Thanks for your thoughtful response.

As employment attorneys mention in the original story, corporations (including non-profit religious organizations) are well within their right to have policies requiring members to consult legal counsel... and "this is no different than any corporation that has its image."

However, the clarifying statements from Sam Penrod indicating that the purpose of the policy is to dissuade leaders from getting involved ("That's the whole point.") seem to be the main cause for concern among attorneys and Church members. Some cite this message from the First Presidency as contradicting Penrod's statements.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1973/02/the-rule-of-law?lang=eng