Romney to Give Speech on His Religion
By anniepa
@anniepa (27955)
United States
December 5, 2007 1:38am CST
Mitt Romney is going to give a speech about his Mormon faith, apparently after feeling pressure to do so. Doesn't it seem a shame for that to be necessary 47 years after JFK did much the same thing about being a Catholic? My question is how many here consider a candidate's religious affiliation - or lack of one, if that were to ever occur - an important factor in deciding who to vote for? I don't think it should matter, it's where someone stands on the issues I consider important that determines who I will vote for.
Annie
4 people like this
6 responses
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
6 Dec 07
It does not matter what YOU consider important. What matters is if the issues the candidate introduces are in line with his denomination. So if the candidate is a Catholic he cannot approve of abortion, since that is against the Catholic belief even if YOU want it to be so and will not vote for a candidate who considers life as starting from conception. Therefore since Romney is a Mormon and I know little about the Mormon beliefs, he cannot introduce any issues that are against the book of Mormon. So what YOU should do is to vote for a candidate whose religion and believes coincide with the issues you consider important.
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
6 Dec 07
Actually there is no doctrine within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that dictates the political views of the members.
Sen. Hatch is a Mormon, so is Sen. Harry Reid. Can you possibly find two US Senators further apart politically than these two? Could anyone make the case that they both take their marching orders from the Mormon leaders?
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@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
5 Dec 07
I'm glad Romney is going to address it. I'm also glad he has said that it won't be the same speech Kennedy gave back in the 60s.
I think a person's religion shouldn't be a factor in whether they can run or not, but no one has the right to decide what criteria other people use in choosing a candidate.
I hope his speech helps voters understand the the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints does not dictate matters of politics to its members. That should erase the fear that the country would be run by Mormon leaders if Romney is elected.
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
5 Dec 07
I'm also glad it won't be the same speech Kennedy gave although the basic thought may be the same. Someone's individual church shouldn't dictate their government policies. I understand what you mean about no one can decide for someone else what criteria they use in choosing a candidate.
Annie
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
6 Dec 07
So, now that he has given it, what did you think?
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
10 Dec 07
Since I don't consider a candidate's religious affiliation a factor in who I vote for and since I won't be voting in the Republican primary I guess I can't give a fair answer. I thought he addressed the questions people may have pretty well. The one thing I've heard discussed on some of the talk shows afterwards was his statement about (please don't quote me, I'm paraphrasing here) you can't have religion without freedom and you can't have freedom without religion; I really don't agree with that but I think it probably went over well with the Evangelists he was hoping to reassure. I'm not saying this as a criticism, just an observation. My views are pretty much the opposite of Romney's current views on social issues so, as I said, I'm not the right person to assess his speech.
Annie
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
9 Dec 07
The fear of a Catholic ruler goes all the way back to England in the 1500's. Some people still believe that if a Catholic gets to office it will be the Pope who will really rule which nonsense. any president Has to follow the Constitution and we still have a separation of church and state.It shouldn't matter whatever religion he/she follows but it does in some places.That is why we have only had one Catholic president.And we will never have a non Christian president.
1 person likes this
@Ngippol (567)
• Philippines
5 Dec 07
Hi Annie. You have a point. Anyway, most of the people today consider only those with whom they have the same religious affiliation. This is especially to some who follow the dictate of their group founders or leaders. They have no freedom to choose.
1 person likes this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
5 Dec 07
Hi Annie,
You know, I guess most people, especially the older generation may think that a person's religious beliefs define a huge part of his character. So I would think that it would determine who someone ultimately votes for. It might make or brak a vote, if a voter has a different religious belief than the candidate.
I personally don't think it matters, and like you, would vote for the person that makes note of issues I'm concerned about too. I was just thinking I may need to start paying attention! LOL I'm not sure if I'm going to vote or not though.
That's really terrible he feels pressured in doing this, I'm afraid I would decline. Religion is not what my position is about, that's private...maybe that should be his speach. lol
Bay Lay Gray xx
1 person likes this
@BayleighGray (4334)
• United States
5 Dec 07
Ha ha Typo on speech, I DO know how to spell it. Bay xx
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