Mormons barred from receiving Catholic parish records
Washington, May. 5, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The Vatican has instructed diocesan officials not to provide information from parish records for to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints-- popularly known as the Mormon faith-- the Catholic News Service reports.
The Vatican directive, contained in a letter that was released on April 5, reflects concerns that Mormons will use the parish records as the basis for "posthumous rebaptisms" of Catholics. The Catholic Church objects to the Mormon practice of "rebaptism" for two reasons: first because baptism is permanent, and cannot be repeated; second because the "baptism" practiced by Mormons is invalid, since the faithful are not baptized "in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
The Vatican ruling could create tensions between Catholic and Mormon officials. Mormon leaders take pride in the fact that they allow free use of their enormous data-base of genealogical research to members of all faiths.
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