Anyone who has read this blog for any length of time knows that I have a generally low opinion of politicians. But Mitt Romney particularly rubs me the wrong way. To understand why, know that I was raised in the Mormon church, and considered myself a member until I was 19 or so. (I’m probably still on the membership rolls somewhere.)
The Mormon church is staunchly anti-abortion. Consider these quotes:
The First Presidency has stated: “Abortion must be considered one of the most revolting and sinful practices in this day…” President Ezra Taft Benson stated: “we oppose and abhor the damnable practice of wholesale abortion and every other unholy and impure act which strikes at the very foundation of the home and family, our most basic institutions.” He also warned members of the Church “in all seriousness that you who submit yourselves to an abortion or to an operation that precludes you from safely having additional healthy children are jeopardizing your exaltation and your future membership in the kingdom of God.
Church members “guilty of being parties to the sin of abortion must be subjected to the disciplinary action of the councils of the Church as circumstances warrant.” Such discipline, which applies to all parties consenting to the evil act, may include excommunication from the Church. President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “There is such a close relationship between the taking of a life and the taking of an embryonic child, between murder and abortion, that we would hope that mortal men would not presume to take the frightening responsibility. . . .”
Ezra Taft Benson and Spencer W. Kimball were the Prophets during most of my childhood. For Mormons, the Prophet is the voice of God on earth. When the prophet says that abortion is like murder, it might as well be God talking. Therefore, most Mormons oppose abortion, except when the life of the mother is at stake.
Of course, this presented a problem for Romney. Massachusetts voters are one of the most liberal in the country, and staunch supporters of abortion rights. So what did Romney do when he ran for governor?
Why, he discovered that he was an abortion rights supporter after all! His wife even donated money to Planned Parenthood.
During the 2002 governor’s race, Romney’s platform stated, “As Governor, Mitt Romney would protect the current pro-choice status quo in Massachusetts. No law would change. The choice to have an abortion is a deeply personal one. Women should be free to choose based on their own beliefs, not the government’s.” Romney promised to “preserve and protect a woman’s right to choose” and declared “I will not change any provisions in Massachusetts’ pro-choice laws”. In that campaign for governor, Romney received the endorsement of Massachusetts Republican Pro-Choice Coalition.
And now, when he’s running for President, and needs the support social conservatives to win the Republican nomination?
Yep, his stance on abortion evolved. He now he says he’d like to repeal Roe v. Wade.
He’s also taking some heat for Mormonism’s polygamous past. Keep in mind that Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion, had approximately 30 wives. Brigham Young, Joseph Smith’s successor and leader of the exodus to Utah, also had dozens of wives. Both men are revered as prophets on a par with Moses. Polygamy, though no longer practiced on earth, is still considered a celestial doctrine, that will continue to be practiced in the afterlife.
Yet when asked about polygamy, Mitt Romney says:
“I can’t imagine anything more awful than polygamy.”
Bleah.
I don’t understand why Romney bothers to claim he’s a Mormon, when he’s quite clearly willing to abandon his religious beliefs whenever they become politically inconvenient for him.
