Posted on 03/03/2010 12:02:12 PM PST by Colofornian
The MMO takes the media pulse in three areas: slimy tabloids intrude into the Osmonds' sacred space in the wake of a tragedy, the media still can't move beyond Mitt Romney's faith, and U.K.'s Guardian takes a jaded view of Mormon-Catholic cooperation.
Intrusion into a family moment
Leave it up to the tabloid press to exploit the Osmonds once again as they reported on the suicide of Marie Osmond's son, Michael. The Mormon Media Observer will not reprint or link to the myriad of tabloid articles filled with speculation and innuendo. Let's just say this, the kind of press coverage the suicide got in the British and American tabloids is journalism (if you can call it that) at its worst. At least, more mainstream newspapers played the story with a bit more respect, but how do journalists balance celebrity without exploiting it for sensational value. I appreciated the Mormon Times post by cousin Don Osmond which gave us insight into this tragedy. A Belief.net blogger also took a much gentler approach.
Media can't move beyond Romney's Mormonism
On Feb. 22, USA Today ran a front-page story about Mitt Romney, "Is it Romney's Time?" The paper points out that the book doesn't "try to explain or defend his Mormon faith, an issue in 2008." It continues: "And the refusal of some to support a Mormon? 'There will always be some who do, and that's unfortunate,' he says. But for most Americans, 'when it comes to voting, and they think about who's going to lead the country, they select the person that they think will do the best job'."
So the question to the reporter is why this even important to the story? Doesn't the media bear some responsibility for making his faith an issue in the public mind?
Scott Hindes of Gig Harbor, Wash., wrote in a letter to USA Today: "If one wants an explanation of the faith, then read the Book of Mormon, and visit Salt Lake City or a house of worship belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Since when is religion a requirement or a subject that should be raised as an issue?"
A recent article from Reuters also raises the faith issue this way:
"Romney has been a controversial figure in national politics, in part because of his Mormon faith -- he would be the first Mormon president if elected -- and in part because of his personal fortune, estimated at more than $200 million."
So why does his faith make him controversial? Journalists need to do better than just throwing unsupported terms like "controversial" around.
Catholics and Mormons
The U.K's Guardian newspaper picked up on the story of a U.S. Cardinal speaking at Brigham Young University. Could the columnist, Riazat Butt, be any more skeptical? Here's her take:
"So why the cosying up? There is an increasingly secular mood in the US and religious groups are all too aware of it. The Roman Catholic hierarchy knows it cannot rely solely on its congregations to campaign on touchstone issues and a 'vital bulwark' -- in the shape of the devout, wealthy and organised LDS church -- is just what's needed to help it."
Give me a break.
Hey, Resty, did you take out your endowments before or after the 1990 changes.
You know I can produce the oath of consecration (all versions) but I was being respectful by not posting it.
How was NYC?
Yeah and ‘never make ‘the Church’ look bad’ is a principle.
Fact is...most mormons that I’ve known..rarely talk about Jesus. They talk about the “Church” quite a bit though...
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Very true, OO. Shawn McCraney talks about after he was Born Again (and still LDS) how his LDS friends started looking at him oddly and avoiding him because it was about “Jesus”, not “the savior” or “the Church”.
Point 1- RELIGION: Religion IS NOT a qualification or disqualification for public office; but it's certainly one quality of voter discernment among many others...namely, voting record, present position statements & rampant inconsistency of past position statements, social issues' stances, character, viability, scandal-free past, etc. Article VI, section 3 of the Constitution is aimed at the candidate (must be of a certain age and must have resided in our country for a certain number of years) and the government so that religion does not become a disqualification to keep somebody otherwise eligible for running for public office. Article VI, section 3, is not aimed at the voter. Otherwise, voters would have to 100% disregard character, beliefs, other-dimensionly commitments, and spiritual discernment in weighing candidates.
POINT 2 - ELIGIBILITY: Newsflash!! Every person on the ballot, & even most write-in candidates, have proper "qualifications" to not be excluded from office consideration (based upon religious grounds). Of course, millions of us have the "qualifications" to be considered a potential POTUS & shouldn't be excluded outright from a ballot because of the religion we hold! Nobody has a "Religious Ineligibility" tattoo on their forehead!
POINT 3- BOTTOM LINE: Don't confuse "qualifications" (language within the Constitution) with "qualities." (language that’s NOT in the Constitution). I focus on what voters base their votes on in the "real world": Qualities
Otherwise, Article VI says absolutely nothing...nada...zero...about how voters must weigh--or not weigh--the "qualities" of a candidate...So, nowhere does Article VI say that voters MUST 100% disregard character, beliefs, other-dimensionly commitments, and spiritual discernment in weighing candidates!
"Qualifications" have to do with what gets a man on a ballot. "Qualities" has to do with who gets elected.
I might.
I'm pretty shallow some ways
Or you might just post this Romney/underpants/lemon video.
To me...this is the action of Satan.
There is no way getting around the fact that the mormon religion is a cult, when you look at the facts. And yet you remain deceived....
To me...this is the action of Satan.
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It is good you put it in writing what you think about the Lord’s Church so you can not deny when you meet the Lord someday!
In fact none of us do for we are very aware of that fact, for others, sadly truth will out...
Figures, I cant hit youtube from here. Later...
Satanist's, Muslim's, Christian's, Buddist's, Mormon's, Atheist's, will all bow and confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord.....That's a given.
The fact that you think the "Lord's Church" is mormonism is sad to me.....
But speaks volume's about what you really think...
Thanks-
There is no way getting around the fact that the mormon religion is a cult, when you look at the facts. And yet you remain deceived....
To me...this is the action of Satan.
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Yes, you are right ...
mormons are decived...
It is good you put it in writing what you think about the Lord’s Church so you can not deny when you meet the Lord someday!
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Then OO has nothing to worry about...
As for Joey Smith and his anti-Christian mormons...
to them Jesus will say...”I never knew you”
Joey Smith and his moprmons put things in writing also...
Saying that Jesus and His Word, the Christian Bible and Chrsitianity were abominations...
Pity that...the mormon false prophet Joey Smith never did see the future...
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