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Archiver > QUEBEC-RESEARCH > 2008-05 > 1210431539


From: "FredV" <>
Subject: [Q-R] Catholic Churches Told To Keep Records FromFamilySearchDigitizers
Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 10:58:59 -0400
References: <be3.2d896181.35570688@aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <be3.2d896181.35570688@aol.com>


Hi folks, as I've seen several notes about this, I'll add my two cents..

Before I comment, you should know at least two things..
1) I'm a Mormon Branch president (Bishop)
2) For years, my wife Holly and I ran an LDS family history center on Long
Island.
3) Ok, three things..I'm the QR list creator, and admin.

The LDS church baptism for the dead, is done by members of the church out of
love and respect for their ancestors. It takes about 17 hours for each name
to be processed in a Temple, for which each submitter is usually present.
Latter-day Saints probably spend an average of several hundred dollars
traveling to and from Temples to do this work, in my case, I travel about 5
hours total, and have to cross the border into Canada. We provide the
resulting information online (And "soon", you will be able to view the
actual records online, those that organizations like the Catholic Church
permit us to copy) for free, and will continue to do so. We have about 2,500
family history centers in the US and Canada, with free access to computers,
books, film and fiche readers, and several subscription databases, ordering
the films costs delivery charges only.
The baptism practice, whether believed in of not, addresses the problem of
those people who either did not have access to baptism during their lives,
or who's baptism status is not known. Each Christian church has it's own
baptism rules. The Roman Catholic church has stated that LDS baptism's are
not valid, it should come as no surprise that the LDS church requires
baptisms to be done by ordained clergy of it's faith.
This is in no way an attempt to harm anyone, or to question what they
believe. It's a pure and simple act of love and respect. In a world
overflowing with violence, cemetery desecration, wars and natural disasters,
I would think that organizations professing love and brotherhood would be
searching for ways to join together, not create divisions and mistrust.
Locally, I meet with other religious leaders regularly, we share ministerial
assignments, and help care for the community's less fortunate. LDS social
services and Catholic charities have worked together worldwide for many
years, and will continue to do so, whatever the policies that get the
headlines in the papers..And no, the LDS church has no compounds in
Texas..or anywhere else..


Regards, Fred dit Onclefred

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