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Technorati“He (Romney) uses the name Jesus and people think he is talking about the Jesus in the Bible but the Jesus of Mormonism has nothing to do with the Jesus of the Bible,” Keller argues.
Both Cizik’s and Keller’s comments were in response to a memorandum sent last week by Mark DeMoss, a well-known publicist for religious leaders and groups, to 150 of his colleagues in support of Romney.
DeMoss, whose clients include the Rev. Franklin Graham, is an unpaid adviser to the Romney campaign and a leading evangelical voice in support of Romney.
In his letter, DeMoss said he found more in common with most Mormons as a Southern Baptist than with liberals in his own denomination or in any other liberal Christian traditions.
He “fully recognize[s],” however, that some evangelicals will have problems with him supporting a Mormon for the position of U.S. president.
“But I concluded that I am more concerned that a candidate shares my values than he shares my theology,” DeMoss stated in his letter.
His sentiments concerning the importance of similar social values over theology were shared by a number of conservative evangelical leaders including Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins, American Values’ Gary Bauer, Florida megachurch pastor Joel C. Hunter, the Institute on Religion & Democracy’s James Tonkowich, and Southern Baptist leaders Dr. Richard Land and Dr. R. Albert Mohler.
Cizik, however, disagrees with his fellow evangelicals, saying he did not think it was possible for the “same individuals” who for “years and years” said religious beliefs and convictions matter to all of a sudden to say they don’t matter because of a candidate like Mitt Romney.
“You can’t simply say it doesn’t matter or the only thing that matters is his stand on the issue,” he added. “Well, it is a little more complicated than that.”
As an explanation, LivePrayer.com’s Keller claims that a significant number of influential Christian leaders – such as Dr. James Dobson and megachurch pastor John Hagee – refuse to denounce Romney because of their personal ties to Mormonism.
The online evangelist said Dobson’s Focus on the Family, for example, is part of the World Congress of Families – an organization which the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the official name of the Mormon church, is a major funder of. Keller also claims Dobson and other leaders remain silent on Romney because they don’t want to upset the large number of Mormons who buy their books.
Focus on the Family was contacted in regards to Keller’s claim but declined to respond as Dobson’s personal opinions and actions are expressed or done as a private citizen and not on behalf of Focus on the Family or its registered trademarks.
Correction: Tuesday, October 16, 2007:
An article on Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007, about the concerns of some evangelicals regarding the support of Mitt Romney for the U.S. presidency incorrectly reported that the World Congress of Families was founded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation. The Christian Post confirmed with Larry Jacobs, vice president of The Howard Center for Family, Religion & Society that World Congress of Families was not founded but is funded by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Foundation among other groups.
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