B'nai B'rith Commends LDS Church for Steps on Baptisms of Holocaust Victims

["David Michaels" <dmichaels@bnaibrith.org>]

>B'NAI B'RITH INTERNATIONAL
>News Release

>Contact:  Sharon Bender
>202-857-6699 or sbender@bnaibrith.org

B'NAI B'RITH COMMENDS LATTER-DAY SAINTS FOR SAFEGUARDS ON "PROXY 
BAPTISMS"  OF HOLOCAUST VICTIMS

(Washington, D.C., September 1, 2010)-B'nai B'rith International 
commends T he Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS 
Church) and represent atives of Holocaust survivors for coming to an 
amicable agreement regarding  the troubling issue of posthumous 
baptisms of Holocaust victims. The pract ice by individual Mormons of 
proxy baptisms of Holocaust victims has been a n ongoing source of 
contention between the LDS Church and the Jewish commun ity.

Expanding upon previous insistence that baptisms of Holocaust victims 
not b e performed by those not closely related to the deceased, or 
lacking the pe rmission of their family members, technology will be 
used to certify compli ance with this policy or the removal of 
inappropriate entries. As a joint M ormon-Jewish statement said, this 
commitment to respecting the sensitivitie s of Holocaust survivors 
and their families will aid in advancing cooperati on on humanitarian 
work and building on Israeli hospitality for young Mormo ns studying 
in Jerusalem.

"The LDS Church has taken positive steps in solidifying its 
commitment to f riendship with the Jewish people," said B'nai B'rith 
International Presiden t Dennis W. Glick. "Respect for the Jewish 
identity of Holocaust victims is  naturally a highly sensitive 
matter, and we are glad to see new movement i n resolving the 
problems of the past."

"With proper oversight and continued goodwill, these measures should 
go a c onsiderable way toward deepening interreligious 
understanding," B'nai B'rit h International Executive Vice President 
Daniel S. Mariaschin said. "Mormon s and Jews harbor theological 
differences, but also have a great deal of co re values in common."

B'nai B'rith leaders and staff made two trips to Salt Lake City to 
meet wit h church leaders and visit LDS institutions last year.

B'nai B'rith International, the Global Voice of the Jewish Community, 
is th e oldest and most widely known Jewish humanitarian, human 
rights, and advoc acy organization.  For 166 years, BBI has worked 
for Jewish unity, securi ty, continuity, and tolerance.  Visit 
www.bnaibrith.org.

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