The Culture Fix

In 2006 three Mormon missionaries held a photo op at a Catholic shrine on a mesa above San Luis, Colorado, in which they struck various poses simulating preaching from the Book of Mormon, sacrificing on the altar, and above, holding the recently removed head of a martyr. Apparently, one or more of these "Elders" thought it was a good idea to share these shots on photobucket.com. Last week the wrong person found them.

In the 100+ news articles that followed (the Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune, and Pueblo Chieftain all cover this pretty well) the Mormon Church and at least one former missionary has apologized and one missionary sent home early from his mission which, in case you weren't aware, is every Mormon parent's worst nightmare.

This controversy is protracted by each church's apologists/antagonists in blogdom and, with no end in sight, leave it to this lukewarm Anglican to show you the path to peace (and take a not so subtle swipe at the religious right). Always with an eye on the cultural slant, here is what you have in common:

Salt Lake City
Prophet, Seer, and Revelator
Unimaginable church wealth
Women denied Priesthood
Really big families
Anti-gay political action
"The True Church"
Mountain Meadows Massacre
Nauvoo Legion

Rome
Pope
Unimaginable church wealth
Women denied Priesthood
Really big families
Anti-gay political action
"The True Church"
The Inquisition
Opus Dei

You people can't get along why?