Mormonism, voter enthusiasm concern evangelicals

In this Sept. 14, 2012, photo, Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney campaigns in the rain at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. Photo by The Associated Press.

RACHEL ZOLL, AP Religion Writer

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Evangelical leaders worried that Mitt Romney's Mormonism could suppress conservative turnout on Election Day are intensifying appeals for Christians to vote.

In poll after poll, evangelicals have overwhelmingly said they would back the Republican presidential nominee despite theological differences with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But what had been thought of as a hypothetical question for American evangelicals for years, Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler said recently, is now a reality with this election and is being tested in a contest that will likely be decided by slim margins.

"The fact is that Mitt Romney is a Mormon, and many of our people are very, very uncomfortable about voting for a Mormon, as I am. I supported somebody else in the primary. But, hey, we have no option," said Steve Strang, an influential Pentecostal publisher, in a conference call with pastors last week.

Strang was speaking to participants in Pulpit Freedom Sunday, an annual challenge to IRS rules on churches' political activity. While arguing that the government regulations had the effect of silencing pastors, he also cited Mormonism as one reason clergy haven't more forcefully urged congregants to vote this year.

"The Mormons are good, God-fearing people in their own way," Strang said. "We have to be sure our people don't stay at home."

Last month, more than two dozen prominent evangelical leaders issued a statement emphasizing the values spelled out in the GOP platform against abortion, gay marriage and other policies were more important than an individual politician's religion. Christians generally do not consider Mormonism part of historic Christianity, although Mormons do.

"Some have tempered their enthusiasm for sound governing principles by their concerns over differences in a candidate's theological doctrine," the letter states, without mentioning Mormonism. "It is time to remind ourselves that civil government is not about a particular theology but rather about public policy."

Among those signing the statement were the Rev. Franklin Graham, head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; veteran political operative Ralph Reed of the Faith & Freedom Coalition, a political action group for religious conservatives; Mark DeMoss, an evangelical adviser to the Romney campaign; and Frank Wright, head of the National Religious Broadcasters, the Washington lobby for Christian radio, TV and digital media.

Evangelicals make up about a third of voters who are registered or lean Republican. Some Republicans have estimated that a significant number of Christian conservatives have not been voting in presidential elections and have focused on getting them registered. But that effort has a new wrinkle this year: Romney is the first Mormon nominee for president from a major party.

DeMoss, who has supported Romney since his first bid for the GOP nomination in 2008, said he has found evangelical concerns about voting for a Mormon steadily decreasing, "but there are people for whom it still is an issue."

The Assemblies of God, a Missouri-based Pentecostal group with more than 12,600 U.S. churches, has launched its first national voter education and registration drive in a presidential-election year. George O. Wood, the denomination's leader, said he was inspired to undertake the project by Champion the Vote, which works to identify and mobilize previously unregistered conservative Christians.

The Assemblies of God voter drive makes no mention of specific candidates or their religion, but the denomination is among the many Christian churches that, in an effort to counter what it considers heretical, has been challenging Mormonism as unbiblical. Pentecostals are known for spirit-filled worship, belief in divine healing and, according to surveys, their social conservatism.

"I think our people recognize we live in a pluralistic culture, therefore one has to look at a candidate and see what values and policies they have independent of what their religious association might be and make a determination on that basis," Wood said in a phone interview. "You can form friendships with people even though you don't agree with them doctrinally."

Pastors are struggling to get that message across while still making clear that important doctrinal differences with Mormons remain. Conservative Christians believe they have a duty to point out beliefs they fear could lead others astray and risk their salvation.

As Strang was getting out the vote last month, the news editor of his best-known magazine, Charisma, wrote a column calling Mormonism "bizarre" and a "Christianesque cult." Another columnist called Mormon doctrines "creepy and (with apologies to Mitt Romney) demonic."

Janet Parshall, a veteran Christian broadcaster now with Moody Radio, invited on her show Tricia Erickson, a former Mormon turned born-again Christian and author of "Can Mitt Romney Serve Two Masters? The Mormon Church Versus the Office of the Presidency of the United States of America."

Parshall effusively praised Mormons for their dedication to family and compassion for others. She spoke fondly about working with Mormons in Washington. "When we would fight for pro-family issues, boy I tell you, we'd be able to do that with our Mormon friends because they shared the same kinds of values that we did," Parshall said. But she said there was a need to point out "what is biblically correct and what is not." In the ensuing interview, Erickson went on to call Mormonism blasphemous and describe rituals inside Mormon temples, which are for Mormons in good standing only, as "silly," ''bizarre" and "violent."

Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler and other academics took up the issue in a discussion last month at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship training ground for future leaders of the nearly 16 million-member denomination. Called "The Mormon Moment? Religious Conviction and the 2012 Election," the speakers went to great lengths to emphasize that religion should not be a consideration when voting.

Russell Moore, a theologian and a seminary dean, said a candidate's religious outlook should be examined specifically for "whether or not the person is going to be able to work for the common good." But he and others warned that supporting a candidate for president does not mean accepting his faith.

"If a President Romney is elected," Moore said, "we're the people who are willing to, if we're invited into the Oval Office, say, 'President Romney, here's where we agree with you, here's what we like about what you're doing, and we sincerely want to plead with you to believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ so you don't perish everlasting.'"

More like this story

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

Let's see. If I placed that much importance on religion I could choose between a Mormon who has never denied being Mormon or Obama who wears a ring engraved with Muslim script but openly attended a Black supremacist cult/church.

Hmmmmmm ya that is a tough one.

No Holy Trinity and large families vs. G## Dam-ning America and Bombs and being in awe of dull knife decapitations....

Which to choose!!!

newone 7 months, 1 week ago

Please send me a link to the picture of Obama with this so called "ring" and Black Supremacist Cult/Church? Really? You are so sad.

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

You're the sad one. Hey you should update your nickname!!! Google his ring there was an article about it out not 3 days ago or so. As for Trinity United Church of Christ I will let Wright's sermons and it's ties to other radical elements speak for itself.

RobHunterJohnson 7 months, 1 week ago

I guess you believe all print! Rob

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

Yep Graceful. Funny we never see or ever saw Obama's A(dministration) P(ress) draw attention to his mixed up, hateful, mysterious and contradictory religious beliefs.

newone 7 months, 1 week ago

you don't hear about it because it is not true, except in your own little Obama hating world.

RobHunterJohnson 7 months, 1 week ago

You know what Grace we will pull our signs down, if he won or lost the next morning, and life will go on! I do wonder about those Rebublicans though? Rob

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

who is we? Does your "we" include all the tweeter folk out there talking about race riots? Does your "we" include all those like MOlifer who state they can get away with murder due to hate crime laws (unless the judge is racist that is)?

I would really like to know who this "we" is from your perspective Rob.

eileen10 7 months, 1 week ago

connor, I don't mean to butt in but I think Rob means people like me and like Rob who aren't radicals. If Romney wins signs will come down and I for one will stand behind Mr. Romney because that's how i feel an American should be. I may not agree with certain things but I won't bad mouth him. A president, no matter who he is, deserves respect in my book.

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

Well Eileen out of respect I will not lump you in with the large number of democrat protestors I have seen since Clinton stepped out of office. But I do find it funny that those same individuals who protested Bush , called him every name in the book and came up with their conspiracy of the week club who now claim we should respect all Presidents as being, well, hypocritical. Of course hypocrisy and democrat pretty much mean the same thing in my dictionary so it doesn't surprise me.

Again I am NOT implying you are like that at all, but it is a common leftist meme.

eileen10 7 months, 1 week ago

I didn't actually take an interest in politics until I found the NT which wasn't all that long ago so I don't know anything about ..well..anything. I have a hard enough time trying to keep up with what's going on now plus it gets confusing but I just keep putsing along. I only know how I feel. I just wish things wouldn't get so over board but I learned that all this political stuff is very intense for a lot of people. Guess I'm more laid back about it.

eileen10 7 months, 1 week ago

Except for Akin.

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

LOL Eileen I should just write you off as a lost cause but sometimes I feel there is some hope for you. So tell me exactly why do you state "Except for Akin"?

eileen10 7 months, 1 week ago

Oh Oh . I have foot in mouth disease. Well. It started with the abortion stuff which I think I'm pretty well past that, but now it's him and Claire. They both sound goofy with all the back and forth stuff. At this point I'm not sure which one I'll vote for. I'll keep watching what they have to say and I'll vote for the one I think will do the best job but I do feel their both kind of goofy.

eileen10 7 months, 1 week ago

I did bump Akin up from being a worthless piece of "you know what" to being under the manure pile and when Claire started the attack on Akin she went from good to dog paddling to stay afloat so their pretty much neck and neck right now.

