It appears that former Massachussetts governor Mitt Romney is finally going to address the Mormon issue in a speech on Thursday at the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library. It is about time!
A lot of people, led by Hugh Hewitt http://hughhewitt.com, have said that Mr. Romney should not even bother. But, unless Mr. Romney addresses the issue head on and builds a case for religious liberty and no religious test for any candidate for any office, Mr. Romney continues to be dogged about his faith and what it means to all of the United States.
There is some speculation that the reason Mr. Romney chose now is the fact that former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee is gaining and even may have the lead in Iowa if the latest Des Moines Register poll is to be believed http://dmregister.com.
Actually, there may be truth to that and one way that Mr. Romney can address the issue of religious liberty is to take on Mr. Huckabee by name because in one of his broadcast commercials he touts that he is a CHRISTIAN candidate for president. So, if I understand Mr. Huckabee, does that mean that Jewish, Islamic, Roman Catholics (who some Southern Baptists do not consider Christian), Buddhists, and any other religion should NOT vote for Mr. Huckabee?
This is where Mr. Romney can put a stake into the heart of the Huckabee surge, if there is one. He needs to tell all voters, but especially conservative, Christian, Republican voters that it is un-American to vote for or against a candidate for any office based solely on the religion of the candidate. Period.
It is disturbing that Mr. Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist preacher, would tout being a Christian as some kind of qualification to be considered for the highest office in the land. It is touting a kind of exclusivity that the Republican party has had to spend decades fending off. In the old days, it was the blue-blood, mainstream Protestants such as the Episcopalians, Presbyterians, and Methodists. Oh, and for the record the United States has had four non-Protestants elected to the presidency. John Adams, John Quincy Adams, William Howard Taft were all Unitarians, non-Christians. John F. Kennedy was the first Roman Catholic.
Now, the Republican party is doing the religion test. And Mike Huckabee is disgustingly leading the way.
But, Mitt Romney has a great chance to get the monkey off his back and let 'er rip on Mr. Huckabee or anyone else who uses religion in such a negative way. And, Mr. Romney can address the fears and or concerns of those with the faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Mormons.
It is a seminal moment for Mr. Romney and he should carry it out well and get the momentum back in his campaign.
6 comments:
i don't know if any speech is going to help him with the social conservatives 64. that may be lost!!
Until Romney explains the secrets of his tabernacle and why non-Mormons, even immediate family members, are not allowed within its confines, the electorate will not understand his faith. Further, a religion which shuns those who chose to leave that religion does not seem to practice what Jesus taught. As Desi would have said, "you have some esplainin' to do", Mr. Romney.
From one anonymous poster to another... (too lazy to register)
I work with Mormons. I also work with an ex-mormon. I certainly don't see the 'shunning' thing happening - and my friend, the 'ex' is pretty cool about everything - just decided he loved his coffee more. No biggie - to each their own. I've never been shown the 'shun' doctrine. They all seem like decent folk to me.
Also - I think anyone can go to their tabernacle - if you REALLY want to watch the Choir, I guess. (??) The temples - anyone can go to as well. I think there are just some standards they have for what they consider a sacred place.
Hardly subjects Romney needs to explain - just as Kennedy needn't explain the Inquisition.
Throwing Christ and God into the elective process is unacceptable before God. Mr. Huckabee action to gather supports using Christ and God will only backfire on him. Mr. Huckabee violated two commandments of God by throwing religion (the belief of God and Christ)into the elective process.
The action of Mr. Huckabee is foretold by Jesus in Matthew 7:22-23. Mr. Huckabee is like saying `Lord, Lord, have [I] not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
But, Christ admonished (in V. 23) "And then I [Christ] will declare to [him], `I never knew you ; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"
Mr. Huckabee is like the Pharsee by call placing judgment upon other and not looking upon his own standing before God. Interesting, Christ admonished, in John 12:32, "He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone."
If you Google Mormon Belief's you will find that the first thing they believe is that God was a man who lived on another planet and cam to earth to in pregnant Mary thus Jesus Christ. Old Mitt didn't talk about this or if he believed it
You anonymous folks, if you read this blog, I DO NOT subscribe to Mormon theology. I do believe that they are Christians with a big asterisk. The Trinity is one in which I am in TOTAL disagreement about. But, that should never preclude a member of the Mormon church from running for office and that said person does not have to explain anything about Mormon belief. A lot is on the website, www.mormon.org. I am an Episcopalian, and believe me there are some real whackjobs, starting with our so-called Presiding Bishop. And, to the non-Espiscopalian, our love of the Book of Common Prayer may seem a little weird. Anyway, I think what a lot of people missed is that Mr.Romney contrasted the religious liberty we have in the United States against the tyranny of radical Islam, our enemy. Watch and read the speech.
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