Katie Couric's Notebook: A Mormon President?
Hi, everyone.
Video: Is America ready to elect a Mormon as president?
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney may soon find out; he's considering a run for the White House.
But one poll says 43% of Americans would never support a Mormon.
Washington Post reporter Sally Quinn told us that skepticism of Romney is so great, he may face the choice of having to "deny his allegiance to the church and appear to be pandering" or "maintaining that allegiance and jeopardize his chances."
In 1960, John Kennedy made Americans comfortable with Catholicism...which, at the time, raised about as many doubts as Mormonism does now.
But while about a quarter of the American people were Catholic in 1960, Mormons comprise less than two percent of the population today.
Whatever happens, a Romney candidacy might serve to do what Kennedy's did nearly 50 years ago: educate Americans about a faith that is often stereotyped more than understood.
That's a page from my notebook.
Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
--Thomas Jefferson to P. H. Wendover, 1815.
Then, with the perspective of experience, and in the context of the debate over stem cell research, he has now made the proper (in my view) conversion to being firmly pro-life. That transformation is not at all different than that made by none other than Ronald Reagan himself. In fact, many of the most effective pro-life voices have been converted from the pro-choice point of view. When confronted with the full truth of the issue, they realize that abortion is hardly ever justifiable--only in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother. As president, Governor Romney would like to see the issue be under control of the states. You can rest assured that this represents his long-term position. He will remain pro-life, which is consistent with his own internal world-view.
Nevertheless, since the issue here is Governor Romney, let me state unequivocally, that those who take the time to familiarize themselves with the candidate%u2019s record will find a extremely competent individual who is probably the most qualified person to offer himself for public service in the last half a century.
Governor Romney, an effective leader who stands for all things that make America great. I urge all interested readers to educate themselves by browsing to:
http://www.mittromney.com/Learn-About-Mitt/index
"The Mormon founder taught that faithful Mormon men can ascend to divinity." - catholic.com"
Actually, it is believed that men and women may become gods and ascend to divinity. But neither can do it alone...not the man without the women nor the women without the man.
This is eternal life...to inherit all that the Father has...you could compare it to how we grow from childhood and become adults in this life...mothers and fathers, like our own parents.
Question being, will the stereotypes fade or materialize into fact?
- by lfitts1 January 9, 2007 8:29 PM EST
- It's not that he is a mormon, budddist , catholic or protestant--it's that he is a com0plete hipocrite. Romney will sya anything to anyone that he thinks they want to hear. Several years ago when he was first running for governor when talking to a gay group--he told them that he not only believed in civil unions, he believed that they deserved more--now that he is running for president he never heard of such a thing. When he was running for governor he was pro-choice and favored the availability of RU-486 and plan b--now he is appaled and completely against. It is not his religion it is him. While I disagree with the entire right wing social agenda, I have more respect ofr someone who is consistent rather than a hipocrite.
- Reply to this comment
See all 19 Comments