When John F Kennedy ran for president there were many who questioned whether a Catholic should be president. Would his presidency give the Pope a direct line to the country’s administration?
Kennedy addressed the question reminding Americans “I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant, nor Jewish…” “…where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials–and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.”
Today some look at Mitt Romney’s Mormon religion and ask if his beliefs will negatively impact the country. When asked about his faith in a recent CNN interview Romney replied: I am often asked about my faith and my beliefs about Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. Every religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These should not be bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.
Is Romney a Better Choice for Christians?
It is expected that this will be a close election. Because of the impact on religion including the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare); the value issues, including sanctity of life, marriage and religious freedom; and concern a the rise in secularization of society groups who might otherwise stay out of the fray are speaking up.
They have looked at the issue and the candidates. Many specific religions are not recommending one candidate but are instead reminding people to look at what the candidate stands for.
Do you know someone of faith still on the fence? Perhaps they would feel better knowing that many faithful have found the best choice.
This week Reverend Billy Graham published an advertisement aimed at his Christian followers. You can read about it here. He wants voters to at the state of the country and vote their Biblical principles. Son, Rev. Franklin Graham, offered an opinion on whether Christians could vote for a Mormon.
We are at a profound crossroads. Our secularized society has shaken its fist in God’s face and rejected His very name. Like Joseph and Daniel, we must not compromise when government clashes with the worship of God. We must not silence our voices to God’s law. We must use our influence to elect those who will govern with respect for the sanctity of marriage as between one man and one woman; the sanctity of life; and yes, the protection of God’s beloved nation Israel. We must not cast votes for officials—whether candidates of the Democratic, Republican, or Tea Party, or of a religious persuasion—that are against these principles of God. We have, in the past, elected Christians who have defied some of these very principles.
We need something like what Jerry Falwell did in the 1980s. We need a “moral majority”—made up of Christians, Jews, Mormons, Catholics and many others of faith—to come together to take a stand for our religious freedoms and rights.
In recent days, President Clinton said that President Obama “has a plan to rebuild America from the ground up.” But God-fearing Americans have no desire to see America rebuilt—but rather restored. To “rebuild it” would be to create a new nation without God or perhaps under many gods. This was never the intent of those who shed their blood for the freedom to worship as “one nation under God.”
I pray that all Christians and God-fearing Americans will put aside labels and vote for principles—God’s principles—that for many years have resulted in His blessing upon our nation.
So, can a Christian vote for a Mormon? The answer is yes.
Catholics, while not endorsing one candidate are asking their members to vote their values as seen in this powerful video.
Dr. Alveda King, Dr. Martin Luther King’s niece, wrote an opinion piece in the Washington Times promoting black Christian voters vote for moral values and the candidate who work to improve the black community.
This time, in 2012, I beg my brothers and sisters in the black community to look past color and vote for God’s values, not those of a particular political party.
I was in an African-American church in Virginia earlier this month, and afterward many people came up to me with tears in their eyes. Regarding the 2008 election, they said, “I just didn’t know what to do; I just didn’t know. But now you say there are other people on the ballot, like state and local levels. There are referendums and constitutional issues. If I can’t vote for any candidate in the presidential slot, at least I can write someone in.”
Don’t ever say I’m going to vote for the lesser of two evils. No, we can’t think that way. We are not voting for evil. We are voting for the best candidates possible.
Early on in Mr. Obama’s campaign, people came to find out that I opposed his agenda, and I took criticism from friends and family and even other pastors. They thought the black community would be influential in the Obama administration. Besides, we all would be praying for him. While I don’t doubt the power of prayer, Mr. Obama has done very little, if anything, to help the black community. In fact, he has turned his back on the very values that are the moral backbone of the black community.
A diverse group of Christian leaders penned an open letter last month praising the social policies found within the Republican Platform of Mitt Romney.
The letter also focuses on the moral principles in the Republican platform, which are “squarely within the Judeo-Christian tradition” and are “at stake in today’s society.”
Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, are thanked for running on a platform which is a “political compass” in the “confusing moral thickets of our day.”
The signers encourage support for Romney even though there may be “differences in a candidate’s theological doctrine.” This is despite the fact that “some have tempered their enthusiasm” for the Mormon candidate. Government policy is the issue, the letter says, not theology.
A well-known Evangelical pastor Bishop Harry Jackson created two videos; in the first, he lists four reasons he will support Mitt Romney and in the second, four reasons he will not support Barack Obama.
These are challenging times and for many a challenging decision. My own favorite pastor put it succinctly:
I think this [issue] is one of the reasons why many Christians struggle with this year’s election. Fortunately, we’re not electing a pastor but a president. I’m really praying for a change and I hope one more week is enough time to reach enough people to capture a victory.
Vote November 6.
