Will Mormons’ racial history be a problem for Mitt Romney?

Washington Post ^ | Jan. 31, 2012 | Daniel Burke

[Colofornian]

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Until 1978, the LDS church banned men of African descent from its priesthood...

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The LDS church has neither formally apologized for the priesthood ban nor publicly repudiated many of the theories used to justify it for more than 125 years.

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...many blacks perceive the LDS church as racist...

...Rev. O’Neal Dozier told The Palm Beach Post...“The Book of Mormon says the Negro skin is cursed.”

...another Mormon scripture, The Pearl of Great Price, says, “blackness came upon” Cain’s descendants, who were “despised among all people.”

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...Tim Russert noted that Romney was 31 when the priesthood ban was lifted in 1978. “Didn’t you think, ‘What am I doing part of an organization that is viewed by many as a racist organization?’” Russert asked.

“I’m very proud of my faith, and it’s the faith of my fathers,” Romney answered. “And I’m not going to distance myself from my faith in any way.”

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“The issue hurt him and it hurt the image of Mormon church,” said Newell Bringhurst, a historian...

...“He’ll face more and more scrutiny on the Mormon-black issue..."

Smith was more blunt.

“The church has never done its due diligence, and guess what? Mitt Romney is taking hell for it.”

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In 1949, the LDS church’s First Presidency...had said the priesthood ban was a “direct commandment from the Lord.” And some LDS leaders regarded as prophets taught that black skin was punishment for souls that lacked valor in a pre-earthly existence.

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Even under intense pressure from black Mormons, the church has refused to formally repudiate past interpretations of doctrine or scripture that tie spiritual worthiness to race.

“If the LDS church were to apologize, that would be casting aspersions on God’s prophets..,” said Richard Ostling...

“I don’t think the Mormon soul could countenance it.”...

[YankeeReb]

The Repubs attacked Obama for his 20-year attendance in a virulently racist church. Now the electorate will perceive the Repubs as hypocrites running their own racist, and think of nothing else. Great "strategery," guys.

You know, I hadn't even considered that. It's going to be a scary election. IMHO it's about one thing, DEFEATING THE KENYAN MARXIST. I never thought I'd say it, but even if Rue Paul gets the nomination, I'll vote for him. After Cain, I've given up on getting a true conservative, now I just want someone who'll start fixing the damage this clown caused. With 50% of the population somehow dependent on government, we're sinking fast.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Good point.

And we may as well add all those other GOP candidates that we thought were going to save us and who turned out to be just establishment hacks.

It really looks as though the left is braced for a shut out. Conservatives don’t really have a unifying and organizing force. The small minority of leftists are extremely loud and violent and litigious and, as the GOP destroys conservative unity, the minority will win elections. We will have a rule of the minority, a tyranny, and yet the DNC will perpetuate the lie that they are the party that supports the ‘democracy (Now!).’