The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has expressed approval of a proposed federal law that would codify marriages between same-sex couples, noting the protections of religious liberty.
Still, the Utah-based Mormon Church’s faith doctrine “related to marriage between a man and a woman is well known and will remain unchanged,” the institution emphasized in a press release.
“We are grateful for the continuing efforts of those who work to ensure the Respect for Marriage Act includes appropriate religious freedom protections while respecting the law and preserving the rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters.”
While it is considered a limited sign of support, the Salt Lake Tribune called it a stunning move for the Mormon Church, which has 370,000 members in Texas and a temple location in Dallas.
The decision comes after the act’s sponsors added an amendment to the House-passed bill. The amendment exempts religious organizations, including faith-based universities, from providing “services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage.”
Neither could the act be used to alter the tax-exempt status of any organization, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.
The announcement has been considered a massive reversal of the stance of the church, which dates to the 1970s. Since then, it has combated efforts to legalize same-sex marriage, calling it “a threat to children, churches, and the nation as a whole,” said Taylor Petry, a religion professor at Kalamazoo College.
The Mormon Church was also an ardent supporter of California’s Proposition 8 to oppose same-sex marriage.
But since the Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage in 2015, the Latter-day Saint leaders have pivoted from messaging that opposes the legalization of same-sex marriage. Instead, the church has emphasized its concern about religious freedom, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
“‘The Latter-day Saints have chosen to support the Democrat-backed law in this environment when some conservatives are gearing up to revive this fight,” Petry said. “(It) signals a major break with other members of the religious right.”
Asserting that this was the right step forward, the church explained, “As we work together to preserve the principles and practices of religious freedom together with the rights of LGBTQ individuals, much can be accomplished to heal relationships and foster greater understanding.”
The Dallas Express reached out to the Mormon Church for additional comment but has yet to receive a response.