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

It's all good. To me cutting spending is the only real thing that matters honesty. If Clairebear came out tomorrow and openly admitted she hates men with testosterone (as opposed to hiding it like she does) but then said she was going to cut all spending I might even become a McCaskill supporter. That is if I believed her which at this point is highly unlikely. I don't really believe Akin 100% either but he seems a better shot than Claire.

jcguy25 7 months, 1 week ago

And the democrat radical protesters are different from the radical republican protesters? They are present on both ends of the spectrum, so big deal. Always will be.

mmhh 7 months, 1 week ago

I wonder if masses of uninformed people will now believe that we have a presidential candidate who will legalize polygamy just as uninformed people said Obama wasn't a citizen and was going to legalize pot. Read, people! Inform yourselves!

TrueStory 7 months ago

Are you kidding me. Talk about racist. Geez. Most Mormons do not practice polygamy. Wow what a horrible statement.

eileen10 7 months, 1 week ago

Romney won't legalize polygamy because he's not in one of the splinter groups that still practices it. In fact the LDS church will excommunicate anyone who does practice polygamy. I'm not vcoting for Romney, I've spoken out about the church, but in all fairness to Mr. Romney he belongs to the LDS sect. Not one of the splinter groups.

RobHunterJohnson 7 months, 1 week ago

Conner, Grace, I googled your lastest conspiracy about the ring, took in 3 articles, I do not see all the ISLAMIC WRITING that you two do! 4th article down shows the ring in Germany, fairly clear, and I DO NOT SEE WHAT YOU DO? I wear my Fathers, and Uncles rings every once in awhile? That could explain back to the 81 photo with Obama sitting with someone who looks radical to me, Ha,Ha. Back to business The 20 % TAX CUT FROM ROMENY/RYAN CANNOT BE DONE WITH OUT TAXING THE MIDDLE CLASS! The arithimitic does not work, so unless you two are part of the 120,000, you better take a good look at what you are asking for, because They sure are going to fix SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, HEALTH CARE, and TAXES! THE MIDDLE CLASS WILL BE THE LOSERS. ROB

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

I know a fair bit about Islamic art and calligraphy, at least from the middle ages period, and the design fits the guidelines and general look . The mixing of letters and words over each other is a common practice. In one of the articles the expert said these ring designs are common and as for what it says I have to take their word for it.

As to not adding up? You want to swing that stick towards Romney yet roll over and swallow Obama math?

C'mon really?

RobHunterJohnson 7 months, 1 week ago

Just to head this Lie off, I recieved an email this morning from one of my republican friends, 923 executive orders in 40 months? There have only been 138 as of 9/28/12 the spin machine is really revolving. READ BETWEEN THE LINES FOLKS! Rob

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

That is all the republicans do is lie and that is why i don't trust them as far as i can throw them. They flat out told everyone they were gonna lie when they said they don't let fact checkers get in the way of the campaign. Which is why they cannot give any details. Everytime they get pushe for specifics or details they say its too coplicated or we don't have enough time or just talk around the whole issue. Double Talk and No specifics to me = no trust!

breadncircus 7 months, 1 week ago

Trust. Let me say State Department and Libya. Now, how is that trust mechanism? Can we really trust what we hear from either party? Polarizing political rhetoric is all we get anymore; not real solutions. It just continues the cycle of a select group telling the rest what we think we want to hear thus appeasing our own personal bias. We have been misled for so long now though the use of political misinformation or under-information for the sake of power grabbing are we still able to even disseminate truth from lie? What will it take to get America back on track? I am not certain it will be in the near future but one can hope.

John 7 months, 1 week ago

Obama said he was going to cut the deficit in half in 4 years. . . . hasn't happened. Does not matter why. HE made the promise and did not keep the same is true with most of his promises. Do those not constitute lies?

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

Republicans Obstructionism!!!!

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

Obama put forth a budget every year and the Obstructionist republicans refused to pass it dumbazz,. Just like everything else.

spelchek 7 months, 1 week ago

Best to remain silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. The Senate is owned by Democrats still but you already didn't know that.

rollcall.com/issues/57_95/Senate-Democrats-Muted-on-Obama-Budget-212387-1.html

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

You are dumbazz the senate is controlled by democrats and everybody knows that but if you are not stupid you know that it takes two houses to pass anything. Just ignorant!

