Posted on 01/17/2012 10:08:09 PM PST by ynotjjr
As Mitt Romney spends the next leg of his campaign courting evangelical voters in South Carolina, his Mormon faith is expected to re-emerge as a subject of serious scrutiny. But concerns won’t belong exclusively to theologically suspicious Baptists: a newly revealed episode from the candidate’s time as a lay leader in the LDS church could raise eyebrows among women’s advocates.
While serving as bishop of a Mormon congregation near Boston in the early 80’s, Romney once threatened to excommunicate a young single mother if she did not give her soon-to-be-born son up for adoption, according to a passage from a forthcoming book, “The Real Romney.” excerpted this week in Vanity Fair.
The anecdote, which Romney has disputed, sheds new light on a compelling part of the candidate’s religious life—one that serves, politically, as a double-edged sword. On one hand Romney’s time spent as a minister of his faith gave him the unique opportunity of serving low-income Boston neighborhoods, undercutting the narrative that he’s an out-of-touch millionaire. On the other, his role as a representative of the church sometimes put him in a position of standing up for politically unsavory teachings.
Peggie Hayes had converted to Mormonism as a teenage along with her family, and told the book’s authors, Boston Globe reporters Michael Kranish and Scott Helman, that for a long time she found comfort in the faith’s teachings. After returning to the congregation as a 23-year-old divorced single mother, she soon got pregnant with a second child. Knowing she was in need of financial assistance, the Romneys arranged for her to do odd jobs for members of the congregation.
“Mitt was really good to us,” Hayes told the authors. “He did a lot for us.”
But while Hayes considered Romney a friend, he was also her bishop—which meant it was his job to pass along sometimes-harsh church counsel. The tension between the two relationships came to the forefront one day when he came over to her apartment, and encouraged her to turn her son over to the church’s adoption agency when he was born. (The church’s position is that if a happy marriage between parents of a newborn seems unlikely, adoption is preferable to single parenting.)
Hayes was offended by the suggestion, and told Romney she would never give up her son. But, according to Hayes, Romney told her, “Well, this is what the church wants you to do, and if you don’t, then you could be excommunicated for failing to follow the leadership of the church.”
Though she was defiant, the authors write, “In that moment, she also felt intimidated. Here was Romney, who held great power as her church leader and was the head of a wealthy, prominent Belmont family, sitting in her gritty apartment making grave demands.”
No formal training in a theological seminary.
No formal training in marital or family counseling.
No formal training of any kind to prepare him as the “bishop” of his ward.
And yet, here he is, a “lay” leader giving “counsel” to an unwed mother.
So he whips out his handy-dandy Church Handbook of Instructions and when the troubleshooting tree doesn’t address this situation, he calls SLC for the answer.
This action (if true) by Romney and SLC contradicts mormon beliefs that all spirit children “choose” their families here on earth.
So they essentially “blackmail” her into giving up her child by threatening her membership in the church.
Cut off the church welfare because of her choices? Ok.
Ex-communicate or give up the baby and retain membership? Not ok.
But I can’t believe they all act just like Romney. I
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Spend some time in Utah. It is a prominent attitude especially among those born in the LDS church. The attitude of superiority comes partly from their believe that the ‘most valiant’ spirit children during the ‘war in heaven’ are born to good LDS families and the really valiant ones are born to Mormon ‘royalty’ - like Romney.
Converts were less valiant than those born Mormon, and never Mormons less valiant still. It is a spiritual hierarchy.
This attitude is also what got them kicked out of the US in the 1840’s and part of the impetus of the “Mormon War”
My original comment was related to thinking anyone in this country would be ok with someone saying you cannot have a child if you are single and therefore, the only way to ensure you don't have a child if you are single means no sex if you are single. THAT kind of morality cannot be legislated.
The Puritans on this site can think it is possible to achieve their vision of how people will live their life, but it will never happen.
Thank you for responding with very interesting info! I’ve felt a similar sensation of deception when Jehovah Witnesses have found their way to my door. The truth comes later, often much later, after it’s too late.
As I said to another poster who responded by mail, I cannot agree with their teachings, and don’t believe I share the same Christian faith with Mormons. As a sci-fi fan, I find their beliefs interesting, but perhaps share more in common with Scientology. I’ve met some absolutely wonderful Mormons in my life btw. Very fine family people.
I don't think you are against legislating morality, just against legislating moral stances that you happen to disagree with.
Some people have decided that racial or sexual discrimination is morally wrong, and have imposed their morality upon others by law. I, personally, think that people should have freedom of association, and that this means that an employer who doesn't feel like hiring blacks, women, or left-handed Armenians should not be forced to employ people he doesn't want to, and that business people who don't feel like doing business with gays or redheads should be allowed not to. The law says otherwise. From my viewpoint, that is legislating morality. Do you disagree?
In this case, Romney, as an officer of his church, told a woman that she could not keep a child born out of wedlock (and which she could not afford to support without church assistance) remain a member in good standing of the Mormon church. He was not putting a gun to her head, he just laid out the criteria she needed to follow in order to remain a member.
The above does not mean I like Romney as a candidate, or like the Mormon church, just that I think the Mormon church has the right to decide who to keep around.
What ticks me off is people who demand freedom without responsibility.
Well at LEAST he didn't tell her to Pray to GOD to see if she should ABORT the baby. (Did he?)
You left out number five:
5) Do it or ELSE!!!!
No need; as we TAXPAYERS have been forced into doing that.
