Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

FourScore

(9,704 posts)
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 08:48 PM Sep 2012

ALTERNET: Mitt Romney's ROLE AS MORMON BISHOP Shows His EXTEMIST Religious Beliefs

AlterNet / By Nancy L. Cohen
Mitt Romney's Role as Mormon Bishop Shows His Extremist Religious Beliefs
Romney has consistently avoided having his Mormon beliefs put under scrutiny. There are some good reasons for that.
September 15, 2012

One winter day, far along into her pregnancy with her second child, 21-year-old Peggy Hayes received a phone call from Willard Mitt Romney. He wanted to talk to her, he said. Could he come over?

Hayes, the divorced, unmarried mother of a 3-year-old daughter, was struggling as a nurse’s aide in a working-class suburb of Boston. She had little in common with the successful Bain executive, but the request wasn’t as odd as it might seem. Hayes was a Mormon. Romney was her bishop. Romney walked into her small apartment, made small talk and then commanded her to give her baby up for adoption after it was born. He was her bishop, and as she knew, Mormonism disapproved of single motherhood. Hayes said no.

“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,” Romney said, according to Hayes in an interview with Boston Globe journalists Michael Kranish and Scott Helman. Romney denied he made that threat, although he did not dispute the incident...

SNIP

...Chosen as a kind of enforcer-in-chief, Romney betrayed a zeal far beyond the call of duty. Bishop Romney tried to stop a mother of four whose health was seriously endangered by her pregnancy from having an abortion. The church allows abortion in cases of rape, incest, and danger to the life of the mother, provided a male LDS authority gives permission to the pregnant woman. Romney's superior had already told the woman to proceed for the sake of her health; Romney intervened. Romney refused to allow an infertile couple to take advantage of the LDS adoption service until the wife agreed to quit her job and be a stay-at-home mother. Other reliable reports of Mitt’s years as a Mormon clergyman have him excommunicating adulterers, calling homosexuals under his authority “perverse,” warning a middle-aged divorced woman that she was not allowed to have sex, and telling a leading Mormon feminist, “You’re not my kind of Mormon...”

MORE AT: http://www.alternet.org/belief/mitt-romneys-role-mormon-bishop-shows-his-extremist-religious-beliefs?paging=off

