December 6th, 2007
11:15 AM ET
15 years ago
Romney: 'Freedom requires religion'
Watch excerpts of Romney's faith.
(CNN) - White House hopeful Mitt Romney said religious liberty "is fundamental to America's greatness," in his Thursday address on faith in America.
Romney, seeking to become the first Mormon president, explained how his faith would affect his presidency in his speech at former President George H. W. Bush's presidential library.
"There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders," Romney said.
- CNN's Kristi Keck
Related video: How much is Romney's Mormon faith a liability?
From CNN Politics
- Final push before tomorrow's Georgia Senate runoff election
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Trump calls for the termination of the Constitution in Truth Social post
- FBI special agent found not guilty of attempted murder in Metro shooting incident
- Paul Pelosi attends Kennedy Center Honors in first public appearance since attack
- Trump's call to terminate the Constitution is a fantasy, but it's still dangerous
Romney is crazy if he thinks his involvement with the Morman CULT will not affect his decisions in the White House. He is not satan, but he does serve satan.
Reason, logic. Are we all supposed to become Mr. Spock? If you believe in any religon you're not 'enlightened'. Enlightened by what? All I can see is that any thing that gives people any sense of morality or right-or-wrong or a sense of value, 'enlightened' people berate religous peopele for being 'intolerant', 'prejudiced', or 'judgemental'. Sounds like all these 'enlightened', 'logical', 'resoned' people want everybody to believe their way just like the religous ones do. Sounds kind of hypocritical doesn't it?
Anyone care to describe the differences between Mormonism and Scientology? The way I see it, both are just cults masquerading as churches to make lots and lots of money.
Jeff, Corona CA
Jeff, that rational (that it took the hand of God to defeat the British)is completely ridiculous. The British believe in the same God and those here in the United States. Are you saying that God betrayed the British to help the US win? You my friend are a hypocrit if you believe that.
I'm sorry, Freedom does not require religion. Religion is nothing more than intelelctual enslavement to a select group that want to control you and retain their hold on power (read – the rich, corrupted white males of the American Taliban).
I long for the day that America may lead the world forward to intellectual freedom, allowing each human mind to accomplish everytyhing it possibly can.
Unitl then, we suffer Republican medievalism.
Wake up America. Consider evolving away from this disease that you so ignorantly embrace.
I respect the opinions mentioned here; however, I must assert, religion is not to blame for the world's woes, but rather, it is the person. Just as there is a separation from church and state; we should separate religion from individual. Regardless of a religion's influence, an individual still has a choice to love or hate, kill or not to kill, worship or not to worship. Our constitution allows us to enjoy this more so than any other; and it is to the credit of GREAT men with MANY differing beliefs that founded these truths.
MITT ROMNEY IS THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB PERIOD!
When Romney said his oath in office would be his highest oath to God:
Obviously his marriage to his wife in the temple is his greatest promise between him, his wife and god. Those are the only people in that marriage ceremony that the promises are kept between. If he were elected and had to swear in as President, that oath is a different oath between himself, his country (all of us) and his god. That means, this oath is of so much importance because he would be responsible for the entire nation. Other than just being responsible for himself, how he treats his wife, how he raises his children, and how he lives up to his faith is very important; but to be responsible for the entire nation is probably the biggest oath a person can ever handle!
We must pick a president that will do their best for the good of the nation as a whole. This includes good health care for everyone, good education for everyone, lower taxes, etc. There are more important things for the country as a whole than for the few odds and ends that will never satisfy anyone. With that said, there are more important things about a president than their religion.
Freedom requires religion? I doubt it.
Religion requires freedom? Maybe religious pluralism requires freedom but religion itself doesn't.
They've got plenty of religion in Saudi Arabia and precious little freedom.
The saddest thing is that merely juxtaposing two popular words will be enough for some people. "Ooh Ooh! Freedom? Religion? I love those things!"
Posted By Antonio, Tempe AZ : December 6, 2007 11:56 am
i agree 100%
Jose Card
are you kidding?! this goes out to EVERYONE THAT HATES HILLARY! you know how we know that you are not making your decision based on the facts? because you take every opportunity to bash hillary on every blog. you actually find a way to bring up HILLARY CLINTON in a story about MITT romney's religious stance?!!? this is why america will never be able to hold the stature it once had. NOT because of TV not because of lack of religion because of ignorance!!!!!!1
Quite the opposite, Religion requires Freedom.
Hey Mutt Mormney!
If you really believe that religion requires freedom then why didn't you volunteer to serve in Viet Nam, after you finished your bicycle tour of France?
Mitts statement about religion – is well – like a muslum teddy bear named Muhomed. Just dont work.
This is to Karen and all Americans who underestimate the religious faith of our founding fathers. George Washington carried with him a field notebook that contained 24 pages of personal prayers that he had hand-written. These prayers are the some of the most heartfelt pleadings to God that I have ever read. Considering the odds he was up against in the Revolutionary war, it may not be surprising. But more than that, Washington's prayers indicate to me that this man's faith was not a fashionable appendage. No, Washington's faith was a deeply rooted part of his being as a person, a military leader and as president. This is our heritage as Americans. Faith has shaped our country from the beginning and it should not be marginalized, no matter how fashionable it has become to do so today.
I just wanted to comment on Mitt's position of Free speech and how it's ok for religion which is NOT MENTIONED ONCE IN the constitution but at his rally in Nashua New Hampshire actually threatened to arrest me for holding my sign that asked whether you are considered innocent until proven guilty if your right to a trial can be denied by the president according to the MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT of 2006.. First he laughed at the sign and ignored it when he went inside, then kicked me out of the rally 2x's though other were able to hold their homemade signs that say I LOVE MITT.. and when i stood outside the door my sign i was told by a police officer that a direct order was given to me to move or i'd be under arrest... HOW"S THAT FOR FREEDOM of speech.. sounds to me like it's only freedom of speech if Mitt feels the same way or likes whats on your sign...
Anyone that disrespects your constitutional rights to free speech and right to assembly in THE CAMPAIGN process with undoubtly disregaurd them as president. With an administration comitting treason with the same disregaurd to the constitution, Mitt Romney is certainly the LAST thing this country needs.
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists but by Christians, not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ". – Patrick Henry
"Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers." – The first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay