Romney: ‘If You Want to Learn More About My Church, Talk to My Church’

This is ridiculous. JFK was a seriously devout Catholic, and was and is looked at like royalty in terms of his patriotism and defending of the American ideal. Romney is no different, and by far the most qualified to tackle our economy. Barack has completely limped in the hour need, done nothing, and offered no reprieve. At least Romney has a plan—and he’s a candidate. It’s about time we dropped our obsession with sensationalism, get over the fact he’s Mormon (who cares? I don’t care!), and vote for a qualified president. I’m a liberal conversative, and a conservative liberal, and Romney’s got my vote.

Ann was lovely on the show. I just love her. She definitely brings out the best in Romney. He would be a terrific president.

ROTFL Oh rockagain, you poor soul. You want to talk about “flip floppers”? Please tell me about Senator Obama in campaign mode versus President Obama.

I think Romney gave a very good answer to Morgan. Liberals will do anything now to try and trap the Conservative candidates. Separation of church & state should be in place. I wonder how Obama would’ve answered this question, or if the question would’ve even been asked. Probably not. Doesnt matter, Obama is toast next year.

Rev. Wright did not preach against the values that America upheld.
Unless you are talking about white supremacy, Jim Crow laws, and things like that.
Please, go back and find a Rev. Wright sermon where he preached against the values America upheld, and tell me ONE.
Now before you reply and say “I won’t waste my time” or something like that… realize this:
Rev. Wright preached against America’s own betrayal of the values (Constitution, equality, freedom) of which he stood for.

David you poor soul, get a grip. Good sound bites for you, but completely out of context.

I agree with the previous posters, I don’t think America can stand another four years of Obama. He has basically destroyed and defamed this great country. Romney’s religious stance should not be a factor. Obama’s religious stance was a factor because his pastor preached against America and the values Americans uphold. I like Romney. I hope he wins the GOP nomination and chooses Gov. Perry from Texas as a running mate. That would be an awesome ticket. Obama will not be reelected in 2012.
POSTED BY: MARY | JUN 8, 2011 10:30:56 AM________Keep dreaming!

@David – I dont know where you get your information, but you are in fact wrong. I am Mormon, and we do not believe that black people are associated with Cain from the Bible. We believe in equality between all races, we believe in marriage between one man and one woman, we do not believe in polygamy, we believe in interracial marriages, and we believe in God the father, his son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
I have been a member all my life, I have friends who have married inter-racially with no problem from the church, in fact having a bishop marry them.
As Romney said, if you want to know about his church, then talk to his church. Dont make stuff up, or believe everything you read on the internet.

@mytakeonthis – I see where your going with this, I think I heard Romney say that as far as gay rights goes, he thinks they should have civil unions, and have protection under the law, and insurance and everything else, but the term marriage should be used for a Man and a Woman only.
I want more on this as well, but I think I heard him say something down those lines.

USA will never elect a Mormon, we have a better chance of electing a Scientologist. Besides Mitt Romney will flip flop on anything, especially when he faces the cool, calm and collected Obama.

“”You don’t begin to apply doctrines of a religion . . . of guiding a nation or guiding a state.”
Ah… but you do, and many do take that into account. I remember reading about Mr. Bush’s agonizing decision (“Decision Points”) regarding stem cell research and his belief of “right to life.” Apparently he did weigh it quite carefully but it was his religious belief that led to the stem cell policy of which he initiated. I’m not sitting in judgement of his policy or belief. I’m just pointing out that a person’s beliefs can and do affect policy. I don’t think Romney would be any different.

MyTakeOnThis61 | Jun 8, 2011 12:47:32 PM
“Right to life” isn’t necessarily a religious belief. I am not religious at all and I find it odd that a person can’t take their own life legally, but we can kill unborns all we want. We might as well have a suicide pill and an abortion pill and make this all a little easier. What do you think?

I applaud Mitt on his skill with the media. Saying just the right things with just the right care. He’s one smooth operator, I tell ya.
But in the end, he’s the wrong kind of Christian and he’s far too liberal for the typical GOP financial backer.
On the other hand, he has the will-bending, pocket picking, wealth of the morman church to help his campaign.
That’s got to count for something.

Progressives can’t have it both ways…. Conservatives were called “racists” and “haters” when they asked how the Rev Wright’s Black Liberation Theology might have affected Obama!! —- So are you going to continue to ask Romney about his religion?

i don’t understand the people who are saying that religion doesn’t/shouldn’t matter. i’m assuming those saying this are republicans and supporters of romney. why, then, have you allowed your party leaders and wanna-be leaders to bring up the president’s supposed muslim religion and/or his attendence at rev. wright’s methodist church in chicago? taylor, jogger – can you answer this?

