This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Many of us have appreciated the vigorous public debate about the new LDS policy which stigmatizes the children of LGBT parents. The policy does not appear to convey a Christ-like attitude towards all children as taught in the gospels. I will continue to express my concerns.
However, let's not forget another important public apprehension about LDS Church-directed policy. The status of The Salt Lake Tribune, our community ombudsman, is a critical voice in this debate. The dialogue in the Tribune is critical to our understanding of many important issues.
The Deseret News, under obvious direction from top church leadership, is slowly destroying the Tribune. The secretly negotiated changes in the Joint Operating Agreement have greatly reduced the Tribune's revenue. I marvel that coverage is still good, though reduced.
Several potential buyers of the Tribune have been rejected by the Deseret News, as it wields its veto pen. Negotiations with Jon Huntsman Sr. to purchase the paper seem to have imploded.
So in our zeal to justifiably protest this new church policy concerning LBGT families, let's not forget to also protest the very serious attempts to silence our community watchdog, The Salt Lake Tribune.
Sheryl Allen
North Salt Lake