Survivors say Mormons reneging on 1995 baptism pledge

By Ben Harris · November 12, 2008

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NEW YORK (JTA) -- A Holocaust survivor organization has broken off negotiations with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints over its practice of posthumously baptizing Jewish victims of the Nazis.

At a news conference Monday, leaders of the American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, seated in front of panels listing names of Holocaust victims they say were baptized by the Mormons, said that 14 years of quiet negotiations have proven fruitless.

“We felt we had come to the end of the line,” Ernest Michel, the honorary chairman of the American Gathering, told JTA. “There is no further point in meeting with them.”

Mormon leaders reacted with surprise to news of the American Gathering’s decision. In a statement, the church said it stood by its 1995 commitment to stop baptizing Holocaust victims and remove their names from the database if they become known—the only remaining question was how best to do so. As recently as Nov. 6, the church wrote to Michel to describe further steps to allay the concerns of survivors.

“We empathize with the depth of feeling of all Jews regarding the Holocaust,” the church said in the statement. “It is our regard and empathy that have kept us talking for so many years.”

The concern of Holocaust survivors stems from the Mormon belief that individuals retain the opportunity to accept or reject church sacraments, including baptism, even after death. Under church policy, members are supposed to submit names only of their relatives. The church has become a global leader in genealogical research to facilitate the research of family histories.

In 1995, the church agreed to remove the names of Holocaust victims from its database, known as the International Genealogical Index, or IGI—a rare suspension of church practice, the church says, done because of the singular nature of the Holocaust and the sensitivities of survivors.

Michel claims, however, that new baptisms continue to be performed and new names submitted to the database, though he acknowledges the complexity of preventing new submissions. Millions of church members submit 30,000 new names a day, the church says, and improper submissions are always expected. A new system under development would make it easier to flag submissions as Holocaust victims for whom temple ordinances should not be performed.

“That’s their problem, it’s not my problem,” Michel said. “They put them in, they got to take them out. That’s the bottom line.”

Jewish communal leaders have been reluctant to back Michel’s campaign, saying that at a time of mounting challenges on several fronts, the internal practices of another religious group—offensive as they may be—should not be a top Jewish agenda item.

Rabbi Eric Yoffie, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, says Michel expressed interest in discussing the matter with him. But the Reform leader told JTA that he does not see making it a high-priority issue. Yoffie says the internal processes of the Mormon church are something over which Jews have no control.

“I don’t think this is going to become a major focus of the Jewish community, which now is dealing with a whole range of issues,” Yoffie said. “I wish them well in their efforts.”

But Michel, who frequently stresses that his negotiations with the Mormons have always remained polite and respectful, says the practice is hurtful to Holocaust survivors. He also worries about the uses to which Holocaust deniers may someday put the Mormon records.

"They tell me that my parents’ Jewishness has not been altered," said Michel’s prepared remarks for the news conference, which was held on the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht. "But in 100 years, how will they be able to guarantee that my mother and father of blessed memory, who lived as Jews and were slaughtered by Hitler for no other reason than they were Jews, will someday not be identified as Mormon victims of the Holocaust?"

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JEROME GINSBURG

11/13/08 04:05 PM

THE MORMANS BELIEVE IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BAPTISED YOU CANNOT GET INTO HEAVEN. THEY BAPTISE THE DEAD SO THEY CAN GET INTO HEAVEN. VOLUNTEERS DO THIS 24 HOURS A DAY SO THAT PEOPLE WHO DIED WHO NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BAPTISED ARE NOT DENIED HEAVEN. THEY GAIN NOTHING FROM THIS PRACTICE FOR THIE CHURCH AND THEY DO NOT SOLICIT CONTRIBUTIONS TO DO THIS. THIS IS DONE AS A GGOD DEED TO SAVE SOULS.
IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN THEIR PRACTICE IT DOES NOT CHANGE THE DEAD FROM WHAT THEY WERE TO A MORMAN. I PERSONALLY THINK IT IS REMARKABLE ACT OF SELFLESSNESS EVEN THOUGH I DO NOT ACCEPT THEIR BELIEFS. THEY HAVE BAPTISED MILLIONNS OF DEAD PEOPLE WHO THEY DID NOT AND NEVER WILL KNOW.

