Is Romney’s Mormonism an issue?
By Tom Quiner
Mitt Romney
I’ve had business dealings with a fair number of Mormons over the years. I have been impressed with their consistent commitment to family. I admire the personal discipline they exercise to mitigate the impact of drugs and vice in their lives. Mormons seem to be clean-living members of society who don’t get in trouble as much as the rest of the population
If America consisted mostly of Mormons, social pathology would be dramatically reduced, because Mormon children are largely born into intact families with a Mom and a Dad who are married and are committed to the idea of a family.
Now the charge has been raised in this political cycle that Mormonism is a cult. Is this true?
Let us first ask, what is a cult?
My dictionary defines it as follows: a cult is a system of religious or spiritual beliefs, especially an informal and transient belief system regarded by others as misguided or unorthodox.
With this definition, yes, I would call Mormonism a cult. I think it is misguided based on what I know of it.
So is Romney’s Mormonism an issue?
Of course it is. But is it a deal-killer? Not necessarily.
Look at this way. The American Creed states that our Creator endows us with inalienable rights which include life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Our current president certainly rejects much of our Creed.
Mr. Romney embraces it, he says. He has waffled on Life issues, in the past, but now says he is firmly pro-life.
I like the candidate who honors America’s value system.
I am a Catholic who tries his best to honor his faith.
Given a choice of a Catholic candidate who publicly renounces his Church by proclaiming his/her devotion to Planned Parenthood and a Mormon who proclaims his/her devotion to the pre-born, well, I’d take the Mormon.
If a Mormon candidate professes American values as so brilliantly expressed by our Founders, and if he or she vows to uphold the Constitution, then I can consider that candidate as a viable candidate to be President of the United States.
Is Romney’s Mormonism an issue?
Yes.
Is it a deal-killer?
No.
Hear! Hear!
Christians who are opposed to Romney because he’s a Mormon have a consistent ethical point *if* they take their car to a Christian car repair guy, their legal work to a Christian lawyer, their dog to a Christian vet, their whooping cough to a Christian doctor, and so on, all the way down the line.
If they do, I respect that position, although I disagree with it. If they don’t, they’re being inconsistent, and should sit down, be quiet, and start nerving themselves up to vote for Mr. Romney, should he prove to be the Republican candidate.
We’re selecting a person to do a job, like when you look for a plumber or a baby-sitter. We need to look for the person with the best qualifications for the job. Romney is not my first choice for a candidate. But if he’s the Republican candidate I will vote for him, because any other option will help re-elect Mr. Obama for another four years.