Religious labels matter less in 2012 campaign
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There aren’t any white Protestants on the presidential ballot this year — a first in American history.
Instead, the race features two Catholic candidates for vice president, and a Mormon Republican and African-American mainline Protestant for president.
Perhaps lucky for all of them, voters care more about issues such as social justice or gay marriage than they do about denominational brands.
That’s particularly true for Republican Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan, who hope to woo evangelical voters that share their values rather than their theology.
It’s a situation that probably would have baffled famous evangelicals such as the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, who used the issue of abortion in the 1970s and 1980s to turn evangelicals into a powerhouse voting bloc among Republicans.
“If you had told Jerry Falwell back in 1980 that by 2012 that there would not be a white Protestant on the ticket — he would have died right there,” said Shaun Casey, professor of Christian ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington.
But the same dynamic doesn’t bother David French of Columbia, Tenn., a blogger at EvangelicalsforMitt.org. He wants a candidate who shares his values, not his theology.
“The real questions are: Is this person pro-life? Are they pro-marriage? Is this person really conservative?” French said. [More]
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9 Comments
You know? As strong as all the arguments are here, one has to look at the overall picture. I have just come from viewing the movie, in a packed theatre at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon……”2016″. All the pettiness of who is more or less “Catholic” will fade when we see who really was elected 4 years ago and what is intended for the future. I highly recommend it….it has not been rebutted by the WH.
Thanks for that report, Elinor. My wife and I want to see that movie too, and you have given us added fuel. I guess you’re not going to tell us some of the punch lines, so I’ll do it for you: Obama is not an American, and he intends a one-world government.
History repeats itself. Lein promised Russia a new world order. Get rid of God and religion, we all will be equal, total socialism. The Democrats took the word God of the the convention platform last evening. Obama told God he is rong and redefined marriage so Gays can get married and he could get their vote. Abortion is the greatest thing going, specially if you see you are having a girl when you wanted a Boy. (MY rights) Lets get real. Obama is a Christan, like I am a hindu,(God bless the hindus)as he bows down to a saudi Muslim King and leaves his wife home less her presence offends the muslims. Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.
Sir, when you point a finger at someone, three more point back at you. Do you see yourself as hate mongering, racist, and anti-anyone who does not think as you think? I think thou protesteth too loud.
Nice attempt at a spin job but you failed to dispute my points because you can’t. Reverend Wrights sermons speak volumes about the kind of “church” Obama likes.
Wow, you go Joseph Francis….
Obama is a “main line Protestant”? Give me and the rest of the country a break. This is the man who sat in Jeremiah (God d@&$ America) Wrights “church” for 20 years. There’s nothing mainline at all about a hate mongering, racist and anti-American congregation.
There is nothing main line about Jeremiah Wright’s Church. I for one would be ashamed to be associated with such a hate mongering man..and I converted from a mainline protestant church.
Amen to that Catholic Lady. I too was a mainline protestant (Episcopalian) but fortunately my mom and dad sent me to Catholic school so the seeds of my conversion were planted in the first grade and came to fruition later in life. I thank God every day for the grace he bestowed upon me to come home to the Church that His Son our Savior founded for the salvation of our souls. That said, I pray for the conversion of our protestant brothers and sisters who do not yet know the full Truth of the Church. Thank you by the way for agreeing with me about this absurd article’s attempt to tell us that Obama is a “main line protestant”. The sermons of Jeremiah Wright are some of the most hateful, racist and un-Christian rhetoric I’ve ever heard. No one who sits in such a evil congregation can be considered a true Christian.