January 05, 2008 07:26 pm
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By Joe Hadsall
jhadsall@joplinglobe.com
Presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in December devoted an entire speech to his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, another presidential candidate, took heat from fellow Republicans about a Christmas-themed ad, which featured the image of a cross floating behind him. Huckabee later said the image was actually a bookshelf.
Religion is playing a part in the presidential race, but citizens have different views on how religion will affect their views of candidates.
“It’s more about what their values are instead of their religion,” said Carolyn Beaty, 59, of Joplin. “I’m more interested in things like the economy, there being too many homeless and out-of-work people, and the war.”
Kenny Lyons, 34, of Hollywood, Calif., said religion will play a strong role in his vote.
“When I look at them, I’m interested in their principles,” Lyons said. “I want to know how they stand on poverty, social justice and other Christian principles.”
Romney’s, Huckabee’s faiths
Creed Jones, president of the Tri-State Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ, said the church has a policy of political neutrality. The church does not endorse or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms.
“There are prominent politicians in both parties who are members of the church,” Jones said. “Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid is a strong Democrat, and he’s a member.”
He said that Romney is not a sure thing among church members because of his religion. Beaty, who is also a member, agreed.
“What their religion happens to be is happenstance,” Beaty said. “I’m more concerned about the policy choices they will make.”
Some compare Romney and his religious affiliation to President John F. Kennedy, who faced criticism as a Roman Catholic.
As Kennedy brought awareness to the Roman Catholic religion, Jones sees similar attention being paid to the Mormon religion. Jones said the public exposure is a chance for members to talk about their religion.
“It’s raising questions in people’s minds,” Jones said. “This creates opportunity for more dialogue, so that we can clarify misconceptions.”
But knowledge about the Mormon faith may distance more Protestant religions, such as members of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Rev. Phillip McClendon, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Joplin, said that Romney’s faith will sway some voters.
“I don’t think he’ll be discounted completely,” McClendon said. “But it causes us to take a closer look at him. There are a lot of questions about faith that Southern Baptists can’t overcome.”
According to the church’s Web site, Latter-day Saints believe that divine apostolic authority was lost after the death of the original apostles. That authority needed to be restored, and began with revelations to a man named Joseph Smith in the 1800s.
God still speaks to humankind, Latter-day Saints believe, and has revealed new tenets of authority to new apostles and prophets. Many of those revelations are incorporated in the book of Mormon and other books.
The key difference between evangelical, Protestant religions such as Baptist faiths, McClendon said, deals with the final authority of God’s word. Latter-day Saints have added to their “Bible,” but the Holy Bible has remain largely unchanged.
“We believe that the Bible is the word of God,” McClendon said. “We don’t add to it or take away from it.”
McClendon said that evangelicals also have issues with the church’s history, which is filled with allegations of polygamy and Catholic-style control.
Jones said such notions are incorrect, and some may be driven by anti-Mormon bias.
“Some have the perception that we are a mystic cult,” Jones said. “One of our articles of faith says we claim the privilege of worshipping God according to the dictates of our conscience, and that all others claim the same privilege. We feel so strongly about our beliefs that we would love to share them, but we won’t impose them on anyone else.”
Where Romney’s faith is considered an unknown, the same is not true of Huckabee, who is an ordained minister with the Southern Baptist Convention.
The Southern Baptist Convention is one of the largest religious groups, with more than 12 million members. Ministers are members of the church’s leadership, but are not in charge of congregations.
“I don’t think he is going to cater to Southern Baptists,” said Troy Dove, 27, of Webb City. “He has an agenda. His belief system only makes that stronger.”
McClendon said his congregation will also have mixed views on the former Arkansas governor.
“Just because he is a member doesn’t mean he is a sho-in for any kind of endorsement,” McClendon said. “We are looking for leadership against terrorism, how to deal with the safety of the nation and our economy.”
Voter effect
Nick Myers, chairman of the Newton County Republican Central Committee, said that religion helps to identify who a candidate is and how they would function in office.
“I expect religion to form their views, but I wouldn’t expect it to solely control them,” Myers said. “I think Republicans are looking for stands on issues.”
Huckabee and Romney agree on many issues crucial for social conservatives, Myers said, and their religions won’t cause any problems among Republican voters.
“The folks here in Missouri are going to make a decision based on the entirety of each candidate’s beliefs,” Myers said. “Not what denomination they happen to be.”
Most people interviewed by the Globe said that a Christian faith is necessary to be the country’s leader, but others made the distinction that Christian values are important.
“It’s important to me that the president is Christian,” said Michelle Luellen, 42, of Joplin. “I think Christian values are required to be a great leader.”
Mark Ritchey, 44, of Webb City, agreed.
“I don’t think I could support an atheist,” said Mark Ritchey, 44, of Webb City. “Them being Christian is an important character trait.”
Justin Dollman, 17, of Joplin, said voters care more for a religious candidate, regardless of the religion.
“I think a big setback is if (the candidate) is atheist,” Dollman said. “People care about faith.”
Others say the attention to religion is a product of increased media attention on the presidential race.
“I think the media is pushing the religious issue,” said Kay Schorzman, 52, of Joplin. “They are putting it at the top of everyone’s minds.”
Susan DeCarlo, chairwoman of the Jasper County Democratic Committee, said that Democratic candidates haven’t faced the same level of religious scrutiny in this election.
“I think all the candidates have their own beliefs,” DeCarlo said. “But I couldn’t pick one out as being more religious than another. To their credit, they have kept it low-key.”
Iowa victories
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Gov. Mitt Romney finished first and second in the Iowa Republican caucus. Huckabee received 34 percent of the vote, to Romney’s 25 percent.
Entrance interviews indicate that Huckabee rode a wave of support from evangelicals. More than half of Republicans said they were evangelical or born-again Christians, and liked Huckabee more than any of his competitors. Romney led easily with the balance of Republican voters.
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Photos
Globe/Roger Nomer
Brandon Davis (left) talks with Phillip McClendon, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, as he practices music for the church. McClendon says that issues of faith can impact how some voters reach a decision.