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Interfaith Alliance chief urges Mitt Romney to give a 'JFK speech'

I'm not saying that I'm even a Romney supporter (yet) but people need to get over themselves. Here are some famous Mormons in the mainstream; Steve Young (people all over--not just in Utah admired him as a man of character), Vern Law (same thing), Vance Law (same thing), Dale Murphy (same thing). In politics Mormons have served such as Ezra Taft Benson (Sec. of Agriculture for Pres. Eisenhower), Orrin Hatch, Harry Reid (a Democrat--gasp!), and many, many others including Mitt's father George Romney, the Governor of Michigan way back when in the 1960's.

Bottom line--it's time to get over this religious crap and judge a man by his character and accomplishments (MLK said about the same thing). I actually believe Mitt does okay on those things. However, the religious right of the Republican core may kill his chances because of their own intolerant and ignorant views on religion. Perhaps this guy is right int the sense that Romney needs to explain himself but in reality he shouldn't have to. His record of running an ethical business, a successful Olympiad and a decent tenure as a Republican Governor of Mass. should be enough to evaluate him among the other candidates.

What a crock. This guy is a piece of work. The Southern Baptists have been one of the main fountains misinformation about Mormons for decades. Now, this guy wants Romeny to "clear up" the confusion.

Moreover, that bit about Romney showing his commitment to "separation of church and state" is laugh riot also. Most Evangelical Christians are desperate for more crossing and blurring of that line, not less.

Bottom line, Romney is a Mormon. If that is the sole basis for your rejection of him as a candidate, then you are bigot. If you want to reject him as a candidate, do it based on his politics, not his religion.

I don't feel that we as Americans have asked any other of the polictical runners for this explanation, why are we insisting Mitt Romney do this. This nation was built on the very fiber of being able to worship any faith, this man is a pillar of his community, does service to his country and has and is successful in business. He has tried many times to answer questions on his faith, why does he have to repeatedly do this??? Are you people listening or are you all awaiting for him to say something that you want him to say? Listen up America, out of all the people running on the Republican side, he is honest, and has not had to admit being an adulter, he believes in man and woman marriages, he believes he can without a shadow of a doubt be fair with all other (no matter what faith they believe in) and to create a unified country. We are not all of his faith, but I am certain by listening to him intently, that he wants to make our country great again. Separate religion from government, that is what everyone says, but they don't really mean it...

Why is it that the media, evangelical Republicans, and "orthodox" Christians insist only Romney explain his faith? Perhaps these people should be expected to explain THEIR beliefs that a Mormon is somehow a questionable candidate. Isn't it time people who truly believe in freedom of worship lay down the expectation that those who oppose a Mormon (or a Catholic, or a Jew, or a Muslim) in the White House explain their bigotry? Why don't we demand that those who would exclude someone based on their faith confront the issue of religious elitism?

Neither Romney nor any other candidate owe America or the world any explanation for believing what they believe, so long as their beliefs value the dignity of human life and protection of human rights. (Romney's do.)

What we ALL owe ourselves is an explanation for why we would look down our nose at someone whose faith differs from our own, in any situation.

Being from the Baptist Belt, alot of misinformation is because of the false preachings of other religions. I grew up of a non-LDS faith, and people love a reason to hate, especially when it comes to a religion different from their own. I don't know if talking about religion will do anything because like I said, people love a reason to hate, and regardless of what Romney says, they will continue to do so.

Well...he probably does have to give a speech discussing what he believes. The REALITY, like it or not, is that many American have a negative view of the church, based on polygamy, the early church leaders, the blacks in the priesthood thinge, etc. There is not much that can be done to make people feel OK about most of those things. They happened, it looked weird, because, well, it was. The best he can do is say we don't do those things anymore and hope people can get over it. I hope he can get people to get over it, but I doubt it. I don't think an LDS person will ever be able to run for a national office and win. Too much historical baggage.

Why shouldnt Romney welcome the opportunity to set the record straight?

I really hope LDS members don't vote for Romney simply because he is Mormon. My parents, my in-laws, friends , they al are voting for this guy for his religion. Take a look at his politics people. He flip-flops enough to where I won't vote for him. I am LDS, hold a temple recommend, but I will not go to hell for NOT voting for this guy.

Marriner Stoddard Eccles was also a Mormon and Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank from 1934 to 1948. A man noted for his integrity and character. Oh, and commitment to the constitution???? Who else believes that the Constitution is a God inspired document, delivered to us by wise men for the '...protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles'???

I am active LDS, and spent many years living in Virginia and Georgia, and most my neighbors and acquaintances were Southern Baptists. Wonderful people, but they suffered from "institutional bigotry", largely because of their religious leaders, who many times attempted to teach me what Mormons really believe. Rev. Gaddy is only attempting to hide his own bigotry behind a lot of politically correct language. I agree with others--what confusion is there to "clear up" about Romney's religious beliefs? It just galls the Christian right that a religion they have spent so much time and money bashing could end up being represented in the White House.

