Senator Ted Kennedy Will Not Become a Mormon Any Time Soon
August 28, 2009 by Patrick Madrid
Filed under Patrick's Blog
One of the interesting and exotic features of the Mormon Church is its temple ritual of baptism for the dead. No, they don’t baptize dead bodies. Rather, church members who possess “temple recommends” (a document which officially certifies them for up to one year as being worthy) are encouraged to visit any of the 130+ Mormon temples around the world and are themselves baptized on behalf of deceased persons, who may not have ever been Mormon in this life. (For additional info, see this Catholic Answers tract adapted from an article I wrote in 1989 about Mormonism’s baptism for the dead).
It’s not certain whether the late Sen. Ted Kennedy would be more palatable to conservative Utah Republicans if he were a Mormon, but it appears someone tried to make that happen.
Just one day after Kennedy died, someone apparently posted his name on an LDS Church database to have him placed on the list to be posthumously baptized.
That posting was uncovered by researcher Helen Radkey, who has been critical of the church practice.
But, alas, Kennedy won’t become a Mormon anytime soon. Whoever placed his name on the list was not authorized to do so, and the church’s database security system put a block on it.
According to church policy, a person is not eligible to be baptized posthumously until a year after death. It also is against the policy for anyone to place someone’s name on the list who is not related to that person.
The security system also is set up to catch the listing of famous people, like Ted Kennedy, who may be placed on the list as a hoax. (Source)
There is so much anti-Catholic material out there, it seems more than just a little disturbing that rather than rising above the persecution, fuel is placed on the fire. People should be sharing faith not fighting faith.
My pleasure, Patrick. We actually have a few things in common–both having debated James White. Alma isn't only my nom de plum, it's also my nom de naissance.
I think the chance minimal that his name is entered on to the rolls legitimately within the next 100 years. Some people, either because they're just nuts or want to embarrass the LDS Church, submit the names of mass murderers or other (in)famous people. Unless one of Ted Kennedy's direct descendants converts to Mormonism and then wants to perform that ordinance for his ancestor, it's against LDS policy for anyone else to do that until the person has been dead for 100 years.
Thanks for weighing in, Alma. From your nom de plume, I infer that you are LDS. If so, what do you think is the likelihood that he will be entered on the rolls for proxy baptism at some point down the road?
Some people aren't eligible for proxy baptism: neither murderers nor people who were excommunicated from LDS Church during their lifetime are eligible. I wouldn't be surprised if Chappaquiddick puts Ted out of the running.
Well, they can have him.
And do Celestial Mormon Missionaries where the same suits and ties as the ones down here?
whoops!! sorry – but I cannot help but laugh over this!!! Even the LDS don't want Ted!
That makes no sense (the last part about blocking names from being put on the list).
If it meant eternal salvation, why wouldn't they baptize everyone in absentia whether they want it or not?