BAD IDEA OF THE WEEK: Not ordaining women

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has excommunicated a prominent backer of ordination of women priests. Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women, was notified of the ruling yesterday, a day after a trial by an all-male panel of judges in the Mormon Church. The group said the Mormon Church hierarchy deemed her an apostate for her contravention of Church doctrine. The Utah-based Mormon religion boasts more than 15 million members worldwide. According to a letter informing her of her excommunication obtained by the Deseret News, a leading Utah newspaper, Ms Kelly will be barred from some acts of church worship for at least a year. "You are entitled to your views, but you are not entitled to promote them and proselyte others to them while remaining in full fellowship in the Church," wrote Bishop Mark Harrison of Virginia, adding that she can be readmitted to the fold if she shows "true repentance", including ceasing "teachings and actions that undermine the Church, its leaders, and the doctrine of the priesthood", the last-named of which holds that only men can be ordained into the priesthood. This is wrong and chauvinistic. Having a vagina instead of a penis does not make you any less capable of doing the job. And besides, other Christian denominations are ordaining women to their priesthoods or equivalent. Mormon Church, if you're reading this, you should re-admit Kate Kelly to the fold and join us sensible people in the 21st century. We have donuts. Wrapped in bacon.