Good answers but just wait until the conservative right gets a hold of him. Maybe if the Republicans didn’t run a ticket of hate with the likes of Palin…they could win. Still…I’m not counting on it.

I don’t believe Romney for one second.

I wonder if he wears the magic Mormon underwear. You know, the ones that are supposed to protect you from fire, flood, nuclear disaster, etc.

Of course homosexuality is a sin, let’s move on.

Being a sodomite is absolutely a sin in every religion. Why do you think homosexuals attack religion at every chance?

@Erick – what you say about blacks is true NOW in the LDS, but that wasn’t so in the ’60s and ’70s. protesters at sports events (when BYU had *no* African-American players) were incensed that the “prophet” justified no black players because, as descendants of Cain, they couldn’t hold full temple membership, therefore couldn’t play for the “official church university team.”

Gladys Knight is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (mormon church). There is a site called dedicated to the contributions of African Americans to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (mormon church).
Because mormons were not slaveholders, they were viewed with suspicion by their Southern neighbors during the 18th century.

You know…I feel really sorry for Mitt. He is a decent guy who will never get the “fringe right vote” of the GOP and he constantly has to “defend” his religious background. I guess that is what happens when a “decent human being” chooses the WRONG POLITICAL PARTY. LOL…LOL It is NOT toolate to change direction, Mitt. I did and am so very much happier because of it. The GOP has completely lost its way with its “protection of the richest” dogma. They thought they could the “dumbed down” of the grass roots to “play ball”…and LOL…that is not exactly what has occurred. That is what happens when you “pander” to the fanatic fringes (including religious wing nuts) and less educated element of this nation.

For those who are interested in true, factual information about the teachings and doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon). You will find it at Mormon Dot Org
(where you can get answers to your questions).
If you want information about State Farm, would you go to Allstate?
By the same token, If you want information about the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), isn’t it best go there?

Commonsenseparty,
I once debated a muslim on the Trinity outdoors in a heavily muslim neigborhood on the missionfield. Guess who they thought won! For some crowd, bumpersticker type cliche’s work. Romney can’t match the president 30% on substance but that is true of all conservatives. In an informed audience, who looks behind, Drill baby drill type of slogan, they might think Romney won … but …..pleeeeease……..

I won’t even consider any liberal, I vote Romney! I can’t imagine a more incompetent president the US ever had with Obama since Carter.

Romney is a liberal, he needs to run as a democrat.

Come on. The LDS church regards alcohol and tabacco smoking as sinful. You don’t see any reporter asking if he’d be willing to ban alcohol and tabacco because his church calls them sinful. Such silly questions…

I am LDS and would not vote for Romney because he won’t answer questions about the LDS Church. I don’t look at someone’s relgion when I decide who to vote for, but if someone is asked what his or her church believes, he should not simply refuse to answer the question.

I liked his answers, as documented in this article. I’m an active member of the Church, and I think Mr. Romney would be a terrible president. I plan to vote in 2012 for the same candidate I voted for in 2008: President Barack Obama.

It’s hard to believe that in this time of scandals, jerks, frauds, and liars, that this country would reject a man of integrity because of RELIGION! Just incredible.

For those who feel Romney is just a “flip flopper” or doesn’t have any core – you need to do some DIRECT research and not just “listen to sound bites” that don’t provide you details. Why not read Romney’s book, “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness”. If you were willing to read Obama’s book, shouldn’t you be willing do some research into Romney’s life and his core reasoning, too? Or would that take up too much of your time away from listening to more sound bites…
Get your information straight from horse’s mouth and stop asking the bookies how the horses are running. Same thing with Romney’s religion, check out http://www.mormon.org for a direct link to what they believe and don’t believe.

Kate I would like to ask for you to give one example of how The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is racist.
Did you know that the largest populations of the church are not located in the US? Most are located in Central and South America. There is a large membership of LDS members in Africa. In fact the church does much good works in those areas providing much needed resources, such as fresh water and ways to genrate power so they can have light in their homes at night. We do not believe that marriage between the sexs is a right and is supported in the Bible.
Please contact a local LDS church and request information or have a visit in your home with missionaries and learn something before you speak.
God Bless you.

Flip flop is the wrong word. He doesn’t change his mind about the facts or his opinions, he just omits them when they’re not relevant, as in this case. The US WILL elect a Mormon if he’s right for the seat. And Romney is showing everyone that he’s right for it because of his political and business experience, not because he’s Mormon. If anything, I’d want a Mormon on the seat because of his core values, keeping him from obviously demeaning scandals. If there was a non-religious organization that engendered that kind of public trust, I’d want one of them, too. But there is no organization that defines their chracacter in a way that I would automatically trust anyone who’s not religious. Society doesn’t teach good values, it only expects people to have them without religious influence. Dumb.

