Mormon church blocks whistle-blower’s access to baptism data
A technological crackdown, telegraphed by Mormon leaders, has effectively blocked the pre-eminent whistle-blower of controversial proxy baptisms from accessing the LDS Church’s database that chronicles so-called baptisms for the dead.
LDS officials defend the move, saying it helps prevent overzealous Mormons and mischief-makers from violating church policy by submitting the names of prominent Jewish figures, such as Anne Frank and Daniel Pearl, both discovered on the baptism rolls in recent weeks.
But the decision to suspend the New FamilySearch accounts of anyone searching for Jewish Holocaust victims or celebrities also freezes out Utah researcher Helen Radkey, whose baptism discoveries have embarrassed the LDS Church for decades.
Suggested ground rules:
This is a problem with a few overzealous members, and a church leadership that is unwilling to discipline those members enough to discourage this.
This is not a place to bash all religion, or all lds people.
Perhaps we can discuss possible solutions, gather more information, spread the news of the latest development. That is my intent.
Possible solution:
Trust, but verify.
I have lived in Utah 14.5 years, and plan to stay for the foreseeable future. I have had many LDS friends, coworkers, neighbors, and family members over the last 25 years. And there are many LDS people who vote Democratic, run as Democrats, and work for the Democratic Party.
I do wonder what right I have to not be baptized posthumously. Or that my family members aren't. This is something I can hopefully discuss with my LDS family members.
However, the long history of forced conversions of Jewish people, the official and previous agreements, the continued news of re-baptisms, and now shutting down the best whistleblower seems . . . problematic.
The Issue of The Mormon Baptisms of Jewish Holocaust Victims and Other Jewish Dead
There is a copy of the 1995 agreement in the notes of this web document.