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Summarized by Kent Larsen
Group of Mormon Women Complain in Boston Globe
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS -- A group of Mormon women have published a
declaration on the status of women in the LDS Church in response to
a recent interview of LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley in the Boston
Globe. The document [Available on the web at: http://www.geocities.com/mormonfeminist/bostonglobe.html ],
which appeared in the Globe on Saturday, October 7th, says that Mormon
women are complaining and that they don't have a voice in LDS Church
governance.
The Boston Globe quoted Hinckley in the interview, published
September 2nd, saying "Insofar as I can see, no. The women have their
place...they have a voice in determining policy and doing many things in the church. I
haven't found any complaint among our women. I'm sure there are a few, a
handful somewhere who may be disaffected for one reason or another, but
I've never seen any evidence of it."
The group of women take issue with that statement, saying, "We
write to correct a misconception repeatedly set forth by LDS Church leaders in
the media: We Mormon women are not content, we do have complaints."
They say that their complaints are because they don't have a voice,
"whenever women disagree with male leaders, we are often ignored or dismissed,
marginalized or ostracized."
The group also acknowledge that their statements put them in danger
of excommunication, "Mormon women are in a bind. If we disagree we
reap trouble; if we relent we lose our voice. These are our choices: to
conform, or risk church discipline, or leave." But for most, leaving
isn't an option, "Mormonism is more than a religion, it is our cultural heritage.
To leave Mormonism is to leave our culture, our ethnicity, our life, our
family, our inheritance."
Source:
Mormon Women Must Be Heard
Boston Globe pgA19 7Oct00 N1
By Courtney Black and Maxine Hanks
See also:
Mormon leader sees continued growth for his church
Boston Globe 2Sep00 N1
By Michael Paulson: Globe Staff
A Declaration
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