@Erick, re: @mytakeonthis…I think you are headed down the right path. I am a mormon and marriage is a union between a man and a woman, I think what Romney is saying is that we are not to judge, even we don’t believe in their life style, they shouldn’t be stripped of rights to live as an equal human being.
While I believe in preserving the sanctity of marriage, I don’t believe in being mean to others who choose to live differently.
Everyone seems to be afraid to elect a “Mormon”, do they really think that as President he would have the power to force his religion on others? With our constitution and freedom of speech/religion, I think not. As far as him being a Mormon, I can only hope he will show the best character of himself, someone with integrity, a quality everyone should have, LDS or not!

Better a Christian in the White House than a Marxist.

I have been a Mormon most of my life and would expect Romney to have higher standards than most of the other candidates but would not vote for him just because he is Mormon. That would be just like voting for Obama just because he is black if I were black. We have to look at what they say they will do and hope they mean it.

If people will SHUT UP about Romney’s religion because they don’t know the truth. They speak because of hear-says that aren’t true. They should read the Book Of Mormon and the History of Joseph Smith and they will change their mind about the Mormon belief. Its strange they know everything about the Mormon Faith, but yet haven’t read the history of the truth. Its like a historical book dated back to the early BC’s and AD’s. The bom is truth!!!

The upside of Mormonism is “clean living” without alcohol and tobacco. The downside is not allowing women and blacks to serve the church on the same level as white males. I rather like Romney, though he was born with a silver spoon, but unless he speaks out against and works to change the sexism and racism in his church, I could not possibly support him,

Mormons are nuts and believe in a completely ridiculous non-christian story made up by a known liar and who now is their false prophet!
never would i vote for a Mormon for president.
Not event Vice-President!!

I’m still disconcerted by the fact that Romney was unwilling to answer a question about the church with which he is affiliated. If you asked JFK about catholicism, he certainly didn’t deflect the question. If Romney is incapable of answering such a basic question to which he clearly knows the answer for fear of it being used against him (he’s running for president, he’d better get used to it), it makes him seem like he’s paranoid and psychologically weak.

A grown man who dodged Vietnam by pulling strings to extend his stay in Europe as a Mormon missionary can’t share his own witness of his own faith? Sounds as if he doesn’t have a relationship with G-d. No American man there worthy of our making him Elect…no “man” there, at all.

it’s impossible to vote for a mormon. all religions have examples of ridiculous beliefs and superstitions but mormonism is ‘beyond the pale’. if romney actually ‘believes’ the tenants of his religion then he is in no position to lead a nation like the usa. i don’t blame him for deferring on questions about his religion.

“Annuit Coeptis”: “divine Providence blesses our righteous endeavors,” not Buddha, Mohammed, Jesus, or Krishna. Only the Creator of the universe is G-d Almighty, “the King of America.”
The public naming of other “deity” is anti-Creed, sectarian factionalism: Treason.

The question, “Is America ready for a Mormon president?” is getting tiresome but all politicians – Mormon or otherwise – should be prepared to answer basic questions about the connection between religious and political views.
Mormons don’t hold it a sin to be gay but they do consider homosexual sex to be a grave sin. This is a bit of a sandbag for Romney, who must straddle two worlds. For medical science and a growing number of people, homosexuality is a naturally-occurring phenomenon, one that forces us to stop treating gay people as perverts.
At my house, it’s reality. One of my sons is gay, and he’s a top student, a popular personality and the kind of kid his mother and I can only look upon with unqualified love and pride.
Oh, and we’re Mormons.
Romney is going to get these questions. He thinks his best strategy is to dodge them. I think it’s better to face them head-on. Regardless of what people think about Mormons, and regardless of what they dig up about the LDS Church, Romney can always speak from the heart and say what he, himself, thinks on a subject.
If he keeps dodging questions, he’s going to end up looking like he’s hiding something. Voters don’t like politicians who dodge questions.

May all true Americans leave false religions behind and once again recognize Our Nation and Creed’s “E Pluribus Unum,”"Novus Ordo Seclorum,” and above all “Annuit Coeptis” are given to us in covenant by the Creator, direct. Seek Truth, pursue Justice, establish Righteousness, and abolish Evil – thereby serve G-d.
Truth and Justice is of G-d alone: Any who does not seek to hang Bush and Cheney for their manifest treason of 9/11 is not of G-d, or worthy of the name “American.”

