Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney highlights another reason why I won't return to Mormonism. He's in quite a pickle, despite his well-publicized speech about his loyalties.
That's because, if he were to be elected President of the United States, he would be asked to swear a solemn oath to protect the Constitution of the United States as a priority over any other loyalties to any other earthly entity. However, when Mitt Romney “took out his endowments” (participated in a secret rite in an LDS temple prior to going on his LDS mission and later before being married in such a temple), he swore another oath before God and witnesses. With arms to the square, he and his wife swore to keep the “Law of Consecration” described in a copy of the Doctrine and Covenants held up before the group by a temple worker. This is a vow to consecrate time, energy, talents, and material possessions to the church. In addition, Mitt Romney's “calling” to be a bishop required that he render absolute loyalty to the LDS Church and its prophet.
So what's the problem? Here's what I foresee, and fear:
New Federal hate crime laws don't protect someone speaking against the religion of another person. When I critique Mormonism, I and all others who teach against pseudo-Christian cults, violent Islam, or any other unBiblical religious group, I'm in a “gray” legal area, one that has been exploited as a “hate crime” in other countries. Chuck Colson's excellent article points out this danger (in his essay, specifically regarding speaking about the Biblical prohibition of homosexual behavior)
In that article, Colson says that “. . .in places where hate crimes laws have been passed, hate crimes have been defined to include verbal attacks””and even peaceful speech. The Thought Police have already prosecuted Christians under hate crimes laws in England, Sweden, Canada, and even in some places in the United States.”
So here's a scenario — what if my ministry is seen as a hate crime? What if someone decided to prosecute me for telling the truth about Mormonism?
Where would Mitt Romney's allegiances lie? He IS in a pickle. He'd be sworn to uphold the Constitution. But he's already sworn absolute loyalty to the LDS Church and its earthly prophet. It's like swearing to be absolutely faithful to one wife. And then swearing to be absolutely faithful to another wife.
Oops. That's Mormonism anyhow.
