Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said yesterday that he hopes to convince voters that his Mormon faith is mainstream.
“I think as people come to know my faith they’ll recognize that the values of my faith are ”” they very much flow from the Judeo-Christian tradition of this country. I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ, I believe in the equality of all humankind,” Mr. Romney said in an interview with The Washington Times.
The former governor of Massachusetts, who is leading all polls in Iowa and New Hampshire, also said that Rudolph W. Giuliani’s strategy of seeking wins in later primary states is a proven loser and that some members of Congress are responsible for the current mortgage crisis, which could turn in to a full-blown recession.
Still, it is Mr. Romney’s Mormon faith that remains a question mark in his presidential quest. The governor is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a faith that says adherents are on a journey toward godhood, that God speaks to man today through living apostles and prophets, and that the Book of Mormon, published by Joseph Smith in 1830, is the word of God.
Mr. Romney has remained mostly mum on the topic; despite his desire to deliver a speech about his Mormon faith, he has accepted the advice of political aides who advise against the move. When he was asked last year whether he wears temple garments, white underwear similar to a mesh shirt and boxer shorts that signify purity, he said: “I’ll just say those sorts of things I’ll keep private.”
Mormanism is not Christian. It may be an OK new religion, but it is not Christian.
“…I believe in the equality of all humankind,” Mr. Romney said in an interview with The Washington Times. [“I believe in using neutered language…”]
;-P
The headline is a bit deceptive. Romney said:
[i]”I think as people come to know my faith they’ll recognize that the values of my faith are — they very much flow from the Judeo-Christian tradition of this country. I believe in God, I believe in Jesus Christ, I believe in the equality of all humankind,” Mr. Romney said in an interview with The Washington Times. [/i]
Notice that Romney used the phrase “Judeo-Christian tradition” rather than “Christian tradition”. This might indicate an influence from Southern Baptist leader Richard Land, who just a few weeks ago declared that he considered the LDS Church to be an [url=http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=9611]addition[/url] to the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. By saying “Judeo-Christian tradition”, Romney is situating Mormonism within the stream of Abrahamic faiths, rather than within Christianity [i]per se[/i], consistent with Land’s interpretative model. Politics makes interesting bed-fellows.
The “God,” “Jesus Christ” and “humanity” that Mitt undoubtedly believes in are not the God, Jesus Christ or humanity that the Christian Scriptures, Christian Tradition and Christian theology reveal. Br. Michael is correct about Mormonism not being Christian; but one doesn’t have to go far in LDS beliefs and practices to discover how NOT-OK it is as a new religion.
Mormons in general, having never been taught the Christian faith, don’t understand that their understanding of God and Jesus Christ is so radically different from ours. The question is whether Romney’s faith leads him to attitudes on public policy that are within the American mainstream and supportive of the American system. I think they are, while still disagreeing profoundly with Mormon theology and religious practice.
And, on a whimsical note, thank God for a candidate who won’t discuss his underwear!
I think it is entirely appropriate to factor in Mr. Romney’s religion. I would not expect him to anything less than a 24/7 Mormon. Just as you should not expect a Christian to stop being a Christan when elected to office so you should not expect a Mormon to stop being a Mormon. I don’t think it is fair or realistic, except for dedicated hypocrites, to compartmentalize one’s religious and secular beliefs.
We preach that one is to be a Christian at all times, not only at Church on Sunday. The Catholics are reminding politicians that they don’t stop being Roman Catholics when they enact legislation. You don’t give up your religion or beliefs once you walk out of your house. An athiest should not be expected to stop being an athiest at his or her job, either private of public, and neither should a religious person.
In the public sector we voters should factor a candidate’s beliefs into who we vote for. That’s our job.