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RE: The usual hypocritical religious load of junk

Comment comment by Brandon on 11 December 2007

Isn't any politician who claims to be religious, but then says religion will not impact his ability to lead, hypocritical?

The way I heard it, Romney's message wasn't that "being religious" will not affect his decision making, but that being of one particular religion will not compromise his ability to lead as compared to him being of another religion.

In other words, the manner in which Romney anticipates leading the country would be perfectly consistent with a Protestant, Catholic, Muslim or Jewish belief system.

The following quote from his speech is telling:

Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.

As Governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution – and of course, I would not do so as President. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.

Notice he draws the line between the authority of LDS church leaders and presidential affairs, not between his own personal morals and decisions.

As for being either a devotee or a poser, I think it's obvious from his church service and current standing that he's the former. He addresses this concern in his speech, too:

There are some [who] ... would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs. Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it.

Where do you see the tap dancing?

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RE: The usual hypocritical religious load of junk by markmcb :: NR7

Where do you see the tap dancing?

Consider two of the quotes you presented:

  • "Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions."
  • "I will be true to them and to my beliefs."

Doesn't the LDS church believe in "modern day revelation?" If so, are such revelations had by members of the LDS church? If so, are those people ever leaders in the church? I believe the answer to each of these is "yes," which is the cause of the issue I stated.

If leaders of LDS can amend the prescriptions of their faith, and Mitt Romney believes in LDS, then I think it naturally follows that he is under the influence of their leadership and revelations.

So, if the second quote above it true, I don't see how the first can be. If God reveals Himself through LDS authorities and Mitt believes in God, I don't see the separation. I don't think he can make his claims given the structure and beliefs of the LDS church.

Posted 11 December 2007, Hide, Parent, Reply