Jerry Scheinberg

11/13/08 07:28 PM

The Mormon Church’s complete disregard for the wishes of Jews, no matter how polite their attitude, shows a disgusting lack of respect for Judaism. This is ironic from a religion that quickly gets up in arms when other Christians call them a cult and disown them as Christians. To call this a selfless act is to call murder a selfless act because the world is over populated.

john r

11/15/08 06:28 PM

@Jerry Scheinberg,

From my humble perspective, the complete REGARD for the wishes of Jews is quite impressive. That one religion is listening to another and adjusting their practices, to whatever degree, to accommodate their religion and peoples’ requests is almost unparalleled in today’s world.

If the Mormon church was as disrespectful as you claim they wouldn’t have even bothered listening, considering and taking action on concerns held by another religion. That is rare, and goes to show the respect the church has towards the victims and survivors of the holocaust, their descendants and the Jewish people in general.

Mr. Michel’s notion that someday in the future the victims will be listed as Mormons is preposterous. Accusing Mormons of being holocaust deniers or facilitators of such ignorant people is far more hurtful than anything your friends the Mormons are doing which happens to be a selfless labor of love and compassion, whether you agree with it or not.

I’ve known and spoken to Mormons who we’re soldiers in WW2 who were part the liberation forces that freed many Jews from the concentration camps. Their testimony and description of the atrocities committed in those camps against the Jewish people by Hitler and the Nazis will burn in my memory for as long as I live and will not be permitted to be denied in my presence nor that those who suffered there were not Jews and persecuted for that reason.

Mormons are friends and allies to the Jews. Mormon theology is singular among the Christian community. Whereas many Christian denominations may discount, criticize or in some cases shamefully vilify the Jews. Mormons on the other hand know better and are grateful for the contribution and legacy of faith the Jews have given the world. We maintain that the Jews and those of the House of Israel ARE the people of G-d and have part in the blessings promised to Abraham.

Gratitude and respect toward the Jews is taught in Mormon churches and is even part Mormon Holy Writ.:

<ahref ="http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/29">2nd Nephi 29</a>

4 But thus saith the Lord God: O fools, they shall have a Bible; and it shall proceed forth from the Jews, mine ancient covenant people. And what thank they the Jews for the Bible which they receive from them? Yea, what do the Gentiles mean? Do they remember the travails, and the labors, and the pains of the Jews, and their diligence unto me, in bringing forth salvation unto the Gentiles?
5 O ye Gentiles, have ye remembered the Jews, mine ancient covenant people? Nay; but ye have accursed them, and have hated them, and have not sought to recover them. But behold, I will return all these things upon your own heads; for I the Lord have not forgotten my people.
6 Thou fool, that shall say: A Bible, we have got a Bible, and we need no more Bible. Have ye obtained a Bible save it were by the Jews?

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This was written in response to those who would discount the Jews. Mormons do not, and I post this here humbly to illustrate a point that Mormons are your friends and have been very gracious in considering Jewish concerns about the practice of Baptism for the Dead and have gone so far as altering the practice to accommodate them. Mormons are in no way obligated to, but have out of respect. So whether you agree or not with Mormon practices, remember they are your friends and have shown much respect. Is it too much to expect the same?

one last point to consider. There are Mormon descendants of the Holocaust who have just as much right as their Jewish brothers and sisters to be concerned for the eternal welfare of their ancestors, their wishes should not be overlooked either. I find that Mr. Michel’s organization Unilaterally ending discussion with the church out of frustration on this sensitive issue is not helpful to either party and only fuels the fires of misunderstanding intolerance and disrespect.

Solutions can be found, and respectfully.

I apologize for the long post but this is an issue I feel requires a more thoughtful response.

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