TomScooterJones 7 months, 1 week ago

Democrats are the lying lyers that lie lie lie. Crazy Uncle Joe showed us last night what a habitual liar he is, lied right to the face of the camera and smile like a Cheshire cat, typical rude bourbon soaked out of touch beltway bum.

asb 7 months, 1 week ago

So, if Romoney wins, the left (particularly the negros) will go nuts and take to the streets? Well that's just great, they can duke it out with Gracefull's people in a glorious civil war over nothing. I've heard nothing about the left planning a revolt, just the Fright Wing Nuts out in the woods with their AMFO bombs and AR15s hiding behind trees and shootin' it up. The left is patient. The left always wins. Why? knowledge, reason, time. If the world could even possibly stay static, then the right could win, but it doesn't, it changes constantly. And as long as the change is growth; in economy, knowledge and reason, then the left will win. Trying to paint Obama as an agent of Jihadists is why. Trying to convince yourselves that being robbed of your savings, property and political power is OK and better than a scarey black president is why. Pushing back the clock on human rights, (women and labor in particular) is why. Lying about EVERYTHING rather than the usual political rhetoric we all expect in a democracy, is why. Obama may lose, Claire may lose, Warren may lose; but come back in a generation and see what growth, knowledge and reason have accomplished. Well, if industrial greed and FOX haven't eaten the Earth to the bone and left us with a rotting corpse of a planet, but hey, not likely, because the Right can only win a battle here and there, never the war.

spelchek 7 months, 1 week ago

Democrats bring up race because they feel they own race, just like during the civil war. You see, they have subverted slave owning slowly into race owning. There is a reason for 18% black unemployment. If this was all about race the second black president could have easily made possible programs to get minorities (particularly blacks) back to work. Obama owned a Senate, House, and of course POTUS. He could have and did pass everything he wanted. The second black president lost his chance to lift his people up. High black unemployment will now be "inherited" by Romney (or Romoney to those who covet thy neighbor). Democrats have moved the plantation to inner cities and kept the slaves happy and perpetually down via entitlements, ensuring them a future vote in the name of humanity.

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

You are the most illogical and ignorant person I have ever read comments from besides Grace so now the democrats Own Races. How freaking ignorant can you be. You keep continuing on you ignor..oops i mean blissful joirney.

spelchek 7 months, 1 week ago

Other than the name calling and everything else in your comment... it was pretty good. Deep too, ankle deep.

eileen10 7 months, 1 week ago

I hit the removal thing and called NT. My comment was removed and the man I spoke to knows not to remove anything. Whew.

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

stop drinking the refuglican kool aid give me some specifics of romneys plans we have all been asking for months yet not a single person can give details to his plans because he hasn't given them except to say the math works when all outlets left right and middle all say the math doesn't add up. Oh well the "non partisan study" says that the math adds up but who runs the group that did the study Tricky Dick Cheney and we all know hes not partisan......LMAO

RobHunterJohnson 7 months, 1 week ago

Grace , fact check it looks to me like Conner, and then Grace were the first to play the card on this page? It seems to me you should look in the Mirror, maybe I should keep score! Rob

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

I played a religion card that happens to be racial because of that particular sect's actions and ideology. Not the same thing overall but take it as you will.

asb 7 months, 1 week ago

Yes, the left won in Cuba and Venezuala, and both are better off than with the facist governments they replaced. Cuba has been held down by over 60 years of sanctions and embargo. Chavez may be whacked, but he replaced a brutal and murderous regime, and continues to improve life for most of his country. The left won in Russia, and were resisted to horrifically that their revolution went too far, the Right does win some battles, but Russia today is a far better place than any the Czar would've allowed. The Right is America's enemy, destroying us with greed, lies and fear.

spelchek 7 months, 1 week ago

He is scarey and black...like his policies.

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

finally you speak some truth about your feelings!!!!!!!!!!!

spelchek 7 months, 1 week ago

You need an extra exclamation point. Don't get lazy on us now.

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

Well How about this for a conspiracy thoery that i heard yesterday. If by some crazy slim chance Mitt Romney does win. Tea partiers hate him but love Ryan and within 6 months Tea partiers will take out Romney so Ryan can put all the Tea party objectives into play. Bringing back Debtors prisons and putting more black people in prison than the 75 80% of the prison poppulation that minorities already make up due to racist and lopsided criminal justice system. Powder cocaine (whites choice) 1oz = slap on the wrist Crack Cocaine (minority choice) 2 grams = 20 years (institutionalized racism at its finest!

TomScooterJones 7 months, 1 week ago

Excuses wont help the next generation of African Americans stay out of prison, some parenting might help, but excuses sure wont. Nice theory, right up there with the Mason stuff and the Moon landing.

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

Do some research and you might learn something TOM

JCLifer 7 months, 1 week ago

Blacks commit more crimes. Why is that?

asb 7 months, 1 week ago

Poverty, as always.

asb 7 months, 1 week ago

Really? Blacks have poor souls? You guys are really signing yourselves today. Money doesn't matter? With the GOP gutting America in the name of profit, you can say that? Irony fits you.

