SALT LAKE CITY — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued a statement on religious freedom and pluralism, in response to remarks made by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
A spokesman for the LDS Church confirmed to FOX 13 the statement was made in response to inquiries about Trump’s recent call to block Muslims from entering the United States. The LDS Church said it was reaffirming its political neutrality, but also speaking out in support of religious freedom and pluralism.
The statement quotes Mormon church founder Joseph Smith.
Read the full statement here:
Late Tuesday, the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City also weighed in on Trump’s remarks in a statement to FOX 13:
“It goes without saying that calling out specific faiths for misdeeds of individuals is an example of religious bigotry. The Catholic Church could never support any such policy of religious intolerance and discrimination.”
The Episcopal Diocese of Utah also condemned Trump’s remarks in a statement from the Rt. Rev. Scott Hayashi:
“Sadly, hate has been with the world since the beginning. People with evil in their hearts have found an easy way to unite masses. It is to vilify a specific group of people who are unlike themselves. As an Episcopal Bishop in the Christian Church, I find it especially repugnant to see hate and increasing intolerance surface at this time as we get ready to observe the birth of the Prince of Peace. He came to turn us away from hate and later became a victim of hate himself.”