67 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
ALTERNET: Mitt Romney's ROLE AS MORMON BISHOP Shows His EXTEMIST Religious Beliefs (Original Post) FourScore Sep 2012 OP
The church allows abortion in cases of rape, incest,... Raster Sep 2012 #1
...provided a male LDS authority gives permission to the pregnant woman freshwest Sep 2012 #4
There is NOT ONE WOMAN in the LDS High Command. The LDS church power structure is exclusively men. Raster Sep 2012 #7
There ARE no female leaders in the Mormon church. kestrel91316 Sep 2012 #10
There are no female leaders in the Mormon Church. beac Sep 2012 #14
The cult was started by those scowling chin-bearded frontier horn-dogs Aristus Sep 2012 #37
+1 n/t fishwax Sep 2012 #30
I Had Naively Assumed On the Road Sep 2012 #2
OFFS! Part of Fascism is Church & State intertwined, Corporate protection, Labor suppressed. JaneyVee Sep 2012 #3
+1,000. freshwest Sep 2012 #5
What is it with the republican party and their sociopath Presidential nominees? Raster Sep 2012 #9
Goofy, Dorky, Weird Cultist. fascisthunter Sep 2012 #6
Dorky? dorkzilla Sep 2012 #8
Heh! WinkyDink Sep 2012 #16
It's not that much different than most organized religions Major Nikon Sep 2012 #11
Ultimately yes but from experience talking to women TBF Sep 2012 #18
No more so than the Catholic church and many other protestant churches Major Nikon Sep 2012 #19
All Christian churches are patriarchal and sexist. Manifestor_of_Light Sep 2012 #58
I wouldn't go as far as to say all of them Major Nikon Sep 2012 #59
Most theologians I know don't think the Holy Spirit is male. knitter4democracy Sep 2012 #61
I have never heard Christian liturgy referring to a goddess or Mother. Manifestor_of_Light Sep 2012 #63
Depends on which church you're in. knitter4democracy Sep 2012 #64
Nope. Haven't heard ANY Manifestor_of_Light Sep 2012 #65
Odd. I have. Still, no, it's not super common. knitter4democracy Sep 2012 #67
I don't know what Catholics do but I can tell you TBF Sep 2012 #60
This message was self-deleted by its author bupkus Sep 2012 #12
Does one have to be devout as a Mormon to be a Bishop,or just tithe tens of millions of dollars rustydog Sep 2012 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #15
If one hing Joe Smith sai is admittedly bullshit Coyotl Sep 2012 #21
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #24
Well that just explains everything, Here I thought it was all evolution, Africa and something. nc4bo Sep 2012 #25
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #26
The article was very enlightening and scary riverbendviewgal Sep 2012 #17
Obama should ask Romney during the debate, should I call you Coyotl Sep 2012 #20
Romney really believes he and Ann are going to own their own planet. Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2012 #22
Okay... DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #23
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #27
Oh DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #28
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #31
You know what? DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #33
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #35
Oh yes, DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #39
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #43
By the way DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #34
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #36
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #38
haha DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #40
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #42
Ouch, DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #44
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #46
This probably won't ever get the attention it truely deserves. craigmatic Sep 2012 #29
This story shoud go viral. Whovian Sep 2012 #32
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #41
Hey if you do DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #45
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #47
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #48
Great! DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #49
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #51
WOW! DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #50
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #52
OMG!!! DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #53
This message was self-deleted by its author Phaerisee Sep 2012 #54
Life is good :) DemKittyNC Sep 2012 #55
All one needs to know HeiressofBickworth Sep 2012 #56
Read more at: www.exmormon.org Manifestor_of_Light Sep 2012 #57
K & R !!! WillyT Sep 2012 #62
Yep. Zorra Sep 2012 #66

Raster

(20,996 posts)
1. The church allows abortion in cases of rape, incest,...
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:03 PM
Sep 2012

...provided a male LDS authority gives permission to the pregnant woman.

...provided a male LDS authority gives permission to the pregnant woman.

...provided a male LDS authority gives permission to the pregnant woman.

...provided a male LDS authority gives permission to the pregnant woman.

...provided a male LDS authority gives permission to the pregnant woman.

...provided a male LDS authority gives permission to the pregnant woman.

...provided a male LDS authority gives permission to the pregnant woman.

freshwest

(53,661 posts)
4. ...provided a male LDS authority gives permission to the pregnant woman
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:13 PM
Sep 2012

Thank you...

That was the one that ticket me off too...

Mind you, not even a female leader...

And getting permission on how to live your own life?

KMA!!!


Raster

(20,996 posts)
7. There is NOT ONE WOMAN in the LDS High Command. The LDS church power structure is exclusively men.
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:54 PM
Sep 2012

Not one woman.

Aristus

(66,087 posts)
37. The cult was started by those scowling chin-bearded frontier horn-dogs
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:10 AM
Sep 2012

you see in all those old-timey photos.

Man good
Woman evil (except as baby-making machine)

Fuckheads and their fucking stupid undergarments...

On the Road

(20,783 posts)
2. I Had Naively Assumed
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:08 PM
Sep 2012

that Romney changed his position on abortion to win the Republican nomination. Now it looks like he did it to win the governorship of Massachusetts.

 

JaneyVee

(19,877 posts)
3. OFFS! Part of Fascism is Church & State intertwined, Corporate protection, Labor suppressed.
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:11 PM
Sep 2012

This guy is a Bishop, who is also a corporation, and wants to crush Unions. Mitt Romney is DEFCON 1 on the Fascism chart.

Raster

(20,996 posts)
9. What is it with the republican party and their sociopath Presidential nominees?
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 09:56 PM
Sep 2012

Oh, wait... nevermind.

