First, I don't care that Romney is Mormon, nor do I care about any other candidate's religion, BUT I would like to know if it informs them on policy issues and if so how? I think that is legitimate. Also, there IS a separation of church and state inasmuch as we don't want our President or Congress beholden to anyone except for the People (us).
So, with that said, Tim Russert asked Romney whether he thought that the Mormon Church's policy of denying African-Americans the right to practice their religion until the late 1970s was wrong, Romney refused to denounce the Church's policy as to not offend his Church...that I have a BIG problem with. If you asked any of the Christian candidates was it right for their Churches to justify slavery, I would hope that most would denounce that practice. So, if Romney couldn't openly denounce overt racism by his Church to not offend them, how can we expect he'll answer to us and not the Mormon Church.?
2007-12-21 03:25:43 · 12 answers · asked by I'm right 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
This is not so much about the influence of Mormonism, but rather his inability to distance himself from or denounce his Church's obvious wrong in discriminating against African-Americans until the late 1970s. All he had to say was "yea that was wrong, we were late to civil rights or even, just like most denominations or religions, we were wrong" The fact that he couldn't say that is interesting. I think it says something about his character. I lived in MA during his tenure and frankly I didn't pay much attention to him b/c he did basically what the liberal legislature told him to.
2007-12-21 03:39:05 · update #1
The only bias I have regarding this issue is on courage. I'm Catholic and if I were running for Pres and someone asked me if the Church was wrong for knowingly transferring child molesting priests from parish to parish without letting anyone know, I would emphatically say YES, THEY WERE WRONG. It's that simple...the fact that he couldn't do it says something about his character.
2007-12-21 03:43:08 · update #2
I don't know Obama personally but he seems to have integrity and courage so if someone asked him whether or not he agreed with one of the tenets of his church which is Christian, he would state his opinion. He certainly wouldn't distance himself from "education" and "family values". Romney had a chance to say that racism by his church was wrong and he didn't do it. That is cowardice...or he believes they were right (which I don't think he does, so it must be cowardice)
2007-12-21 03:48:20 · update #3
It sounds like Mr. Romney will indeed, allow religion to play a role in his candidacy. I don't care that he's Mormon. I wouldn't care if he was Jewish or Catholic either. But he's not showing leadership by speaking out against wrongs that were committed in the name of his religion. If he can't see the harm some of the church's policies have created, he's unlikely to be able to see the "big picture" in other issues.
2007-12-21 03:33:58 · answer #1 · answered by katydid 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Well, there has been a lot of talk about how it shouldn't matter that he is Mormom, blah blah blah, but I simply disagree. While it doesn't and can't disqualify him from running, to state as if it's a matter of fact that people shouldn't even consider someone's religion is just naive, and IMO wrong. Anyone who could embrace that religion has serious problems in critical thinking skills and I could not support them. I'm a hardcore Republican, but if Romney is the nominee I won't vote for him and that will be true of multiple millions of people as well, simply based on the fact that he is Mormon. I would never vote for a Mormon any more than I would vote for a Muslim to be President of the US. Huge mistake if Republicans go with Romney, Hillary will be the next President.
2007-12-21 03:35:12 · answer #2 · answered by The Scorpion 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Replace "Romney" with "Kennedy" and "the Mormon Church and its leadership" with "the Pope," and you'll see that this question was asked and answered over 40 years ago. There is no reason to believe that a politician would put his or her religion above the duties of the office. Is there anything in Romney's history that showed he did this? No, so why would he start now? Refusing to denounce his church is not the same as following church doctrine and orders as a political leader.
2007-12-21 03:34:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Romney has already covered this in a speech a few weeks ago. He would be the president of the United States and would serve his country.
Why do you not ask this question of any other candidate?
2007-12-23 04:39:01 · answer #4 · answered by Kerry 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The same question was asked of J.F.K. when he ran for president. Would he answer to the people of the U.S. or to the Pope? It seems he was able to separate his personal religious beliefs from the obligation to honor the oath of office , in which he swears to uphold the Constitution of the U.S.A.
If elected , I'm sure Romney could do the same
.
2007-12-21 03:41:22 · answer #5 · answered by Average Joe 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why don't you ask the people of MA that elected him Governor? Obviously he does not allow his faith (thank God it is a Christian faith) to interfere with his ability to govern. Quit trying to make an issue out of something that is not there. Do you really think that the Kennedy liberals in MA would allow a Christian to govern their precious commonwealth if he could not separate his job from his faith? Protestants had this same issue when JFK ran for president only he was Catholic...What you believe is not as important as the fact that you believe. Did JFK answer to the Pope? NO. Why would you think that Romney would answer to the governing body of the Morman faith?
2007-12-21 03:33:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
What about Obama's socialist leaning ,all black,church.
The roughly 8,000-member church has often championed liberal causes, from gay rights to opposition to the Iraq war. It also emphasizes its African roots and asks parishioners to accept the "Black Value System," which includes tenets such as "commitment to the black family," "dedication to the pursuit of education" and one critics have seized upon -- "disavowal of the pursuit of 'middleclassness.'"
http://www.usatoday.com/news/elections/2007-03-20-690594000_x.htm
2007-12-21 03:32:12 · answer #7 · answered by Tin Foil Fez 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think that he will answer to the church before answering to the public as that is where his loyalties lie.
I would not vote for someone based solely upon religion, but it is a factor and I do think about it and it concerns me somewhat.
This is a great question to make people stop and think about it.
2007-12-22 13:26:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, you would like to know wouldn't you?
Guess you'll find out once he is President, and all our criminals are standing before military tribunals huh?
2007-12-21 03:56:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Does hitlery answer to the Baptists, since she has given several speeches in black churches?
Does Obama answer to Oprah, since she is the new american religion?
Does Edwards answer to - well, he answers to his bank account...
2007-12-21 03:34:01 · answer #10 · answered by stay_fan2 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