2008 Woodie Awards
Mitt and the Mormon Question
Haley Swenson
Issue date: 12/5/07 Section: Opinion
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In observing popular reactions to Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney's active membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I've learned a lot about how the nation views the culture in which I was raised as a native to Utah and a baptized Mormon. I've also learned an immense amount about our country's often hypocritical and illogical approach to religion and politics. Romney's Mormonism has been considered alongside Clinton's sex and Obama's race in a question of electability, but the debate about Romney has obscured the very complex way a candidate's religion should be examined with respect to their politics.
Amid some anti-Mormon sentiment, expressed, for example, by Reverend Al Sharpton when he implied Mormons do not believe in God, many have compared the mistrust of a Mormon candidate to a general mistrust of John F. Kennedy's Catholic background prior to his election. Some then worried about Kennedy's loyalty to the Pope possibly superseding his independence as a decision-maker for the nation. Because Mormons believe in a living prophet (currently church president Gordon Hinckley) and "continued revelation," Romney has been asked (for instance, on "Face the Nation" in October) whether church leaders might influence his actions as president.
Romney has reassured voters that when he takes the oath of office, he will answer to the American people and the Constitution first and foremost and would not allow his church leaders to guide him. Despite this promise, which is actually quite extreme when compared with the unapologetic way conservative politicians of the past decade have relied on evangelical leaders openly and often when it comes to making decisions, the media continue to ask this question of Romney.
Consider, for example, President George W. Bush's own constant discussion of his faith in forming his political positions or Rudy Giuliani's recent press conference to happily announce controversial evangelical leader Pat Robertson had given him his endorsement for president. The Mormon Church, on the other hand, has done its part to reassure Americans it is not a political organization and does not wish to influence the political opinions of its members.
Amid some anti-Mormon sentiment, expressed, for example, by Reverend Al Sharpton when he implied Mormons do not believe in God, many have compared the mistrust of a Mormon candidate to a general mistrust of John F. Kennedy's Catholic background prior to his election. Some then worried about Kennedy's loyalty to the Pope possibly superseding his independence as a decision-maker for the nation. Because Mormons believe in a living prophet (currently church president Gordon Hinckley) and "continued revelation," Romney has been asked (for instance, on "Face the Nation" in October) whether church leaders might influence his actions as president.
Romney has reassured voters that when he takes the oath of office, he will answer to the American people and the Constitution first and foremost and would not allow his church leaders to guide him. Despite this promise, which is actually quite extreme when compared with the unapologetic way conservative politicians of the past decade have relied on evangelical leaders openly and often when it comes to making decisions, the media continue to ask this question of Romney.
Consider, for example, President George W. Bush's own constant discussion of his faith in forming his political positions or Rudy Giuliani's recent press conference to happily announce controversial evangelical leader Pat Robertson had given him his endorsement for president. The Mormon Church, on the other hand, has done its part to reassure Americans it is not a political organization and does not wish to influence the political opinions of its members.
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Michael Satterlee
posted 12/05/07 @ 9:27 PM CST
One problem I have with a Mormon as president is that Mormons believe that God now authoritatively speaks through a man (the current head of the LDS church) who they consider to be a modern day "prophet" of God. (Continued…)
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