The editor explains that her decision to not use the girl's essay was an editorial judgment call. Gerry Avant says, “I was looking for something by LDS because by tradition our contributors have been LDS.” She apologizes for the miscommunication and goes on to say, “I have spent 35 years of trying to portray people in the best light the best possible way and certainly would not have gone intentionally to cause offense.”

Well way to promote Mormonism then! Slam the door on a 12 year old girl who wrote the essay you wanted to use, but won't because she's not a Mormon. I'd always thought eliminating one letter to turn a Mormon into a moron was fun with spelling, not a demonstration of reality.

Newspaper claims mix-up is to blame for rejection of non-LDS girl's essay - ABC4.com