MORMON
ATTITUDES OF SUPERIORITY
1. I’m Superior; I have a special gift of the holy Ghost -- you don’t!
2. I’m Superior; I have God’s true priesthood power -- you don’t! 3. I’m Superior; I can go in God’s secret Temple -- you can’t! 4. I’m Superior; I’ve been Endowed with special Gifts and Knowledge -- you’re just normal! 5. I’m Superior; I’ll have my family with me in heaven -- you’ll be with strangers! 6. I’m Superior; I’m becoming a God -- you aren’t! 7. I’m Superior; My women know their place as servants of man and yours don’t. 8. I’m Superior; YOUR creeds are wrong because they come from man - mine comes from God (you can find each one printed in our Scriptures). 9. I’m Superior; I don’t HAVE a creed - I’ve got 13 Articles of Faith. 10. I'm Superior; I have 4 "Bibles"-- the standard works (5 if you count the JST) -- you've only got one: in as far as it is translated correctly. 11. I’m Superior; I can lie with impunity about such things as church membership, church growth, church doctrine, church history, church influence, etc. — -- You can’t. 12. I’m Superior; I am right (everybody knows) when I say 'evangelical' Christians are lunatics -- -- You’re a hideous narrow-minded bigot, who is persecuting me by practicing discrimination by saying I'm not a Christian.
13. I'm Superior; I have a testimony about a prophet -- you don't. 14. I'm Superior; I have a Scripture-producing Amos 3:7 prophet -- you don't 15. I’m Superior; I have a Living Prophet who talks to god every day -- you have a dim-witted hireling of Satan who only talks to himself. 16. I'm Superior; I have my calling & election made sure -- you don't. 17. I’m Superior; I have magic underwear to protect me from the bogey man -- you don’t. 18. I’m Superior; I have secret clasps and grips to give the angel so I get admitted to the celestial kingdom -- you don’t ;so you can’t. 19. I'm Superior; I know secret handshake codes for afterlife entrances-- you don't. 20. I’m Superior; I will see Joseph Smith setting on the right hand of GOD, when I get to Mormon heaven, and he will recognize me and judge me favorably -- You’re on your own; when you get to wherever you’re going! 21. I’m Superior; I’m going to hie to Kolob -- you’re going to who knows where. 22. I’m Superior; I get to have a harem and act like a celestial stud for time and all eternity -- you don’t. 23. I’m Superior; I have sun stones, moon stones, sky stones, cloud stones, Saturn stones, and the evil eye of Osirus guarding my temple -- You have nothing but a stupid cross.
24. I’m Superior; My church has billions in assets stashed away -- yours has taken a stupid vow of poverty. 25. I'm Superior; Last - we have the power to keep a whole race out of our priesthood if we wanted to reinsert our 148-year legacy (we ARE still keeping an entire GENDER at bay!) 26. I'm superior; I have the "higher law" -- everyone else "lives under the "lesser law' because I say so...(over and over). Revision 46.5
Semi-Official creed of the EXclusive club of Freeper Flying Inmans.
All rights liable to be abused.
|
BAH!
Who needs it?
When merely praying to GOD will REVEAL things to you???
In conclusion let us summarize this grand key, these “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”, for our salvation depends on them.
1. The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
2. The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
3. The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
4. The prophet will never lead the church astray.
5. The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
6. The prophet does not have to say “Thus Saith the Lord,” to give us scripture.
7. The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.
8. The prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning.
9. The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.
10. The prophet may advise on civic matters.
11. The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
12. The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.
13. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—the highest quorum in the Church.
14. The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer.
I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain—how close do our lives harmonize with the Lord’s anointed—the living Prophet—President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency.
Ezra Taft Benson
(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young University)
I’ve met some absolutely wonderful Mormons in my life btw. Very fine family people.
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Unfortunately I cannot say the same. There is tremendous pressure to appear perfect and an nice wonderful happy family to outsiders, but once you get inside, you see a lot of abuse, stress, pressure, denial, and problems. What I saw as a Mormon is vastly worse compared to what I have seen in Christian families since I left. And they hide it all behind a forced smile. It really is sad.
check out some of the articles and threads on this board. It is a support board for people who have life Mormonism. The link goes to a thread about Mormon families.
http://www.exmormon.org/mormon/mormon270.htm
PS, I never said Romney as the candidate will enact laws similar to the teaching of the LDS. My only concern is that Obama or his goons will use Mitt's association with the LDS against him. Heck, Obama went after those clinging to their Bibles. #withNewt
I will go to your link. While suffering is a human condition, it’s sad to think that some of those that I’ve met may be suffering additional pressures.
On April 4, 1943, at this pulpit, we stated that the Church’s security, or welfare, plan consists of three basic elements:The woman violated the precepts of the system. She accepted church aid, and then put herself in a position where she would have another child that she could not afford to care for. She made a totally irresponsible choice, and made it necessary for somebody to lower the boom on her irresponsibility.“First, every individual should value his or her independence and labor with all his might to maintain it by being self-sustaining. This the Lord enjoined upon us when from the Garden of Eden He sent forth our first parents under the stern command, ‘In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground. (Gen. 3:19).
“Second, next to himself, the responsibility for sustaining an individual rests upon his family—parents for their children, children for their parents. It is an ungrateful child who, having the ability, is unwilling to assist his parents to remain independent of relief.
“Finally, the individual having done all he can to maintain himself, and the members of his family having done what they can to assist him, then the Church, through the Welfare plan, stands ready to see that its members, who will accept the plan and work in it to the extent of their ability, shall each be cared for ‘according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs’ (D&C 51:3).” (Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1943, pp. 27–28.)
Don't we all...
Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
There is forgiveness, and then there is being willingly played for a sucker. Mitt refused to allow his church to be played by that woman.
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