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Mormons Posthumously Baptized Obama's Mother

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted May 6, 2009 12:04 PM CDT
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(Newser) – President Obama’s late mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was baptized by the Church of Latter-day Saints during the campaign last year, Politico reports. The Mormons are investigating the baptism of Dunham—who died in 1995—which a Church ancestry website documents. Posthumous baptism performed without permission has raised problems in the past, and the Mormon church says it has limited the practice.

“The offering of baptism to our deceased ancestors is a sacred practice to us and it is counter to Church policy for a Church member to submit names for baptism for persons to whom they are not related,” an LDS spokeswoman said, implying foul play. Sometimes, members “bypass this instruction and submit the names of non-relatives for temple baptism,” she continued, causing “pain and embarrassment.”

President Obama's father, Barack Obama, and mother, Stanley Ann Dunham.
President Obama's father, Barack Obama, and mother, Stanley Ann Dunham.   (AP Photo)
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on line at a burger joint in Virginia.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden on line at a burger joint in Virginia.   (AP Photo)
A young President Obama with his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham.
A young President Obama with his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
riffran
May 7, 2009 5:38 AM CDT
yawn
godawgs
May 6, 2009 10:45 AM CDT
Never can tell, he did live in Indonesia and go to an Indonesian school. We won't know will we because our President refuses to tell us what religion he is. I guess it doesn't matter since he doesn't pay attention when he goes to church anyway. I mean he sat through 20 years of sermons and never heard on thing that was racist or derogatory.
Snarfeh
May 6, 2009 10:02 AM CDT
Hey, I want them to baptize ME. Put my name in the hat! It's my goal to be baptized in every religion so I do NOT miss the Rapture plane, no matter from where it takes off for its trip to the Great Palace in the sky.

The original report; note the comments
Americablog

LDS rep: Submitting nonrelatives for baptism violates church's policy
Salt Lake Tribune

Whoa, hey, the Mormons did what?!
Wonkette

 
presidential campaign • Mormon • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints • Election 2008 • President Obama • LDS

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