I was raised by a Catholic father and a mother who belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka Mormon). The churches are very similar on many many teachings. I would like to state the answer to the question about gays. You can be gay, active and in good standing with the church. I have many friends who are that hold temple recommends (which means you hold to the highest of standards) they are simply celibate. Like many (most) religions LDS people believe you should never be engaged in sex unless lawfully married. Hence whether you are heterosexual or homosexual you should not follow your carnal urges.
There are many, many black Mormons around the world and many famous ones including the legendary Gladys Knight. Like so many other issues surrounding the church, the truth has been twisted and changed. Romney was right, if you want to know about his religion go directly to them. If I wanted to know how to prepare Chinese food I certainly would not make a trip to Rome and asked someone famous for pasta dishes. The mark of Cain was a dark mark, that of which many carry today. A mark against the soul. The Creator cares not what color your skin is, but cold blooded murder put a dark mark upon the soul. With modern day help we can rise above what our parents have done, but in the past clans have been noted for being either passive or violent.
I would never let an individuals religion influence who to vote for. It is their stand on the issues and integrity as a person that I look for. With this being said, I hope my answers will help clear up some issues. If you are wondering, I still highly respect the teachings of both the churchs I was raised in, along with the many others I have studied.

David, the “Mormon” church is not racist. Many websites that can be found through a simple Google search make up facts, or distort them. There are millions of latter-day saints (Mormons) all over the WORLD. And I’m becoming overwhelming tired of repeating this due to all the scandal on TV sitcoms and whatnot… We do NOT practice polygamy. Interracial marriage is OK. We are a Christian faith. Therefore we believe in Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and our Heavenly Father. The Bible is a part of our doctrine. Please visit to get appropriate information on the “Mormon” faith.
Don, never say never. For your information, there are already “Mormons” in the US Government. There are wonderful people from all religions in the world, and their faith should not be a deciding factor on whether you vote for someone or not.

To MyTakeOnThis61 |
I think one of the biggest issues of confusion in the whole gay “rights” debate is what constitutes a “right.” Do you define marriage as a right or as a societal construct, an institution bound by rules of law, whether they be religious or secular? Every society that has ever existed on this earth has defined marriage by its own tenets, determining who can be “married,” who can do the marrying, and what privileges come from said unions. Some societies allow polygamy, some allow temporary marriages or marriages specified by length of time, some allow polyandry, and some trial marriages. Some states allow civil or non religious marriages, others have said they must be performed only by some religious cleric. In some societies marriages have been allowed by mutual consent and public statement of the parties involved without a formal “official” or ceremony to sanction the union. It seems that just about every type of arrangement has been or is used in some way somewhere on the globe. Therefore, it does not seem wrong to me to allow our citizens to decide what we define to be a “marriage.” I don’t think it is a “right,” and I suspect that this is very much the way Romney, and many other people of faith, many different faiths, view it. Our society is never going to agree on this however, it never agrees 100% on ANYTHING, but that’s why we put the matter to a vote. As for what defines a “right,” once more, a rather large debate, but we have to be careful. And I think this is a big part of the issue. Take away any religious overtones or concerns, and you run into some very basic legal concerns. Definitions of rights and defining them in law must not be allowed to impinge on the other basic civil liberties that have always defined our nation. I think many people, despite their personal feelings of what may constitute marriage would care less if a gay couple decide to hold a ceremony to recognize their relationship. I learned a long time ago that I can love and appreciate people without involving myself in every aspect of their lives, and I can have friends of many different persuasions than my own without feeling threatened in my own beliefs. However, in places where legalization of marriage has become the law of the land, other issues have arisen. Schools can be required to teach that gay marriage is a normal and expected relationship and structural element of society. I know that as a teacher I can not, and will not participate in such instruction, and as a parent, I do not want my children being exposed to these concepts either. I believe that instruction in such things should be the responsibility of the parents. If you don’t think this can happen, think again. It is happening in places where the legal definition of marriage has been changed to reflect same gender marriage, and due to the way our laws are interpreted,this means that the schools are being required to reflect that in their instruction. The book “King & King” is used by some school districts with children as young as kindergarten to introduce them to the concept of gay marriage. Another victim of the legal ramifications are private institutions who do not recognize or support the concept. Yes, legalization law, and its attendant influence on other laws and policies of our society causes a breakdown of the choices of private versus public rights in terms of what an organization is, who they service, and what they do. For example, Catholic adoption and welfare services, who have a long history of service to the community have had to close their services and move out of states where this has become the law, because they will not adopt to same sex couples. In Great Britain, an old and well respected such organization just lost their last appeal to the courts, and will have to stop offering services in the United Kingdom. Additionally, there are concerns that some religious communities, who do not agree with same sex marriage, may eventually fall under prosecution for failure to perform such unions, and religious marriage for these communities may only be allowed to take place as a private ceremony AFTER a civil/ “legal” marriage is performed in order to protect the religious institutions involved. Obviously, there is much more to the issue than appears at first glance, and great care must be taken in how we decide to deal with it. We and our posterity will be dealing with our choices for a very, very long time to come.