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

As far as violent crimes go I couldn't tell you why. I am sure the libs around here will come up with something and recommend we throw lots of money at the problem to fix it.

As for other crimes, specifically drug related, Mr. hate filled Mo4Lifer was actually on to something a few comments up but was mixing up his genders with political parties because he cannot see what is really going on with criminal choice bias and penalties.

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

you need to do some research!

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

You need to open your eyes and stop being led around and manipulated.

asb 7 months, 1 week ago

Right, drugs are hard to find. Well, whites get better anti drug education, lesser sentences, and better stuff, while blacks practically trip over it courtesy of the profit-driven distribution system, while the cops often just watch. But nobody has trouble finding any drug, and after only 100 years of the WOD. BTW, poverty accounts for the appetite for high as well as hitting and stealing. Don't check out the decades of medical and sociological studies, you don't need no stinking facts.

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

Spoken like the useful Femocrat tool you have become. Since you claim to consult facts go and look at the disparity between male sentencing and female for the same crimes. Then look at how the laws for assault, stalking, rape and domestic violence have been changed and then look up which race of men are convicted of these infractions.

You have a chance to open your eyes and see who the real oppressors are.

MO4LIFE 7 months, 1 week ago

Black people Black people Black people so connor you sre trying to tell me that the ratio of minorities in prison is not higher that whites! Because if you are then you have really got blinders on or the Fright wing Kool aid is spiked dumbdown

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

NO as usual you cannot see past your racist conditioning, your us v. them mentality and social teasing.

Here I will help you along some. There are more black men convicted of the crimes you point out than White men. No one can deny that it is a statistical fact. I am telling you to figure out which actual group promoted, lobbied and pushed for these law changes and enforcement. I will give you a hint... It wasn't men.

Crcknup 7 months ago

Maybe bringing back debtors prisons wouldn't be such a bad thing...at least I would then qualify for 3 squares, free healthcare and cable TV!

GwenFrost 7 months, 1 week ago

All of you need to take a chill pill and go and vote and whoever wins we will have to live with it!!!!!

asb 7 months, 1 week ago

Chill indeed! The FRight Wing Nuts in these forums want a war. An actual disolution of America. A Divorce from the United States with blood in the streets. Read Grace on this . . . revolution! This is worthy of more than just voting. Anyway, how much value (still priceless) do our votes have compared to the monied lying machine's influence on what actually happens day-to-day? Much reduced every day that millions see FOX as reality and ignore the pending consequences of their choice of greed over social responsibility. I'll take forum bickering over apathy to increase the value of my vote, thanks.

JCLifer 7 months, 1 week ago

We don't need to have a war to have a divorce. What is there to fight about? Lefties go their way and Righties go their's. No reason to keep trying to mix oil and water. This experiment of a nation has failed when the constitutuion became meaningless. Folks cannot agree. Let us separate into at least two countries (probably really need to split into four). Let's do it and see which way works best. Does not have to have bloodshed to happen- let's just sit down and work it out. We can even call it a "no-fault" divorce. No need for blame, No need for name-calling. No need for anything other than looking forward to a better future for all of us. We need to move on from the current devestation, hopelessness, lack of jobs, increasing debt, and all the bickering.

connor 7 months, 1 week ago

Sorry if the heated rhetoric is a bit much but it is coming down to the wire as the looters are running out of other people's money. Desperation is setting in so they will play their race cards, scream liar, blame poverty, blame capitalism (which is Femocrat code for White Man), and attempt to muddy the waters.

You're right of course. Whoever wins we will have to live with it. I doubt either side can stop the train wreck of debt coming our way. Obama will take us there faster but Romney will be a little less likely to swing the hammer on individual rights before we get there.

Pick your' poison.

spelchek 7 months, 1 week ago

This story is pointless. About as pointless as many black religious leaders calling on their congregations not to vote for Obama due to his "evolution" with gay marriage right before an election.

Littleinvestor 7 months, 1 week ago

Read Mormonism: The Islam of America first published in 1912 (yes, 100 years ago) and make up your own mind about what is most dangerous to us. It is available from Amazon. My copy was given to me 40 years ago by my minister. It's on my bookshelf with The Book of Mormon. (No, I am not Mormon but I have family members who are.)

wyriontair 7 months, 1 week ago

We are a country founded on freedom of religion and should not be judging someone based on religion. You judge a candidate by the "content of his character", his unique qualifications and experiences. In other words, ministers that try to suppress voter turnout or tell someone who they should or not vote for should be ashamed of themselves and ask forgiveness because they are not following the teachings of Jesus Christ.

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