Park Romney: Why he turned against the Mormon church

BBC News ^ | 03/26/2012 | BBC News

[EnglishCon]

Mitt Romney, the front runner in the race for the Republican Presidential nomination for the White House, is a devout Mormon, but his cousin, Park Romney, also in the past a committed member of the church, now denounces it as a cult.

"I became convinced that it's a fraud," Park Romney told the BBC, explaining his reason for leaving the Mormon fold.

The two visions of Mormonism the Romney cousins present could not be more starkly opposed.

Park Romney, 56, is a former Mormon high priest, who turned against the church.

On the stump Mitt Romney, 65, has avoided mentioning Mormonism, instead talking generally about his faith, but he has been an active lifelong member of the church.

[EnglishCon]

Several wise FReepers have consistently said that the attacks on Romney will focus largely on his Mormonism should he get the nomination.

It seems to have started. The worry for me is the BBC is usually pretty good at working out who will be the nominees for President.

And, before the inevitable comment, I am all in for Newt, since Perry dropped out.

[KJC1]

I’m just surprised this is coming out so early, before the Nomney is nominated.

[rogue yam]

I am a Newtonian as well.

The primaries have been about issues other than the candidates’ religion which is appropriate.

Anyone who thinks Mormonism won’t be a major issue in the general election if Romney is the nominee is a fool.

[guinnessman]

I have a cousin in Texas, who’s a conservative, but has a lot of liberal friends.

He says the Mormon jokes are all the rage among his “hip” friends.

[Lazlo in PA]

but his cousin, Park Romney,

Park Romney? Does this dude have a sister named Drive and a brother named Neutral?

[EnglishCon]

A possible reason for it coming out now, and remember, many Americans read or watch the BBC, is that we here really don’t trust Romney.

After the immense damage Obama has done to one of the most solid alliances in history, we want someone who doesn’t look like Obama on policy.

[JediJones]

There’s probably a 97% chance right now that Romney will be the nominee. That’s a little conservative, it might be 98%.

[EnglishCon]

Thanks for that laugh, mate! The news round up is particularly depressing this morning.

[JediJones]

Park Romney? Does this dude have a sister named Drive and a brother named Neutral?

Or maybe Track, Trig, Piper, Willow, Bristol...

[OrangeHoof]

Ex-Mormons tend to be the church's most outspoken critics.

Met any ex-Catholics? Some of the meanest and nastiest people I've ever met were former Catholics. And probably for the same reason. Both religions forcefeed their faith on their children with ceremonial rituals whether the child believes/consents or not.

[mckenzie7]

A well informed Catholic would still be a Catholic!

[anathemized]

Praise God, for some the Truth will out.

[Zakeet]

From the article:

"I became convinced that [Mormonism] is a fraud," Park Romney told the BBC, explaining his reason for leaving the Mormon fold.

[In response to Park Romney's criticism], the Mormon Church maintains that it does a great deal of good. Its leaders say they have given more than $1bn in aid around the world since 1985.

A more couple of lies:

One thing that particularly agitates them is "shunning" - allegations that former church members are denied access to family members who remain in the church. ... Park claims this has happened to him. ... "Their doctrine, their protocol and their culture as enforced by bishops encourages the families to disassociate themselves from the apostate."

Mormon Church elder Jeffrey Holland denies shunning occurs. ... "We don't use that word and we don't know that practice.

The allegation that the Church is a cult, made by Park Romney and other ex-Mormons, is denied by Elder Holland.

"... we're not a cult. ... I have chosen this church because of the faith that I feel and the inspiration that comes ... we are 14 million and growing."

[JediJones]

It’s crazy, just imagine if we put up a scientologist for President. Would anyone expect that to go over well with the American public? Yet to the public, Mormonism is just as strange, scary, and/or laughable as Scientology. Most people don’t know much about it, which leaves a huge opportunity for Romney’s opponents to fill people’s heads with stuff that makes it sound bad. There is a vacuum there that is hungry to be filled with information or misinformation. It will be ironic that after all the attacks and critiques of Romney in the primary, it will be the one area where his opponents took the “hands-off” approach that probably becomes the most successful at taking him down in the general election.

[Prince of Space]

So you don’t require your kids to go to church with you on Sunday? Or are you one of those “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual” people we hear so much about?

Mrs. Prince of Space

[Prince of Space]

So you don’t require your kids to go to church with you on Sunday? Or are you one of those “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual” people we hear so much about?

Mrs. Prince of Space

[Recon Dad]

A possible reason for it coming out now, and remember, many Americans read or watch the BBC....

It has never been mentioned on Top Gear in all the years I’ve been watching and I can’t recall any Mormon celebrity drivers.........../s

[Elsie]

Does this dude have a sister named Drive and a brother named Neutral?

It would not suprise me in the least!!

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http://wesclark.com/ubn/

 

http://rumandmonkey.com/widgets/toys/mormon/

 

 

 

[Elsie]

A possible reason for it coming out now, and remember, many Americans read or watch the BBC, is that we here really don’t trust Romney.

And we had a nagging suspicion about MORMONism, but NOW the FACTS of it are REALLY starting to spill out!

[Elsie]

Then there is George Foreman...

http://thelister.blogspot.com/2007/04/george-foremans-ten-children.html

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2470131&page=1