Romney assails moral decay and growth of secularism
Joe Cannon
First, the speech reassured Americans that Romney and his faith are at the center of general mainstream religious beliefs. Second, Romney connected his faith with what he and many others call the American religion. Third, the speech worked as a patriotic sermon that can be embraced by every American who links faith, religion and morality with the greatness of America. My 17-year-old daughter, for example, said, "I was proud to be an American when I heard that speech." Interestingly, she did not say "I was proud to be a Latter-day Saint," although she and many millions of Latter-day Saints must have felt so.
On one other level Romney's speech was a complete home run. While many Americans believe that our country is in gradual, if not speedy, moral decline, a core belief of a small number of Americans, including a number of intellectuals and scholars, is that America is in decline specifically because of the secularization of our society, which is the direct fruit of the Enlightenment.
Romney spoke in perfectly pitched tones to the hearts of these people. "In recent years, the notion of separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgement of God. ... It is as if they were intent on establishing a new religion in America — the religion of secularism. They are wrong." Later in his remarks he connects this secularization with empty European cathedrals, which result from "societies too 'enlightened' (quotes in the original speech) to venture inside and kneel in prayer."
One of the godfathers of this movement, Father Richard John Neuhaus, editor in chief of First Things, noted that Romney's speech "was a powerful speech, powerfully delivered ... his understanding that the naked public square is not neutral toward religion, but is a project of the quasi-religion of secularism is entirely on target. His sharp contrast between America and the secularist Europe, on the one hand, and Jihadist fanaticism, on the other, is well stated."
Father Neuhaus continues, "Romney has delivered one of the most remarkable political speeches of recent American history. I believe Mr. Romney has rendered a significant service in advancing the understanding of religion and public life in the American experiment."
Recent comments
So being afraid of an imaginary father, who will send you to Hell...
Brad Anderson | Dec. 11, 2007 at 1:11 p.m.
So God inspired the writing of the constitution. Ironically, he...
Hal | Dec. 11, 2007 at 11:05 a.m.
Go Hillary you will be our next President.
Judy | Dec. 10, 2007 at 12:54 p.m.
