
"It seems to show that in the end they think it's doing more harm than good," Bowman said . ".