Posted on 01/15/2012 9:32:42 AM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
A conservative Christian caucus gave GOP presidential long shot Rick Santorum a last-ditch boost from a Texas ranch yesterday, bestowing its blessing upon the former Pennsylvania senator in an attempt to galvanize the God-fearing vote against front-runner Mitt Romney.
About 150 social conservatives anointed Santorum as their man on the ballot, voting to back him over Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry — and, in doing so, to try and derail Romney after his back-to-back wins in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
Their vote came as little surprise to Romney’s brethren at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints temple in Belmont, where the presidential hopeful once served as a church leader. Those who have prayed with him there say they’ve long had to cope with — but still don’t understand — the refusal, by and large, of Evangelicals to accept Mormons as Christians.
“I tell you, it’s the craziest thing I’ve seen in my life,” Clayton Christensen, a high councilor, said of Evangelical hand-wringing over the prospect of a Mormon commander in chief. “Here’s the litmus test, ladies and gentlemen. Christ said: ‘By this shall all men know ye are my disciples: If ye have love unto one another.’ By that litmus test, which is the litmus test that Christ lays out, there is no Christian church more Christian than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.”
But a slim majority of Evangelicals see things differently, according to recent polling by the Pew Research Foundation. A November poll showed that 53 percent of white Evangelical Protestants believe Mormons are not Christians; about 12 percent weren’t sure.
Conversely, in a Pew poll released this week, 46 percent of Mormons say there is broad discrimination against them in the United States, and about 68 percent said they do not see themselves as part of the American mainstream.
But more than half — 56 percent — said they believe Americans are ready to elect a Mormon president.
For voters on the fence over Romney’s faith, longtime Mormon leader Grant Bennett urges considering the Kennedy presidency, when Protestants worried the pope would have a hot line to the White House and a servant in the Oval Office.
“We’re simply seeing a replay of the very same dynamics. The idea that Mormon leadership would attempt to dictate or even opine on a critical topic is really very foreign,” he said.
“Over time, what they’ll find, if Mitt Romney or any other Mormon is elected president, they’ll find, as it relates to core values, that we have a great deal in common with Evangelicals and Catholics and fundamental, mainstream Christianity.”
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The Texas meeting apparently was called to generate a headline of "unity" before the "conservative" leaders moved to back their own choices -- including Mitt Romney.
....just as he uses his giving nature when it benefits him: Mitt Romney gives cash to financially struggling woman at South Carolina rally in front of ABC reporter.
It's like the 10,000 elephant in the room no one wants to mention... but you can be sure Obama and the Democrats will have no problem bringing the issue up during the general.
Romney needs to be completely vetted and that includes an in-depth discussion of his faith with follow up questions specifically addressing some of the more ... unusual Mormon beliefs.
If this is not brought up now, we will regret it later when it's too late to do anything about it.
The nation is on fire.
We have a virtual dictator for president.
The world is unstable.
And this is what people on the right spend their time worrying about? Not issues of immediate importance, but how much you love Jesus compared to them.
If we were in an actual shooting war, these people wouldn’t even make it out of the fox hole.
“I find it shocking how little Romney’s mormon faith is being discussed during the primary..”
I don’t remember the media caring much about OBAMA’s faith during the 2008 elections, do you?
we’ve already got a muslim of questionable nationality in the white house. in that context, on what grounds is a mormom an issue?
Nice try, but the issue is what will the democrat media do if Romney is the pubby nominee. And you would be a fool to believe they will not expose every heretical and blasphemous aspect at the heart of Romney’s chosen religious beliefs. Try pissing into a different wind, FRiend, you’re getting yourself all wet.
Until Harry Reid gets the same headlines, headlines about Romney’s Mormonism is bogus, made up to make headlines.
The sole purpose of the Republican Party is to serve as an ineffective alternative to the Democrat Party.
I would oppose Mitt Romney even if he were an Evangelical, because he is a LYING LIBERAL.
However, having been Mormon myself, a couple of things are important to note.
First, the comparision to Kennedy and his Catholicism is silly. There is no comparison. Mormonism is based in the US, not globally like Catholicism, Mormons take OATHS (used to be BLOOD OATHS) to put the LDS church first in their temples, Catholics do no such thing, third Mitt met with LDS prophet Gordon Hinkley to ASK PERMISSION and support to run, JFK did not, Mormonism has a lot more direct control over its members than the Catholic church does (I speak from experience). Even Bob Bennett has said that LDS in governement are expected and have used their postions to further the LDS church (I can source that).
Try reading “When Salt Lake City Calls” to find out more about Mormons in power and the problems.
Not like JFK at all.
Secondly, having been Mormon, I know that church inside and out, I know how they are, how they think and Romney is a faithful Mormon who is made even MORE dangerous by his loyalty, not to Christ, but to the LDS church.
Finally, it is not fanaticism to point out the truth using LDS sources and quotes and there is MUCH the LDS church has to be embarrassed about and lies about and it will all come out.
I have no problem at all voting for a Catholic, I consider Catholics Christian. However, Mormonism IS NOT IN ANY WAY Christian and I would never vote for one. I know too much about them and their propensity for lying - having been a victim of it.
I’m not a Romney supporter.
I do know the press will do just that.
I also think we have bigger issues.
The Mormon issue is irrelevent to me. My problem with Mittens is that he’s a flip-flopping, opportunistic stuffed shirt who believes in nothing but his own ambition. If Romney is the nominee and he picks a RINO running mate, I could easily be persuaded to vote third-party.
Please read Posting #13.
Are Mormons Christian? I can’t seem to get a definitive answer to that question.
I believe that they are based on what I know. They preach from the Bible and believe that Jesus is the son of God and the redeemer of humanity.
Only God can answer definitively as to any specific Mormon. I'm sure many are embraced by Christ. Absent an advance copy the Book of Life, I have no reason to think otherwise.
Mormonism isn't my cup of tea, and I don't see it as fitting my own narrow view of what encompasses Christianity. But that's me. I can't judge the heart of an individual Mormon. Many have good fruits, and a few don't. Other than that, I don't dwell on it to excess.
And it is very relevant to me. However, I would NEVER vote for Mitt under any circumstances.
You'll get no argument from me.
The LDS sure does love illegal aliens. The rule of law? Not so much.
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