persecuting scientists, mormon-style

The Post this morning touched briefly on the situation of Australian scientist Simon Southerton, who a few years ago wrote a book saying that DNA analysis refutes some of the geneological claims of the Book of Mormon. Specifically, in Losing a Lost Tribe: Native Americans, DNA and the Mormon Church, Southerton refutes the absurd claims of church founder Joseph Smith that American Indians are descended from an Israeli leader called Lehi, who supposedly sailed to the Americas in the sixth century BC; subsequently Mormons have told Polynesians that they too are descended from Lehi. Southerton's book uses DNA evidence to demonstrate this is not possibly true (scientific consensus is that American Indians and Polynesians are both descended from Asian peoples. Southerton details some of these issues here.

Recently, church elders have been investigating Southerton. In interviews with him, they have questioned him about his book, his postings on exmormons.org, and his abandonment of the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints in 1998. And now they have summoned him to a hearing on July 31.

The charges? Adultery. Seems Southerton had an affair five years ago, after separating from his wife. Sure they'd like to get him on heresy, but that's difficult, so they are using adultery charges as a suitable stick to beat him with.

The Mormon elders sound like perfect Republicans. Like today's White House, they don't like science that refutes what they believe. Like today's White House, they will resort to intimidation to keep scientists quite. Like today's White House, they don't mind attacking somebody indirectly on charges that have nothing to do with their real reasons.