With barely a month until the U.S. presidential election, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reminded the public Tuesday of its stance on political neutrality, its call for “Christlike love and civility in political discourse,” and its long-standing position on abortion.
The Utah-based faith “does not endorse, promote or oppose political parties and their platforms or candidates for political office,” it said in a release, pointing to a statement it updated and issued last year. “...However, as an institution, it reserves the right to address issues it believes have significant moral consequences or that directly affect the mission, teachings or operations of the church.”
The 17.2 million-member worldwide faith encouraged members “to be active citizens by registering, exercising their right to vote, and engaging in civic affairs, always demonstrating Christlike love and civility in political discourse.”
Indeed, in January 2021 — soon after the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol — the church issued a statement, condemning “violence and lawless behavior, including the recent violence in Washington, D.C., and any suggestion of further violence.”
As political rhetoric and debate have grown more virulent in the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade and various state ballot initiatives on abortion and sanctity of life, the church’s position on abortion “remains unchanged.”
It opposes “elective abortion for personal or social convenience,” according to the church’s position, “and counsels its members not to submit to, perform, encourage, pay for or arrange for such abortions.”
The church allows for possible exceptions for pregnancies that result from rape or incest, or when a “competent physician determines that the life or health of the mother is in serious jeopardy,” or when “a competent physician determines that the fetus has severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.”
As states work “to enact laws related to abortion, church members may appropriately choose,” the release said, “to participate in efforts to protect life and to preserve religious liberty.”
This story will be updated.
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