In a new edition of its leadership guidelines, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has removed previous language calling for gays to repent of their "homosexual thoughts or feelings."
But LGBT Mormons must remain celibate in order to participate in temple rituals and receive church assignments known as "callings," the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
The new edition of the Church Handbook of Instructions eliminates an assertion that gay relationships "distort loving relationships."
Such revisions "will bless people by making it easier for them to come forward," said David Pruden, president of Evergreen, a Salt Lake City-based ex-gay organization.
Pruden is also spokesman for the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, of which Dr. George Rekers was a board member until May, when the Miami New Times reported that the gay reparative therapy proponent had traveled to Europe with a young male escort.
Read the full story on the guideline revisions here.
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