Mormonism still raising questions among Americans, in New York Times forum

Too much money, too perfect, too happy, too disconnected with the real world.

Is it Mitt Romney people are bothered with, or the Mormon Church?

Despite Romney's attempts to persuade the American public to vote for him on record and not religion, voters in South Carolina showed how skeptical some people still are to accept the Mormon candidate. According to exit polls charted by Christianity Today, Romney especially struggled among born-again/evangelical Christians who threw most of their support behind a thrice-married Catholic rather than back Romney, even though he earlier got more than 50 percent of the same voters in New Hampshire.

Now three of five writers invited by the New York Times to write for a debate forum this week titled "What is it about Mormons?" say there are reasons to question Romney and fear his religion. A fourth also used the forum to "bash" the LDS Church, wrote Tipsheet blogger Carol Platt Liebau, who called some of the pieces examples of "bigotry," "anti-Mormon smears" and "despicable."

The Media Research Center Network's Times Watch blog found the fears odd and inconsistent: "Can you imagine the Times printing an op-ed likening devout Muslims to sheep," Clay Waters asked, "or mocking their religious rituals?"

The essays featured several stereotypes.

"Mormonism is a valid issue of concern not as a religious test for office, but for its most distinctive characteristic — male authoritarianism," author Sally Denton wrote for the debate forum. "Only 'worthy males' can ascend to positions of power — both now and in the afterlife — and women are relegated to supporting roles… Given that Mitt Romney is a high church official and not just a member, voters are right to be circumspect."

Many Mormons would disagree over what is the most distinctive feature of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and with Denton's depiction of "male authoritarianism." She is wrong about Romney's position in the church: Romney is not a high church official, though he has served in the past as a stake president, responsible for multiple congregations, like a Catholic diocese.

Romney's financial devotion to the LDS Church has also been a cause of concern for some.

CNN, like many others, reported Romney contributed $4 million to the Church over the past two years in tithing contributions.