Amen to Lance S comments! All too often bigotryand ignorance is a matter of "Look who's calling the kettle black." We're all guilty at one time or another but this "weakness" should not be reflected in who we elect to any office.

So, the "Reverend" C. Wilton Gaddy says that Mitt Romney is going to have to "confront the confusion in his faith" -- but the only confusion is coming from Gaddy and others like him.

You have to look way down in the fifth paragraph to discover that Gaddy hosts a show on "Air America." That is the left-wing talk network, that has listener numbers so low that they have to steal money from the Boys' and Girls' Clubs to pay radio stations to carry their shows.

This makes the comments look like just more attempts to muddy the waters, especially when Gaddy ignores the minor little detail that, in fact, Romney DID meet with Protestant ministers, months ago.

While I can understand a political activist such as Gaddy disregarding facts which get in his way, why does the reporter not mention that?

For that matter, why is the Deseret Morning News paying any attention to what is essentially just a press release from a political action committee? The stated goal of the Interfaith Alliance is to "fight the religious right," according to their website, which they do by condemning Republicans, while not saying one word against left-wing, pro-abortion candidates.

What is there to clear up? Anyone who wants to know about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints can find all the information they want on the church website at www.lds.org
As for how his religion will affect his presidency; I tend to think it will affect his presiidency in the same manner it has affected his whole life in that it will help him to continue to be the same upstanding, moral citizen he has always been. Look at his record and you will see there is nothing to hide.
We all want a capable President we can trust. This is the man.

The reason while Mr. Ronney needs to "clear up" the Mormon issue is because the evangelicals have clouded the issue and muddied the waters. To not vote for Mr. Romney over religion will cost the religious right the chance to have a pro-life, pro traditional marriage candidate. Otherwise it is going to be Billary or Guiliani. And though I would vote for Rudy over Billary, many evangelicals won't, given our country the 4 worst years in american political history. This lady will be a mixture of LBJ, Nixon and a crazy socialist. Atleast Utah voters and most of the midwest know who to vote for.

"Confront"???? Are we on trial here? What is there to "confront" about belief in God? I never have heard anyone asking Steve Young or any other person in the media, who may be LDS, to confront their religion. Listen to conference old boy. Find out what we confront.

It must be galling for a Baptist to find that the only presidential candidate who espouses values important to Baptists with a chance to actually win is a member of a church that Baptists have vehemently preached aginst for generations. They are calling desperately for Mitt to persuade them that he won't use the presidency to promote Mormonism. That fear is the only thing that may keep them from supporting someone that stands for their values more than the other top tier candidates.

I find it really funny that he wants a statement from Romney about separation of church and state when the religious right doesn't seem to believe there is one.

THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT ON THE MERITS OF THEIR OWN DOCTRINES, i.e. BEING BORN AGAIN HAD THE LIKES OF JIMMY CARTER, BILL CLINTON AND GW BUSH AS MEN THEY COULDNT QUESTION AS A RESULT OF THEIR PROFESSION AS CHRISTIANS! WOW WHAT A THREESOME- WHY CAN'T AMERICA SEE THAT THE FAR RIGHT IS BAFOONERY!!!!
WHAT A JOKE!!!
MITT HAS AS MUCH OR MORE FAITH THEN ANY CANDIDATE
OH BY THE WAY HIS FAITH IS CENTERED IN JESUS CHRIST
THE PROBLEM WITH THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT IS THEY REALLY BELIEVE THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES TRULY WORSHIPING JESUS!

I lived in Massachusetts when Romney was elected governor. The state was liberal enough not to make such a big deal of his religion. The religious issues come from conservative people. I know a lot of Mormons who say that religion shouldn't matter in politics, but then I ask them if they would vote for an atheist and they hesitate... The fact is there are a lot of principled, honest, and good atheists who would make fine presidents too. I think that many conservatives, like Mormons, would eventually get comfortable voting for just such an atheist, but it would take time. They would have to overcome their biases against atheists.

My main concern about Romney is that as President he would have to appeal to this intolerant/close-minded conservative base during his administration. I used to be Republican, but I'll vote Democrat now because the conservative base is too far out of touch and we need to empower the Democrats to work on health car, environment, immigration, etc.

There is only one type of bigotry that is still allowed and accepted in the US and that is prejudice against Mormons. Heaven forbid we even mention that Hillary may not be qualified because she is a woman or Obama because he is black. You would hear the screams and cries to the ends of the earth if that were the case and labeled a bigoted hate monger. It is time we as Mormons stand up for ourselves and stop being so non-confrontational when others obviously cross the line from curiosity to bigotry. Didn't Jesus show righteous idignation when he drove the money changers from the temple? We so often want to take the high road and just let things be. Why don't we stand up and defend our beliefs and demand that our beliefs be given the same respect as any other?