TBF

(31,921 posts)
18. Ultimately yes but from experience talking to women
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 10:31 PM
Sep 2012

who have been Mormons, often ex-Mormons, this church is particularly abusive to women and children.

knitter4democracy

(14,350 posts)
61. Most theologians I know don't think the Holy Spirit is male.
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 03:40 PM
Sep 2012

The only part of the Holy Trinity known to be male was Jesus. We think of the Father as Father, but applying our limited binary thought patterns to something like God is ridiculous. I know many Christians, male and female, who refer to God as Mother, and many think of the Holy Spirit as ultimately feminine.

The Church didn't start out sexist. Women were to be considered equals (which is how Jesus treated us), and they were. We had women priests, women deacons, women in positions of power all over the Church. When the scandals started rocking the Church, and as the Church started to spread more thoroughly into patriarchal societies (Greek, Roman, etc.), well, that's when we were booted from power. The theology isn't sexist, just the practice of many churches now.

 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
63. I have never heard Christian liturgy referring to a goddess or Mother.
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 05:20 PM
Sep 2012

Theology looks damn sexist to me from the pews. It's strictly male.

Christian apologetics apologizing and making excuses.

knitter4democracy

(14,350 posts)
64. Depends on which church you're in.
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 10:38 PM
Sep 2012

I've heard Catholic religion teachers use Mother, Methodist preachers say the Holy Spirit is the female part of God, and many others call God Mother.

I grew up in the Church of the Nazarene and Methodist churches, went to a Nazarene church, traveled quite a bit in college on mission work in Central America and Russia, spent a good bit of time in study, and then ultimately ended up Eastern Orthodox. I've talked with many different Christians of all kinds of backgrounds, and I've known many who consider God to be female.

Have you ever ready any of Kelly Cherry's writing on the subject of being female and worshiping the Divine Other? Interesting stuff.

 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
65. Nope. Haven't heard ANY
Tue Sep 25, 2012, 12:45 AM
Sep 2012

clergy person IN A CHURCH SERVICE refer to a mother god or goddess, except in the Unitarian-Universalist Church, which is explicitly NOT Christian & non-creedal.

Not once in a normal liturgical service have I heard any Protestant clergy use the term Mother God or Goddess.


knitter4democracy

(14,350 posts)
67. Odd. I have. Still, no, it's not super common.
Tue Sep 25, 2012, 07:20 AM
Sep 2012

Granted, not usually in a service, but I've heard it in a Catholic prayer service and a couple of Methodist sermons I can remember. I know a couple of Episcopalian priests who do, too.

In our liturgy in the Orthodox church, we don't and wouldn't, but we don't tend to use gender-based references about the Holy Spirit, either.

TBF

(31,921 posts)
60. I don't know what Catholics do but I can tell you
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 09:57 AM
Sep 2012

the mainstream Methodist churches do not advocate abuse of women and children.

Response to FourScore (Original post)

Response to FourScore (Original post)

 

Coyotl

(15,262 posts)
21. If one hing Joe Smith sai is admittedly bullshit
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 10:51 PM
Sep 2012

hy isn't everything else he said also pure bullshit?

Response to Coyotl (Reply #21)

nc4bo

(17,651 posts)
25. Well that just explains everything, Here I thought it was all evolution, Africa and something.
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 11:18 PM
Sep 2012

Sounds bigoted to me.

Response to nc4bo (Reply #25)

riverbendviewgal

(4,251 posts)
17. The article was very enlightening and scary
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 10:28 PM
Sep 2012

MITTreally scares me. The whole article makes sense and makes me think he is actually the craziest republican, crazier than Bachman and Santorum



Mitt is no JFK.

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #23)

DemKittyNC

(743 posts)
28. Oh
Sat Sep 22, 2012, 11:39 PM
Sep 2012

Well can't they at least leave our country then instead? lol

Seriously? That sounds like a bad video game or something. Grr... Not my place to judge. As long as they don't enforce their way of thinking on me I couldn't care what they believe really.

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #28)

DemKittyNC

(743 posts)
33. You know what?
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:01 AM
Sep 2012

You make a good case. I think I will no longer vote for him.

