Romney should stop hiding his Mormon faith

Romney should stop hiding his Mormon faith August 11, 2012

Mitt Romney continues to keep his Mormon faith off the presidential campaign stage, despite the quiet urgings of ideological allies to talk about his spiritual core. If he did, he might explode the soft bigotry of critics, particularly liberals who could use a little refresher course in their own values.
The Republican presidential candidate seems too calculating and cautious to talk about one of the most admirable pieces of his biography. His critics, meanwhile, seem blissfully unaware of how intolerant they sound when they poke fun at, say, the “Mormon underwear” that is a confirmation of faith. These are the same people who would be righteously offended by anyone who mocked someone wearing a yarmulke or prayer shawl.

There may be some method in Romney’s muteness, as suggested a couple of weeks ago by a Pew poll that showed 55% of Americans comfortable with his faith, or unconcerned about it.

That’s on top of 32% who didn’t even know Romney is a Mormon. So nearly nine in 10 don’t have a problem with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or at least Romney’s membership in it. And it’s not like most people are clamoring for a lot more information. The poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life also found that only 16% of Americans wanted to know more about Romney’s religious beliefs.
Read the rest here


Browse Our Archives