Hundreds of Mormons are quitting their church in a mass protest against new rules that ban baptism for children of same-sex couples and condemn such couples as apostates.  

Mark Naugle, an attorney, said about 1500 members of the Church of the Latter-day Saints  wanted to resign. 

"We had an incredible turnout," he told CNN. "I was slammed for three hours. Some people stood in line for an hour and a half." He will deliver the letters to the church headquarters in Salt Lake City on Monday.

The resignations come after mormonism decreed a week ago that children of same-sex couples canot be baptised and must remain nameless. It updated its handbook to say that children living in a same-sex household may not be blessed or baptised as babies. They cannot officially belong to the church until they are 18 years old and can leave and disown their parents, and even then they will have to get permission from the senior church leadership if they wish to be baptised.

The new policy is significant because Mormons believe baptism is essential for salvation. Children are normally baptised around the age of eight. The church practices proxy baptism because of its belief that the souls of the dead can be saved in this way also.

Mr Naugle said: "The fact that it affects children really upset people. Most people are disaffected from the church already, and this was the final straw."

The Mormon church clarified on Friday that the policy does not affect children who have already been baptised.

A spokesman said: "We don't want to see anyone leave the church. We hope that today's guidance from church leaders and the additional commentary will help provide understanding and context to some who may be considering resigning their membership."

One protest organiser, Brooke Swallow, said: "No longer are we going to keep our mouths shut."

Another protester, Paul Pratt, added: "I resigned today. I haven't been active for 17 years. It's time to separate. I don't need a bunch of church leaders telling me what to do."

Mormonism has more than 15 million members including 85,000 missionaries around the world.