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Okay, as regular readers (all two of you) will know, I tend to be tolerant of and strive to be reasonably respectful to the more rational religious sects and their adherents.

But sometimes ...

According to the Associated Press, the Vatican has ordered Roman Catholic dioceses worldwide to withhold member registries ? essentially, the records of baptisms and deaths -- from Mormons. Now here in the U.S., baptismal records are semi-official documents, usually good enough to establish age and birth within the U.S. for purposes of obtaining passports and the like. Such registries are also useful historical records and are essential in tracing genealogies. As such, they have generally been readily available for inspection. So, why the change?

Say what?

So, one side is trying to convince dead people to come join their religion ?- honestly, I'd have thunk that all the uncertainty about which was the "right" religion would have been cleared up by that point -? and the other side is afraid that their mailing list is being stolen?

Can I have a show of hands as to which of them is acting sillier?
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