USA Today on Mormons, Mitt, and Racism

[Sleeping in EQ]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...ack/52920394/1

[jay santos]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...ack/52920394/1

It seems like (at least since I've been paying attention as in like the last decade or two), these kind of national stories on Mormonism have all been fairly positive and have not delved very deep into the tough issues.

As the stakes get higher in this election, I predict the gloves come off, and these stories start to get nasty.

[Uncle Ted]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...ack/52920394/1

This is the first I have heard of this...

In 1949, the LDS church's First Presidency— the top tier of its hierarchy — had said the priesthood ban was a "direct commandment from the Lord."

Is that documented somewhere?

I am disappointed, however, the author didn't point out that George Romney was a strong supporter for civil rights even after he received a letter on church letter head from the apostle Delbert L. Stapley suggesting he reconsider his position:

http://www.boston.com/news/daily/24/delbert_stapley.pdf

[Sleeping in EQ]

This is the first I have heard of this...



Is that documented somewhere?

I am disappointed, however, the author didn't point out that George Romney was a strong supporter for civil rights even after he received a letter on church letter head from the apostle Delbert L. Stapley suggesting he reconsider his position:

http://www.boston.com/news/daily/24/delbert_stapley.pdf

I expect that if this story sticks, George Romney's response to the letter will be part of Mitt's defense. That approach will embarass the Church, and rightly so.

[UtahDan]

This was in WaPo too, I think I put it in the Romney thread but it maybe deserves its own. Anyway, I think if the "apology" issue picks up steam it will be a tough question for Romney to not answer. I think it hurts him if, when he is asked whether the church should follow the likes of the Southern Baptist Convention and Bob Jones University in officially apologizing for its racist past, he demurs. Politically he is much better off if he can simply say "yes."

[UtahDan]

Here is the apology from Bob Jones, by the way. I have no love for them but this is a well crafted statement:

“For almost two centuries American Christianity, including BJU in its early stages, was characterized by the segregationist ethos of American culture. Consequently, for far too long, we allowed institutional policies regarding race to be shaped more directly by that ethos than by the principles and precepts of the Scriptures. We conformed to the culture rather than provide a clear Christian counterpoint to it.

“In so doing, we failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves. For these failures we are profoundly sorry. Though no known antagonism toward minorities or expressions of racism on a personal level have ever been tolerated on our campus, we allowed institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful.”

[Jeff Lebowski]

I like that article.

GBH should have resolved this (formal repudiation) years ago when they had a committee in place and ready to act. Kicking it down the road is rarely a good strategy.

[YOhio]

This comment was distracting. Every time I see a comment from someone with the last name of Dozier, Bozell or Dooley I think of Phil Hendrie.

"Blacks are not going to vote for anyone of the Mormon faith," the Rev. O'Neal Dozier told The Palm Beach Post on Jan. 22. "The Book of Mormon says the Negro skin is cursed."

[UtahDan]

This is worth reading as well:

http://www.sbc.net/resolutions/amresolution.asp?id=899

[Northwestcoug]

This is the first I have heard of this...



Is that documented somewhere?

The attitude of the Church with reference to Negroes remains as it has always stood. It is not a matter of the declaration of a policy but of direct commandment from the Lord, on which is founded the doctrine of the Church from the days of its organization, to the effect that Negroes may become members of the Church but that they are not entitled to the priesthood at the present time. The prophets of the Lord have made several statements as to the operation of the principle. President Brigham Young said: "Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a skin of blackness? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the holy priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the holy priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to."

http://www.angelfire.com/mo2/blackmormon/FP.html

[SteelBlue]

Remember when Romney was running against Ted Kennedy back in 1994? Romney had actually taken the lead in some polls until Kennedy's people made the statement that Blacks were not allowed to hold the priesthood in the LDS church. Romney's camp had to countered with the fact that Romney had no say in any such policy let alone that it hadn't been true since 1978. Kennedy's people apologized saying they didn't realize there had been a revelation in 1978 (emphasis on 1978 for it's recentness). Romney's numbers never recovered from that by my recollection.

I am not looking forward to the awkward conversations that are headed our way re: race and who knows what other issues as the Romney campaign goes forward. But I am hopeful that Romney's run will bring forth an official LDS apology for what I believe was a racist policy.

[DU Ute]

Here is the apology from Bob Jones, by the way. I have no love for them but this is a well crafted statement:

Could the Church rightfully make a statement like this:

“In so doing, we failed to accurately represent the Lord and to fulfill the commandment to love others as ourselves. For these failures we are profoundly sorry. Though no known antagonism toward minorities or expressions of racism on a personal level have ever been tolerated on our campus, we allowed institutional policies to remain in place that were racially hurtful.”

[Jeff Lebowski]

Could the Church rightfully make a statement like this:

At least as accurately as Bob Jones University could.

[Green Monstah]

Do you ever have those moments when you realize you've been avoiding a topic that bothers you re: the Church, and ithen the issue really starts to eat at your skin? This is one of them. Not 1978 necessarily (I believe BY's racism is essentially the reason for the ban), but the issue of race and skin color in Mormon scripture.

Ugh.

[DU Ute]

At least as accurately as Bob Jones University could.

That was my thought. It would certainly be controversial.