First up from The God Machine this week is a much-discussed opinion piece from Richard John Neuhaus, a conservative Catholic priest, in his far-right journal, First Things. The premise is surprisingly straightforward: Christians, Neuhaus argues, should hesitate before supporting Mitt Romney because Romney is a Mormon.
It is not an unreasonable prejudice for people who, unlike Alan Wolfe et al., care about true religion to take their concern about Mormonism into account in considering the candidacy of Mr. Romney. The question is not whether, as president, Mr. Romney would take orders from Salt Lake City. I doubt whether many people think he would. The questions are: Would a Mormon as president of the United States give greater credibility and prestige to Mormonism? The answer is almost certainly yes. Would it therefore help advance the missionary goals of what many view as a false religion? The answer is almost certainly yes. Is it legitimate for those Americans to take these questions into account in voting for a presidential nominee or candidate? The answer is certainly yes….
I can now register a respectful disagreement with John Fund when he writes, “We will be a better country if even people who don’t support Mr. Romney for president come to recognize that our country is better off if his candidacy rises or falls on factors that have nothing to do with his faith.” On the contrary, we are a better country because many Americans do take their faith, and the faith of others, very seriously indeed. Also when it comes to voting.
It’s an awkward argument, to put it mildly. Neuhaus has put anti-Mormon animus into print in a way most would avoid.
In fact, I’m curious. What would the reaction be at First Things if an anti-Catholic bigot wrote, “The question is not whether, as president, a Roman Catholic candidate would take orders from Rome. I doubt whether many people think he would. The questions are: Would a Catholic as president of the United States give greater credibility and prestige to Roman Catholicism? Would it therefore help advance the missionary goals of what many view as a false religion? Is it legitimate for those Americans to take these questions into account in voting for a presidential nominee or candidate?”
I am, of course, anxious to hear Hugh Hewitt argue, again, that it’s a “myth” that Romney’s Mormon faith will be a “problem with the conservative right.”
Next up is a story out of Iowa about religion and locker rooms. (thanks to R.S. for the tip)
Which brings us to Iowa State University, currently embroiled in a controversy over whether its football team — at the request of its head coach — should be allowed a spiritual adviser. Some faculty members are upset at the idea, and more than 130 have signed a petition saying that such a position creates a serious violation of the separation between religion and government.
A panel that advises the university on athletics issues has voted, 7-1, in favor of the proposal. That recommendation now goes to Gregory Geoffroy, the university’s president, for consideration.
Pardon the expression, but the devil’s in the details. ISU football coach Gene Chizik has said publicly that he wanted to take the step because of his Christian beliefs and relationship with Christ.
After the 130 faculty members signed a document protesting a “spiritual guide” for student-athletes, my friends at Americans United weighed in, explaining to Geoffroy’s office, explaining that appointing a team chaplain would “send a message to members of the football team that their university expects and encourages them to engage in prayer and religious worship; and it would communicate to students, staff and alumni that the University believes that life’s problems necessarily call for spiritual guidance.”
Geoffroy apparently believes he’ll make everyone happy with a “compromise” — the team can have a “life-skills assistant,” instead of a “spiritual advisor.” The position will be paid for through private donations, and he or she will be prohibited from proselytizing.
We’ll see how that works out for everyone.