When I heard former Governor Mitt Romney would again seek the Republican President nomination in the 2012 election, my thoughts immediately turned to how he would overcome doubts about his Mormon faith. It appears as though he’s hit that wall sooner rather than later. At the Values Voter Summit on Friday Baptist minister Robert Jeffress referred to Mormonism as a cult, (along with Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism) and openly discouraged Republicans for voting for a Mormon. Pastor Jeffress’ remarks have caused problems for Republican candidate Rick Perry, because of his association with the pastor. Rick Perry has distanced himself from Pastor Jeffress, insisting they are only casual acquaintances but some have called for Perry to publicly reject Jeffress’ remarks and brought the spotlight on other Republican candidates on how they feel about Mormonism. Herman Cain and Michelle Bachmann effectively avoided the issue when asked with Bachmann claiming the issue was “inconsequential.” No matter what I think of Bachmann or Cain, they have a point.
I’ve never understood the fascination of the religion of presidential nominees in this country since we’re supposed to have a separation of church and state. More than that, our Founding Fathers envisioned a country of diversity in all aspects. Undermining a presidential candidate’s ability to be a effective Commander-in-Chief on the basis of religion clearly contradicts that. Yes the majority of the country is Christian but the United States is supposed to be a country welcoming and proud of its diversity. The president of the United States is supposed to serve all Americans regardless of religious affiliation. Especially today when people’s main concerns are jobs and the economy, poking at a candidate’s religion should be the last thing on our minds.
Really good post. It makes me wonder what people like Minister Jeffress are after. What is their real purpose? The welfare–both spiritual and physical– of their flock–or an aggrandizement of power. A few hundred years earlier, we might Pastor Jeffress could have been among the ranks of those such as Cardinal Richelieu or the Lord Protector Cromwell. Sadly too often those of us who have forgotten or never taken the time to learn our history march for, ignorant of their misguided deeds, and repeating it, if they are the first of their kind.
Thanks so much for stimulating us to “think” an act that in this country is fast becoming reprehensible, unpatriotic and for some unimaginable.
Peace and blessings.