The Catholic Church’s View on Mormonism—and the Proper Catholic Response to Violence Against the LDS Church

Introduction

On September 28, 2025, a violent attack on a chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Grand Blanc, Michigan, left four worshippers dead and several others wounded. This tragedy compels Catholics to consider two questions: first, how does the Church evaluate Mormonism theologically? And second, how should Catholics respond when members of another faith community are the victims of violence?

The Catholic Church’s position is marked by a dual commitment: doctrinal clarity regarding the essential differences between Catholicism and Mormonism, and pastoral charity expressed through defense of religious freedom, prayer, and solidarity with those who suffer persecution.

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I. Catholic Teaching on Mormonism

Baptism and the Trinity

In 2001, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) issued a formal Responsum declaring LDS baptisms invalid.¹ The decision did not concern the wording of the baptismal formula itself but the radically different understanding of God held by Latter-day Saints.

The Catholic Church teaches that God is one in essence and three in persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the “consubstantial Trinity.”² By contrast, LDS doctrine presents a “Godhead” of three distinct divine beings united in purpose but not in substance.³ The CDF concluded that this difference is so fundamental that LDS baptism cannot be considered Christian baptism in the Catholic sense.

Revelation and Authority

For Catholics, public revelation closed with the death of the last apostle.⁴ The Magisterium safeguards and interprets the deposit of faith, consisting of Scripture and Tradition. Latter-day Saints, however, regard the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price as scripture alongside the Bible, and affirm the continuing authority of living prophets.⁵

Ecclesial Status

Because LDS baptisms are invalid, the Catholic Church does not classify Latter-day Saints as “separated brethren” in the sense used for baptized Protestants and Orthodox Christians. Nevertheless, Catholic teaching emphasizes that they must be treated with dignity and respect, and Catholic–Mormon dialogue has been encouraged, especially in the United States.⁶

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II. Catholic Principles of Dialogue and Religious Freedom

Scripture

Scripture commands Catholics to defend the truth while showing reverence and charity: “Always be prepared to make a defense… yet do it with gentleness and reverence” (1 Pet 3:15). “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21).

The Catechism

The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms religious liberty: “No one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly.”⁷

Papal Teaching

Pope Leo XIII taught in Libertas (1888) that “true liberty is stronger than all violence or wrong.”⁸ St. John Paul II’s Ut Unum Sint (1995) insisted that dialogue with other Christians must be pursued with perseverance.⁹ Benedict XVI’s Caritas in Veritate (2009) stressed that charity must be united to truth.¹⁰ Pope Leo XIV, in his inaugural homily of March 2025, denounced religious violence, declaring: “Violence against prayer is violence against God Himself. The only Christian response is peace, prayer, and the labor of charity.”¹¹

Vatican II

The Second Vatican Council’s Dignitatis Humanae affirmed the right of all people to religious liberty.¹² Nostra Aetate urged Catholics to recognize the “spiritual and moral goods” present in other faith traditions.¹³ These principles apply directly to how Catholics should engage with Latter-day Saints.

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III. The Michigan LDS Church Attack

The Grand Blanc attack of September 2025 was one of the deadliest assaults on an LDS congregation in recent history. Catholic bishops, along with other religious leaders, condemned the attack as an assault on religious freedom and human dignity.

Catholic teaching requires three responses:

1. Prayer and Mourning: Parishes should offer Masses, rosaries, and prayer vigils for the victims.

2. Public Condemnation: Violence against any house of worship must be denounced without ambiguity.

3. Practical Solidarity: Catholics can join vigils, fundraisers, and humanitarian support for LDS communities in grief.

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IV. Catholic Pastoral Response to LDS Communities

1. Charity in Action: Concrete acts of solidarity, such as letters of support and interfaith vigils, embody Christ’s command to love one’s neighbor (Mk 12:31).

2. Doctrinal Clarity with Gentleness: When questions arise, Catholics can explain the differences—especially regarding baptism and the Trinity—while maintaining charity (1 Pet 3:15).

3. Cooperation for the Common Good: Catholics and Latter-day Saints frequently collaborate on disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and family-centered initiatives. These partnerships should be deepened after tragedy.

4. Witness of Mercy: As St. Leo the Great taught, mercy itself is the worship that pleases God.¹⁴

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Conclusion

Catholics are called to balance doctrinal truth with pastoral charity. The Church clearly teaches that Mormonism diverges from Christianity in essential matters of faith, particularly regarding the Trinity and baptism. Yet, in moments of violence such as the Michigan attack, Catholics must stand firmly with their LDS neighbors, defending religious liberty and offering solidarity.

As Pope Leo XIV has emphasized, the Catholic witness is not polemic or indifference, but prayer, peace, and charity. This is how Catholics both preserve the truth of the Gospel and embody the mercy of Christ.

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Notes

1. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Response to a Dubium on the Validity of Baptism Conferred in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, June 5, 2001.

2. Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1992), §253.

3. “Godhead,” Gospel Topics Essays, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, accessed September 2025.

4. Catechism, §§66–67.

5. Pearl of Great Price (Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981), Articles of Faith 1:8–9.

6. USCCB, “Catholics and Mormons in Dialogue,” Origins 36 (2006).

7. Catechism, §2106.

8. Pope Leo XIII, Libertas Praestantissimum, June 20, 1888, §34.

9. John Paul II, Ut Unum Sint (1995), §28.

10. Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate (2009), §3.

11. Pope Leo XIV, Inaugural Homily, March 2025.

12. Vatican II, Dignitatis Humanae (1965), §2.

13. Vatican II, Nostra Aetate (1965), §2.

14. Leo the Great, Sermon 10 on Lent, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 12.

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Bibliography

• Benedict XVI. Caritas in Veritate. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2009.

• Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Response to a Dubium on the Validity of Baptism Conferred in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. June 5, 2001.

• John Paul II. Ut Unum Sint. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1995.

• Leo XIII. Libertas Praestantissimum. June 20, 1888.

• Leo XIV. Inaugural Homily. March 2025.

• Leo the Great. Sermons. In Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 12. Edited by Philip Schaff. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1956.

• Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1992.

• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Pearl of Great Price. Salt Lake City: LDS Church, 1981.

• ———. “Godhead.” Gospel Topics Essays. Accessed September 2025.

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). “Catholics and Mormons in Dialogue.” Origins 36 (2006).

• Vatican Council II. Dignitatis Humanae. 1965.

• Vatican Council II. Nostra Aetate. 1965.

Christopher M. Forte is a Catholic writer and independent researcher focusing on the intersections of religion, history, and culture. His work explores Catholic identity, interfaith relations, and the preservation of Italian American heritage in California. Forte has authored numerous essays and manuscripts on Catholic theology, the history of organized crime, and cultural travel guides. His scholarship blends historical analysis with pastoral reflection, aiming to foster deeper understanding between Catholicism and other religious traditions.