In an attempt to hurt presidential candidate Mitt Romney, Reuters wrote a story about a resignation ceremony in which approximately 150 Mormons signed a “Declaration of Independence from Mormonism.” The signatories expressed that they could not tolerate where the church stood on gay marriage, racism, science (presumable global warming), sexism, and polygamy.
“This feels awesome … I don’t know if I would have had the courage except in a group,” Reuters quotes a participant as saying, subtly perpetuating another stereotype about how Mormonism is a cult.
Furthering the stereotype even more, the article then notes these people felt they were subjected to a “culture of abuse” and may have many things to worry about in the future, because Mormons may retaliate against them, cutting off “social or business connections.”
The participants, per church rules, have to submit a formal letter asking that their names be removed from the church rolls, according to Reuters, and they filled baskets with letters during the ceremony.
To resign from the church, Mormons must submit a formal letter asking their names be removed from church rolls, a church instructional handbook for lay leaders published on the Internet in 2010 shows.
“The monkey’s off the back … I don’t feel like I have to explain myself or the positions of the church anymore,” Reuters quotes a participant as saying.
Now, the mainstream media will inevitably ask Romney to explain and “defend” the stereotypes of the Mormon church, furthering their campaign to “other” the Republican candidate and make Evangelical voters and suburban women uncomfortable with him.
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