By Robert P. George
U.S. News and World Report is reporting that a group called “Catholics for Obama” has been calling voters, asking such questions as “How can you vote for a Mormon who does not believe in Jesus Christ?” (Evidently, the calls also claim that President Obama does not support abortion and that Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest provider of abortions and lobbyist for the abortion license, “helps children to get healthcare and prenatal care and does not promote abortion.” But lay those misrepresentations aside for present purposes.)
The Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights has condemned the anti-Mormon bigotry of these calls in the strongest possible terms. All Catholics should join in the condemnation. I don’t know who is behind these calls, but the Obama campaign should, in all decency, immediately try to figure it out and shut them down. This is only the most egregious of many nauseating examples of the anti-Mormon bigotry that has crawled out of the swamp in relation to Governor Romney’s nomination as the Republican candidate for president. Most examples are more subtle and “sophisticated”; but they are no less appalling. Of course, bigotry of any kind is appalling. But for those who recognize, as we all should, the extraordinary decency, generosity, and patriotism of the vast majority of our LDS fellow citizens, and their many (mainly unsung) contributions to the common good of our society, the defamation of Mormons and their faith is particularly grotesque. Whether or not we happen to support Governor Romney in this campaign, we Catholics should be united in our friendship with, and high regard for, the Latter-Day Saints.
The original article can also be found on First Things.
Comment by James on October 6, 2012 at 9:25 pm
I cannot understand why IRD would repost this article. IRD’s vision reads “to lead the fight rallying Christians to champion biblical, historic Christianity and its role in democratic society, and to defeat revisionist challenges.”
Mormonism is most certainly not biblical, historic Christianity. Mormonism has a false god, a false christ, and a false gospel. They believe God was once a man who eventually progressed into godhood, and that men can become gods in the afterlife as well, after centuries of exaltation. These are some of the most blasphemous doctrines that I’ve ever heard of. Jesus is believed to be a seperate being from God who was physically begotten. Mormonism denies salvation by grace alone and justification by faith alone. Mormonism is theologically a cult through and through.
I guess if you believe that conservative orthodox Protestants should practice ecumenism with Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, then it is no big stretch to push for “ecumenism” with Mormonism as well.
Note: we can vote for Romney without approving of his false religion.
Comment by John Leek on October 10, 2012 at 1:50 pm
I’m not sure I understand the irritation at anti-Mormon speech while participating in anti-Muslim speech. Consistency would call either for pushing back against both OR recognizing the “extraordinary decency, generosity, and patriotism” of Americans of all religions.