The Laying On of Mitts

Remarks from the Fray Editor:

To those of us with little understanding of the Mormon faith, Mitt Romney's candidacy has dislodged an avalanche of dubious "information" (such as the user's comment directly below).

Contemporary Mormonism remains a mysterious faith to most of us. One of its most notable features is the famous discipline of its adherents. While I strongly doubt the veracity of fryde67's claims, the Fray could sorely use some non-misleading education on the relationship between the Mormon faith and civic affairs. Are there any practicing Mormons out there willing to discuss what, if anything, non-Mormons should think about Mitt Romney's religious beliefs and how they might distinguish his Presidency from that of other candidates? –G.A.

Remarks from the Fray:

The question that needs to be asked of Mitt Romney or any other Mormon who wants to hold public office is this: "Suppose someone had taken the following oath and had sworn on pain of death to keep the oath secret: 'I promise that I will sacrifice my time, talents, and all I may now or hereafter possess of to the upbuilding of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints.'" Does such a secret oath disqualify one from the oath of office of the Presidency? Would the Presidency of the United States be included in something "possessed" by a Mormon and covered by this oath?

Like every other adult male Mormon, Mitt Romney secretly swore this oath. But he cannot admit that he did so on pain of death. Most Mormons of Mitt Romney's generation also secretly swore to pray for god to take vengeance on this nation (the United States) for the death of Joseph Smith and to teach his children and children's children to do the same. But this latter "oath of vengeance" is no longer required of newly initiated Mormons, so I assume it is no longer in force.

So, the problem with a Mormon President is not his system of beliefs, which are his own business as far as I am concerned. It is that he has secretly sworn to put the Mormon Church above everything else, including the country.

The is not analogous to a Catholic's holding office. Catholic lay people like John F. Kennedy do not take a personal oath of loyalty to the Catholic Church or to any priest, bishop or the Pope. Furthermore, if they did, it would be a public, not secret matter. Cardinals publicly take an oath of personal loyalty to the Pope. Bishops and Priests publicly take oaths of obedience as well. It is because of this that Catholic clergy are forbidden by the Pope to hold elected offices.

I could not support a Mormon for President unless the Mormon Church itself were to reveal and publicly relieve the candidate of the secret oaths he has taken and the candidate were to agree that the oaths were of no effect.

--fryde67

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(10/12)

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