Mormonism arises again
In a widely publicized news conference Monday at the National Press Club, a former college peer of Mitt Romney launched a book that accuses the presidential candidate of being disingenuousness about his Mormon faith.
Michael Moody, who was a member of the Cougar Club (a type of fraternity) at BYU along with Romney in the early 1970s, called on the former Massachusetts governor to “stand up and be a modern-day Moses to the Mormon people and lead us out of this multi-generational wilderness.”
In his self-published book, “Mitt, Set Our People Free: A 7th Generation Mormon’s Plea for Truth,” Moody argues that Romney isn’t being honest about what his faith demands of him.
Moody said their group believed that as their faith won more converts, Mormons like them were preparing to ascend to leadership positions in the world – none more so than Romney.
“The buzz was that he was going to be president,” said Moody.
Trouble is, says Moody, as a Mormon Romney has a duty to obey the church’s Living Prophet, currently Gordon Hinckley.
“He can’t serve a loyalty to two different entities,” said Moody.
Romney spokesman Kevin Madden directed us to a passage from the governor’s address on faith last month, where Romney states: “I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.
“Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.”
Moody took pains to note that he likes Romney and thinks he has the skills to be president, hejust “doesn’t want to talk honestly about his faith.”
He noted that Mike Huckabee was “exactly right” when he recently wondered if Mormons believed that Jesus Christ and Lucifer were brothers – a comment he later recanted under pressure from Romney.
Moody, a Republican who backed John Kerry in 2004, ran for governor of Nevada in 1992. He was excommunicated from the Mormon church in 1977 and has renounced its teachings. “I was born and raised in a cult,” he said. “It was very hard to get out.”
At the podium, Moody insisted that the timing had as much to do with getting the book out as soon as possible rather than the fact that it was the day before the New Hampshire primary. But press releases about the event promised some last-minute, “Swift Boat” style news, which made the timing seem like more than a coincidence.
