CHICAGO — Is President Barack Obama’s mother now a Mormon? Not necessarily. But the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has confirmed Obama’s late mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, was posthumously baptized by a church member last year, shortly after Obama clinched the Democratic nomination.
Though it’s unclear whether the submission of Dunham’s name was a prank or sincere gesture, church spokeswoman Kim Farah said the case is under investigation. “The offering of baptism to our deceased ancestors is a sacred practice to us, and it is counter to Church policy for a Church member to submit names for baptism for persons to whom they are not related,” Farah said.
The White House had no comment.
Latter-day Saints insist that posthumous baptism does not translate to forced conversion. They believe those baptized by proxy can accept or deny the gospel in the afterlife.
