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THE QUESTION
Romney on Religion
What did you think of Mitt Romney's speech Thursday about religion? What would you have told him to say?
Posted by
Sally Quinn and Jon Meacham on December 6, 2007 10:32 AM
FROM THE PANEL
A Sufficient Speech
The last president I gave advice to got run out of town on a rail; so Governor Romney was wise not to ask for my advice.
Posted by Charles "Chuck" Colson, on December 12, 2007 7:34 AM
An Eloquent Defense of Religious Liberty and Diversity
Romney helped himself with his Dec. 6 speech. More importantly, he helped the country and the cause of religious freedom even more.
Posted by Richard Land, on December 11, 2007 9:34 AM
Showing his Politics, Not his Faith
Governor Romney was a more appealing candidate to me before he made the “Faith in America” speech.
Posted by John Shelby Spong, on December 11, 2007 7:05 AM
Red Meat for Theocrats
I’m concerned with how much of Romney's speech was designed as red-meat for conservative Christian voters.
Posted by Welton Gaddy, on December 11, 2007 6:12 AM
Address Americans, Not Christians
There is not one clear word in the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution which refers to the deity in terms of being related to Jesus Christ.
Posted by Gardner Calvin Taylor, on December 11, 2007 5:40 AM
Closet Theocrat
Beyond the buzz words, Romney is clearly ascribing to the ‘Christian America’ idea that is, at bottom, the rule of the state by religion or what we call “theocracy.”
Posted by Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite, on December 10, 2007 9:04 AM
Important, but Too Political
Romney’s speech shows the importance of having a national conversation on religion in public life but it also shows the dangers of having that discussion led by politicians during a political campaign.
Posted by Thomas J. Reese, S.J., on December 10, 2007 7:11 AM
The Politics of Piety
The attitude that Romney struck was, if not holier, then as-holy-as-thou in a field where his key rival coming up in Iowa is a former Baptist preacher.
Posted by Christopher Dickey, on December 10, 2007 6:58 AM
Romney's Un-American Double Standard
Mitt Romney ended up by his words repudiating not only our constitution, our truly American notion of separation of church and state, but millions of his fellow countrymen and women.
Posted by Sally Quinn, on December 9, 2007 8:31 AM
Running with the Dogs
Mr. Romney should check himself for fleas because ultimately his aspirations will subject him to the vetting of a much broader group than those to whom this speech was directed.
Posted by Kathleen Flake, on December 9, 2007 7:13 AM
Three Major Blunders in an Otherwise Inspiring Speech
Part of Romney’s speech smacked of political manipulation and pandering that marred the contrary points he made elsewhere within the speech.
Posted by David Saperstein, on December 9, 2007 6:26 AM
The White House and My House of Worship
I certainly do not want a president who makes policies based only on his/her church's doctrine.
Posted by Gabriel Salguero, on December 9, 2007 5:03 AM
Romney: Unfit Not As a Mormon But As A Religious Panderer
What does disqualify Romney in my view is that he is yet another right-wing religious candidate who wants to further erode the barrier between church and state.
Posted by Susan Jacoby, on December 8, 2007 8:45 AM
Romney's Appeal to American Ideal
Romney said he will follow his own conscience, the welfare of the American people, and the Constitution. This is the Kennedy doctrine of 1960, and Romney endorsed it fully
Posted by Richard Bushman, on December 7, 2007 7:00 AM
An Instant Classic in American Civil Religion
Instead of saying precisely what a Mormon is, he said he was a Mormon and he challenged us to live up to the better angels of our nature by refusing to persecute him for it.
Posted by Stephen Prothero, on December 7, 2007 4:13 AM
What Romney Could and Couldn't Say
Romney missed the opportunity to make his best case for a Mormon to be president. Mormons believe that America’s charter documents are actually divinely inspired.
Posted by Randall Balmer, on December 6, 2007 2:44 PM
Romney’s Bit Will Bite Back
More worrisome was Romney’s characterization of religious extremism only as “jihad,” squarely making this abuse Islamic alone.
Posted by Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, on December 6, 2007 1:34 PM
Two Flags and a Cloud of Witnesses
I've studied the Latter-day Saints for decades, and would be hard pressed to name something in its teachings (since 1890) that would be a threat to the republic.
Posted by Martin Marty, on December 6, 2007 1:11 PM
Romney Too Quick to Debunk Church-State Separation
I wish Governor Romney had affirmed the rights and full citizenship standing of nonbelievers.
Posted by J. Brent Walker, on December 6, 2007 12:59 PM
Casting for Votes, not Debate
Romney’s speech strikes me as a well crafted statement, designed to position his candidacy as a moderate conservative leader with integrity and character.
Posted by James Anderson, on December 6, 2007 10:33 AM
Romney Credible but Calculating
Romney's comments might seem to many the calculated product of a presidential candidate in a 2008 race.
Posted by John Esposito, on December 6, 2007 5:27 AM
FEATURED COMMENTS
Andy: I don't care whether Romney is a Mormon, Presbyterian, Hindu, or any other person of faith. What offended me about his speech was that he t...
Don Kauffman: JFK himself said:
"Let us remember that the Mormons of a century ago were a persecuted and prosecuted minority, harried from place to ...
Carol: Wow! Well done Mitt Romney.... !!!...
