Could Romney Face His Own Tough Questions About Tolerance?
I have a story up this week about the fact that Mitt Romney’s Mormonism – a major hurdle in his challenge to win over the GOP’s base – is at the same time winning him a little extra sympathy from some Jewish Republicans. (Jews know what it’s like to face questions about one’s religion, after all.)
But one other point worth noticing here: As much as the press has picked up on the Mormon-As-Underdog theme, Romney faces tough questions about his faith not only because evangelical Christians and others have some irrational, unfair prejudice against Mormons. He also faces tough questions because of the history of Mormonism itself, including the faith’s longtime exclusion of African-Americans from its priesthood.
As he continues to mull whether to make a big JFK-esque speech, Romney’s also no doubt praying he won’t eventually be forced to speak on his faith’s more troubling history.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