Seriously though I see your point and was thinking about this as well. I know very little about religion myself, never even been inside of a church other than for this girl scout thing I was in once a long time ago but I had a feeling Mormons and Christians we on two different levels entirely. If someone with no religious experience like me can pick up on something like that it is a wonder why others can not. As for the pro-life / abortion stance with Rmoney, I am not surprised at all. This man seems to like to cover all basis of every subject... I am against it - no, I am for it. blah blah blah He is as phoney as they come... lol

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #33)

DemKittyNC

(743 posts)
39. Oh yes,
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:13 AM
Sep 2012

I have been keeping up with his daily goofs and gaffs. My friends always ask me what is so interesting about boring politics I tell them this is real life and better than any movie plot I think I ever saw before. Everyday this guy 'Rmoney' comes out with some new circus act. What amazes me most is the people who defend him and still support this guy. Is there any group of people on this entire planet other than the top 1% he hasn't pissed off in some way? You are right, it all seems very intentional. No one can goof this many times 'accidentally.' Not when you have a full staff behind you who is hired to not make you look like an ass. Something is very wrong with all of this.

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #39)

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #34)

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #34)

DemKittyNC

(743 posts)
40. haha
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:18 AM
Sep 2012

Still...searching for... delete Phaerisee's post button... Can't find it

Well I am glad you started posting. I did the same thing I had been lurking for a few years but finally took the plunge and signed up. Everyone is really nice here and it has become my favorite go to homepage now. I never knew so many educated people could be found on one site before it has been so refreshing to know I am not alone anymore.

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #40)

DemKittyNC

(743 posts)
44. Ouch,
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:31 AM
Sep 2012

Sorry about that. I get that a lot myself, coming from my own parents... lol So I come here to tune out. Yes Republicans can be very mean and frightening.

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #44)

Response to FourScore (Original post)

DemKittyNC

(743 posts)
45. Hey if you do
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:33 AM
Sep 2012

start a Facebook, add me Right now I have no friends. The friends I did have on there were all republican, I had to delete them all so not to throw up every time I signed on... lol

Now, off to watch this video!

Edit: Wow, what a slimy gross little man he is. 1978! Gee's. Are there many African American Mormons now a days? If so then, why?

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #45)

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #45)

DemKittyNC

(743 posts)
49. Great!
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:49 AM
Sep 2012

I tell you I am so looking forward to November 7th when we hopefully never have to hear about this guy ever again. I hope he becomes such a huge embarrassment to the GOP and Republicans that they have to throw him in the same hole they had to hide Bush in.

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #49)

DemKittyNC

(743 posts)
50. WOW!
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 12:58 AM
Sep 2012

Just finished watching that video. Is that actually for real? People believe this?

Okay well, more power to them lol

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #50)

DemKittyNC

(743 posts)
53. OMG!!!
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 01:11 AM
Sep 2012

roflmao!!!!

"Snacks with Cheddar always taste better"!!!! Hilarious!

And yes I agree totally! I think the debates are going to be brutal for Rmoney and will be a pleasure to watch. It is always a great thing to watch the republican party explode from the inside out.

Oh and post as many videos as you like. Mormonism isn't my cup of tea but I love learning about new things I didn't know before. So, thank you for the education!

Response to DemKittyNC (Reply #53)

HeiressofBickworth

(2,682 posts)
56. All one needs to know
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 02:25 AM
Sep 2012

is that Mormons believe it is ok to lie to promote mormon interests -- it's called Lying for the Lord. There is a sub-set of lying for the lord which says "milk before meat" which means you get lies and half-truths up front and the rest of the story later. If you examine Romney's campaign plan, it consists of both tactics. First are the outright lies and then the assurance that he will give you his plan AFTER he is elected.

 

Manifestor_of_Light

(21,046 posts)
57. Read more at: www.exmormon.org
Sun Sep 23, 2012, 03:17 AM
Sep 2012

You will learn a lot.

TBM = true blue Mormon

The Morg = the mormon organization like the Borg.

Molly Mormons = depressed Mormon women with too many kids too close together

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»ALTERNET: Mitt Romney's R...