Posted on 01/23/2007 5:52:17 PM PST by NotchJohnson
For Republicans, Mitt Romney’s an attractive candidate. He has a good track record as head of the Salt Lake City Olympics and governor of Massachusetts. And, thanks to a convenient, pre-presidential conversion, he’s now anti-choice, anti-gay rights and anti-gun control. There’s only one problem: He’s a practicing Mormon.
Should Romney’s religion be an issue in politics 2008? It already is. Indeed, given the basic tenets of Mormonism, there’s no way Romney could escape it.
Most of us only know Mormons from two experiences: either having zealous young missionaries knock on our door; or watching HBO’s hit TV show “Big Love” (under political pressure, Mormons officially rejected the practice of polygamy in 1890). But few of us know what they really believe. Here’s my brief, unofficial synopsis:
The Mormon Church is an all-American creation, founded by a man who taught that all Christian doctrine developed after the crucifixion of Jesus was a whopping lie. Mormons believe the angel Moroni first appeared to founder Joseph Smith in 1823 and directed him to a set of gold tablets, buried on a hillside near Palmyra, N.Y. Wearing a pair of magic glasses, given to him by Moroni, Smith translated those tablets, originally written in Egyptian hieroglyphics, into what became The Book of Mormon. He founded the church in 1830.
According to the Mormon Bible, American Indians descended from an ancient Hebrew tribe, the Garden of Eden was located in Jackson County, Mo., Jesus came to North America shortly after his resurrection, and it’s only a matter of time before he returns to America (hence the name Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). Meanwhile, God speaks directly to each Mormon prophet, and the president of the church is accepted as the contemporary mouthpiece of Jesus.
It’s no surprise, then, that, both in print and on the talk shows, the debate about the significance of Romney’s Mormon faith is already underway. Several prominent evangelicals have said they could never vote for a Mormon.
In a recent cover story for The New Republic, Damon Linker challenges: “ Romney . . . needs to convince voters that they have nothing to fear from his Mormonism while simultaneously placing that faith at the core of his identity and his quest for the White House.”
Writing for Slate.com, Jacob Weisberg says there’s nothing wrong with refusing to vote for a believing Mormon: “Objecting to someone because of his religious beliefs is not the same thing as prejudice based on religious heritage, race or gender.”
In the Los Angeles Times, Tim Rutten says they’re both wrong. Romney’s record is fair game, argues Rutten, but his private religious conscience is not.
Holy smoke! What to believe? Is it fair to make Romney’s faith be an issue in the race for president? Absolutely. But only in one sense. Not on the basis of his religious beliefs. The First Amendment, after all, gives every American the right to believe, or not believe, anything he or she wants. And for those who think finding divine gold tablets buried in a New York hillside defies serious belief . . . have you heard about the virgin birth? Or the miracle of loaves and fishes? Or raising Lazarus from the dead?
No, the only religious question fairly posed to Mitt Romney is the same one posed to Catholic candidate John F. Kennedy, back in 1960: Where does your loyalty lie? Since Catholics believe in the infallibility of the Pope, many Protestants were concerned about potential conflicts between what the Constitution demanded of a future-President Kennedy and what the Pope might tell him. In his famous meeting with the Greater Houston Ministerial Association, Kennedy said he believed in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute: “I do not speak for my church on public matters, and the church does not speak for me.”
It’s important that Romney make a similar Kennedyesque statement. The sooner, the better. Once he does, any further probing into his religious faith is out of bounds — for reporters and political opponents.
In the end, Mitt Romney should be treated like any other candidate for president. His fitness for office should be judged on where he stands on the war in Iraq, health care, the environment, education and other major issues facing the nation — and not on what nonsense he happens to believe in the name of God.
They used the same tactics against his father George Romney in the Michigan Gubernatorial Race as well.
I am interested in Romney's candidacy.
I would not rule out voting for him because he is a Mormon.
So, let's discuss Romney's fitness as leader, not his Mormon religion.
Yes.
I can do that.
He is a squishy RINO. He sounds and looks good but he's all jello in the middle. His views and beliefs change with the wind.
Neither he nor Rudy will ever get my vote.
It hasn't escaped your notice, I'm sure, that Bill Press has been a hitman for the liberal democrats for decades. This 'surely Brutus is an honorable man' crap coming from Press is aimed squarely to create division, not discuss the fitness of Romney. Let's not fall for this crap.
George Romney was a bit of a megalomaniac in my less than objective opinion, but not because he was a Mormon...just a thing that you do to check your blood glucose.
Oh for the days when good old 'Soapy' Williams was the genial host of Michigan.
God has given us all, special talents.
PS Go Boilers beat IU!
Some of us with long memories know the tactics and subtle attack words used by bigots of all stripes and see these hate mongers for what they are.
The Nicene Creed contains what Christians hold to and believe. Do Mormons believe this?
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
I know that Mormons do not believe that Jesus is fully God and that He is a created being. That pretty much ends the discussion right there. Show me that Mormons hold that Jesus is God (begotten, not made).
While we're at it, if one is able to equate Mormonism with Christianity, one may not be aware of Christian beliefs and as a result, not a Christian.
Gut check time. Time for a "come to Jesus" moment. I'm available via FreepMail for more info.
I can still see the BIG BOW TIE of Soapy's, LOL
I happen to believe both Romney and Giuliani will move toward more conservative decisions when pressure mounts. Neither of these men is as conservative as I would like or desire ... I'm a pro-life advocate. But with the other issues at stake, I have to believe Romney and Giuliani will appoint Constitutionally oriented Judges and will move to restrict or terminate the Roe influence when the pressure rises from we the conservative people ... and I have every intention to increase the pressure when either of these men gets elected to President! BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN ELECTED TO EVEN HOPE TO HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD. Now, which of the electable Republicans is most fit to direct this nation?
MORMONS ARE MORONS MOSTLY
What makes you say that? What makes them "morons"? Because they are Mormons?
Bill Press is former Chairman of the CA Democrat Party.
I'd vote for a Satanist (or even worst...a Muslim) if he'd support limited government, respect for the Constitution, free-markets, low taxes and defense of the American people.
Unfortunately, the current leadership of the LDS Church is not nearly so clear on the proper role of government. The church whose people were once subjected to military attack by federal forces bent on stopping them from practicing the polygamy aspect of their faith, is now far more interested in rallying its forces to keep government in the business of regulating and licensing marriages, than in preventing the onward march of socialism.
AFAIK, Newt Gingrich stands for all of your principles AND he's not a Satanist.
The Mormon thing is not going away folks. It will get worse and worse.
We are conservatives here and look what it's doing to us. Do you really think there is a snowballs chance in hell that the squishy Dem middle ground will vote for a Republican who belongs to a cultish religion with a background in racial discrimination, polygamy, murder, bank fraud, lies, distortions and a good PR firm.
The country is not gonna plug their nose and vote for this RINO. It ain't gonna happen.
If we select him as our candidate, we're toast! Mitt is in the Mormon leadership hind pocket. Mormonism is not just another religion. Their financial interests are protected by a mantel of tax-exemtion but they are big money....bigger by far, and more powerful than any....ANY, US Corporation, and Mitt is part of the heirarchy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.