IÂ’ve liked almost every Mormon IÂ’ve ever met. They are among the kindest, most decent folks I know or have known.

At the same time, I do look askance at Mormon theology. I made a serious study of the religion years ago (while dating a Mormon girl – I’ll own that motivation), and I find it impossible to buy into some of the more unusual aspects of Mormon teaching.

But theological differences alone will not keep me from voting for a candidate I otherwise believe to be well-qualified. And that leads me to Dr. James DobsonÂ’s comments on Gov. Mitt RomneyÂ’s religion and its effect on his candidacy.

A prominent and powerful evangelical Christian leader, James Dobson, said yesterday that the Mormon faith practiced by Governor Romney of Massachusetts could pose a serious obstacle if Mr. Romney makes a bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.

"I don't believe that conservative Christians in large numbers will vote for a Mormon but that remains to be seen, I guess," Mr. Dobson said on a syndicated radio program hosted by a conservative commentator, Laura Ingraham.

Mr. Dobson, the founder of the Colorado-based Focus on the Family, did not say why Christians would fail to support Mr. Romney. Mr. Dobson also acknowledged that the governor's stands on social issues are similar to those of many religious conservatives.

"He's a nice guy. He's a very attractive man. He's got a beautiful wife and a lot of his principles and values are consistent with ours," Mr. Dobson said. A spokesman for Mr. Romney, Eric Fehrnstrom, had no immediate comment.

In 1960, this country put the “Catholic issue” behind it by electing John F. Kennedy to the presidency. Let’s hope that we can place the “Mormon issue” behind us in 2008. That doesn’t mean electing Romney because of his faith, but it does mean that Americans should give him a respectful hearing and thoughtful consideration as a part of his run for office.

And I believe that many -- indeed, most -- among the Christian Right will give him a decent hearing.

"If he's pro-life, pro-family, I don't think he'll have any problem getting the support of evangelical Christians," a founder of the Moral Majority, Rev. Jerry Falwell, told the Clarion-Ledger of Jackson, Mo. earlier this year.

IÂ’m with Falwell on this one.

* * *

Greg Pierce of the Washington Times offers some reasons why Romney would be a good choice for the GOP.

Posted by: Greg at 10:28 AM | Comments (3) | Add Comment
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