Obama and Romney offer rare glimpse of their spiritual lives
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President Obama says it’s not his job to defend his Christian faith against doubters who suspect he’s Muslim. His GOP challenger, Mitt Romney, says religion is “integral” to his life, even as often he avoids mentioning his Mormon faith by name.
In interviews published Tuesday (Aug. 21) by Cathedral Age, the magazine of the Washington National Cathedral, the candidates responded in writing to nine questions about their faith.
Religion has been a tricky political issue thus far for both men. A recent Pew Research Center poll found that only 49 percent of Americans can correctly identify Obama as a Christian. More Americans know that Romney is Mormon, but a significant minority (30 percent) does not believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christian.
Asked about people who question the sincerity of his faith, Obama responded: “You know, there’s not much I can do about it. I have a job to do as president, and that does not involve convincing folks that my faith in Jesus is legitimate and real.”
Answering the same question, Romney said: “I am often asked about my faith and my beliefs about Jesus Christ. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. Every religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These should not be bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance.”
Both men said that political candidates should be judged by their works, not faith.
“A political leader’s faith can tell us a great deal or nothing,” Romney said. “So much depends on what lies behind that faith. And so much depends on deeds, not words.”
Both also men said that religion is central to their lives. [More]
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14 Comments
The vile rhetoric of Obama’s pastor of 20 years, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, keeps ringing in my ears anytime I hear Obama talk about his religious beliefs. One does not spend 20 years with a pastor if one doesn’t believe in that pastor’s message.
Recovering; I do not know anything about this Rev. Jeremiah Wright or his religious beliefs, perhaps you would be kind enough to enlighten me.
Where have you been? You can easily search “Google” by putting in the search words, “Jeremiah Wright quotes”
At home in Canada, where by personal choice I watch very little television (garbage in, garbage out). I will take your advice and “Google “Jeremiah Wright Quotes”. I do not know why I didn’t think to do so myself, perhaps it is because I am so uneducated.
RC and Catholic Lady — here’s another reason to be ignorant about Jeremiah Wright — unless you watch Fox News, you are unlikely to see much about him in the press. The press is despicably, disgustingly liberal, and do everything they can to cast Mr. 666 in a good light.
Fox News, BTW, I believe either was or still is banned in Canada — Canadian media, as is almost all global media in westernized countries, despicably liberal. I don’t care if you’re liberal, but I do care that you present yourself as objective when in fact you spew propaganda.
Jim; I choose to watch very little television and do not watch garbage when I do indulge.I like many Canadians wept with our American friends as we watched helplessly the news of 911 and your Counties loss will always be remembered by us.
Thanks for your solidarity with the USA, Catholic Lady.
Recovering, I googled Jeremiah Wright quotes- and I truly wish that I had not done so – what vile garbage. However President Obama was said to have denounced the statements in question, going on to give a speech titled “A perfect Union”.
Does anyone in their right mind (this comment is not directed at you, Catholic Lady) actually believe one can be a member of a church for many years, listen to the same preacher, and not be influenced by him? Especially when you denounce the preacher when it is to your political advantage to do so? Worse, I have heard that both Mr. 666 and Mrs. 666 have the same woman mentor who Mr. 666 consults on all major decisions, including the raid to kill bin Laden. That woman (don’t recall her name) wields the real power in America.
He had to because he was running for president. The Rev. Jeremiah Wright was the Obamas pastor for 20 years! Jeremiah Wright married them. They were parishioners. Unless Obama never attended services there, he would have heard this racist stuff from the pulpit week after week for 20 years! As soon as his 20-year association with Jeremiah Wright became a liability to his bid for the presidency, he disowned him. However, I’ve learned that Jeremiah Wright has contributed a lot of material about Obama in a book that just came out called “The Amateur.” I haven’t read it yet, but intend to. It ought to be good!
I’ve heard about that book on Fox News, RC. It was Bill Clinton who called Mr. 666 an “amateur” (I wish that were true, but I believe he is perhaps the most deceptive person ever to hold the office of presidnet), and encouraged Hilary to run against him this year in the Democratic primary. She declined to do so, of course.
Um, you know the more you call him “Mr. 666″, the crazier you sound. Also, your foil hat is on crooked.
Mr Burke’s article is a great illustration in support of the founding fathers’ decision to prohibit religious tests for public office, and inscribe this decision as a principle in our Constitution.