MORMON EXCOMMUNICATED FOR HUNKY CALENDAR

The creator of a calendar that features hunky male Mormon missionaries has been excommunicated by his church.

Chad Hardy’s ‘Men on a Mission’ calendar, with shirtless photos of missionaries, has reportedly sold almost 10 000 copies since its launch.

According to the calendar’s website, “The 2008 Men on a Mission calendar features twelve handsome returned Mormon missionaries from across the United States who, for the first time ever, have dared to pose bare-chested in a steamy national calendar.”

Hardy was excommunicated by leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday in Las Vegas.

He remains unrepentant, telling The Associated Press that “I felt like I spoke my truth… Bottom-line, they still felt the calendar is inappropriate and not the image that the church wants to have.”

“The project is about stepping outside the stereotypes and stepping outside of the image,” Hardy added.

None of the model missionaries have been punished by the Church for appearing in the calendar, which also includes the men in their traditional missionary wardrobe and their comments about their faith.

The website claims that “The Men on a Mission calendar will benefit a variety of worthy causes. Each of the twelve missionaries will have the opportunity to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the calendar to a cause in the area he served.”

The calendar remains on sale on the website, which further states that “Mormons Exposed is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”