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Mitt Romney and Religion in the Presidency

Posted by Connor on June 21st, 2006

The Bloggernacle Times recently posted a portion of a Wall Street Journal article about Mitt Romney and his potential problems if he seeks the presidential candidacy. Much has already been said on this issue, but I’d like to offer my two cents. From the article:

Mr. Romney said he does not believe that there should be any religious test applied for politicians. While voters will “select individuals who are people of faith,” he says the “brand of faith” should not matter. Political leaders “follow the law of the land” and shouldn’t substitute the Constitution for a religious text.

Our country, since its inception, has always had a public religion based in the Judeo-Christian belief system. Because of this, Americans have always sought out a president who shared similar beliefs and morals. When John F. Kennedy was thick in his campaign, he had to placate the public on the matter of his Catholic religion, and appeal to their acceptance and implementation of the freedom of religion guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights.

From the recommended book American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation, here is an excerpt talking about JFK’s presidental campaign:

Nearly half a century on, Ted Sorensen could still remember the letters: a flood of them, from all over, attacking John Kennedy’s Catholicism in the 1960 presidential campaign. “The single biggest obstacle to his election was his religion,” said Sorensen, Kennedy’s speechwriter and special counsel. “You should have seen the hate mail that came in, both from rednecks and from liberal intellectuals who should have known better.”

In a time where so many people are eager to speak before they think, it will be interesting to see what slanderous filth is flung in Romney’s face, just as it was in the face of JFK, if he indeed decides to seek the presidential office.

From a Salt Lake Tribune article about the majority of LDS belonging to the GOP:

“I’m thinking Mormons are going to get pretty disgusted with what I believe they’ll do to Romney,” [Democratic State Party Chairman Wayne] Holland says. He predicts some in the party will be “tearing Romney apart because of his faith.”

Ah, I’m sure Jesus would approve of that… Whether the Bible-belt Baptists (after attending their “How to use lies, slander, and deceit to attack the Mormons” classes) and extreme evangelists like to admit it or not, Mormons are Christians. They believe in God. They worship Jesus Christ. They lead good lives. They have families and build homes of love and peace. They volunteer. They serve others. They reach out.

So, it would seem to me that Mitt Romney, being a Mormon, would have more in common with other (alleged) Christians than not. In fact, he probably is one of the few politicians, claiming to be of the Christian faith, who actually practices that faith.

Why, then, are people using this “pro” as a “con”? How is this positive being turned into a negative?

I think it all boils down to flat ignorance. Some people think his being a Mormon means he will turn the USA into a theocracy, force everybody to wear mormon underwear, and re-institute polygamy. If these people would simply inform themselves before freaking out in the public and private arena, they would come to see that Romney is a good man. He’s got a good track record. He loves his wife. He has morals, and he sticks to them. He doesn’t lie, steal, cheat, drink, commit adultery, or do any number of things our current and previous politicians have been caught red-handed doing. I echo Senator Orrin Hatch’s sentiments, when he said “I believe he is everything everyone would want in a political leader.”

So why all the fuss? Do people want to apply some sort of religious litmus test to presidential hopefuls? Of course not.

People fear what they do not know. Being that many people don’t know and understand the simple Christian tenets of the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the “Mormons”), it is my opinion that they are attacking Mitt Romney out of fear, out of ignorance, and out of unchristian attitudes and practices.

“Well, I personally believe that Jesus Christ is my savior.”
—Governor Mitt Romney

Go get ‘em, Mitt!

[UPDATE: CBN has an interview posted with Gov. Romney that's worth watching. ]

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5 comments so far. Care to chime in?

Good post, Connor. I hope and suspect that if Mitt runs and wins the primary, Christian conservatives everywhere will at least realize he’d be more favorable to their views than a Hillary or a John Kerry.

#1 Richard K Miller | June 22nd, 2006 10:02 AM

I realize this thread is about politics more than doctrine, but…

“They believe in God. They worship Jesus Christ. They lead good lives. They have families and build homes of love and peace. They volunteer. They serve others. They reach out.”

I’m sorry, but I take offense to that. No, not the volunteering, reaching out, and living good lives, etc… But the “They worship Jesus Christ” part. Mormons worship and pray to God the Father. We believe Jesus Christ is the Savior, but Jesus declines receiving worship in the Bible, and at least I do not worship Jesus Christ, as this would be putting another God above the Father, and is contrary to the first of the Ten Commandments.

Other Mormons may disagree, but every scripture I have read seems to be supportive of my focus of Worship. Jesus is the Savior, I have reverence and respect for him, but he wanted all Glory to go to the Father. It was Satan who wanted Glory to be given to himself, instead of the Father.

I worship God the Father. What I believe in, is technically called Henotheism, i believe. That there are multiple Gods/Godesses, but only one to whom I pray and offer worship.

~Jeff, a “Mormon Gnostic”

#2 Jeff Day | June 28th, 2006 12:34 AM

Jeff,

I’ve posted about whether we worship God or Jesus here.

#3 Connor | June 28th, 2006 6:10 AM

Wouldn’t it be great to have a mormon President? Yes, but not a socialist, as Mitt has shown that he is via his mandatory healthcare mandate.

#4 Latter-day Conservative | July 6th, 2006 11:11 AM

Rather than reply to your post about Romney being a socialist, I’ll direct you to this rebuttal of your blog’s post about the same issue.

#5 Connor | July 6th, 2006 4:17 PM

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