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Okay, let's go there. Could you vote for a Mormon (or Catholic) bishop for President? (Original Post) Not Me Nov 2012 OP
maybe if the opposing party was running a fundi southern baptist bowens43 Nov 2012 #1
How right you are................... sweettater Nov 2012 #7
It's like a game of, "Who's more out of touch?" Neoma Nov 2012 #34
Nope. n/t yellerpup Nov 2012 #2
They have no place in politics oswaldactedalone Nov 2012 #3
Yeah - If A Catholic Bishop Was Running For President - They Would Make Mincemeat Out Of Him.... global1 Nov 2012 #4
I'd rather vote for an Athiest! kooljerk666 Nov 2012 #5
No, but I'd love to be able to vote for Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Anglican) Glorfindel Nov 2012 #6
How do they square competing oaths? Dem2TheCore Nov 2012 #8
Perhaps. Horse with no Name Nov 2012 #9
I would not vote for a religious leader who emphasizes their religion every chance they get. LiberalFighter Nov 2012 #10
An extreme right wing evangelical preacher would not be better IrishEyes Nov 2012 #11
When it is an extreme cult SubgeniusHasSlack Nov 2012 #16
Religion and politics don't mix. Progressive dog Nov 2012 #12
Google "lying for the lord" SubgeniusHasSlack Nov 2012 #13
If am not mistaken Catholics priest,bishops aren't suppose to run for any office. As a southernyankeebelle Nov 2012 #14
No. No clergy for President. Not Catholic, Mormon, Protestant, etc. TwilightGardener Nov 2012 #15
Hmm I don't know. gollygee Nov 2012 #17
Catholic Firebirds01 Nov 2012 #18
By definition, a bishop who quit being a bishop would not then be a bishop running for office. WinkyDink Nov 2012 #32
They would be running as a Republican get the red out Nov 2012 #19
I wouldn't assume that at all gollygee Nov 2012 #22
He said "Bishop" get the red out Nov 2012 #25
I guess I don't feel confident about that either gollygee Nov 2012 #26
I just can't imagine them being a Democrat get the red out Nov 2012 #43
I have been really puzzled Mz Pip Nov 2012 #20
I could, but only if they could convince me they wouldn't use ... dawg Nov 2012 #21
Yes, but I probably couldn't make myself vote for a Muslim or a Hare Krishna for President slackmaster Nov 2012 #23
I doubt a Catholic bishop would ever run for political office. Tommy_Carcetti Nov 2012 #24
It would not be allowed. WinkyDink Nov 2012 #33
how bout a Scientologist? NightWatcher Nov 2012 #27
Yes. The Mormon office of "Bishop" isn't quite like the Catholic version. IdaBriggs Nov 2012 #28
Well, Since I'm Areligious (Not Atheist, Just Anti-Organized Religion), Then Yes ChoppinBroccoli Nov 2012 #29
CATHOLIC BISHOPS CANNOT HOLD A SECULAR OFFICE. How could anyone here know this?! WinkyDink Nov 2012 #30
Anything that looks like a signature away from theocrary? No, thanks. jsr Nov 2012 #31
If an atheist won the Presidency, how we he/she take the oath of office? MrYikes Nov 2012 #35
The oath of office does not have to be sworn on a Bible. Zoeisright Nov 2012 #37
I don't care. It depends on their positions on the issues. Zoeisright Nov 2012 #36
There are so many reasons not to vote for Mitt, his religious rainlillie Nov 2012 #38
NO: Separation of church and state Generic Other Nov 2012 #39
I don't care what religion someone is - I care how they allow religion to affect their politics LynneSin Nov 2012 #40
If he/she wasn't unprincipled, selfish, arrogant, out of touch asswipe from hell, sure. HopeHoops Nov 2012 #41
I wouldn't vote for ANYBODY who was anti-choice. That's my line in the sand. forestpath Nov 2012 #42

sweettater

(729 posts)
7. How right you are...................
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 10:58 AM
Nov 2012

I am surrounded by them.............fundi southern baptist. They are out of touch with reality.

global1

(25,247 posts)
4. Yeah - If A Catholic Bishop Was Running For President - They Would Make Mincemeat Out Of Him....
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 10:57 AM
Nov 2012

how is is that a Mormon bishop is running and we don't even hear a peep about it?

 

kooljerk666

(776 posts)
5. I'd rather vote for an Athiest!
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 10:57 AM
Nov 2012

or a Muslim, or a Buddhist or my Favorite a Taoist.

EDIT: Anyone call RMoneys mane shold call him BISHOP Rmoney every time, make hime tell you STOP IT, ITS HARD STOP IT!! edit end

Glorfindel

(9,729 posts)
6. No, but I'd love to be able to vote for Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Anglican)
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 10:57 AM
Nov 2012

I guess this makes me a hypocrite.

Dem2TheCore

(220 posts)
8. How do they square competing oaths?
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 10:59 AM
Nov 2012

All politics being equal, the issue for me would boil down to whether the person could honestly and convincingly take the oath of office and uphold the Constitution above any vow they took to their church or their church's hierarchy. (You going to follow the Constitution or the Pope?)

I doubt it's possible, but I would have to reserve judgment until it happened.

IrishEyes

(3,275 posts)
11. An extreme right wing evangelical preacher would not be better
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:00 AM
Nov 2012

I don't care much about someone's religion.

 

southernyankeebelle

(11,304 posts)
14. If am not mistaken Catholics priest,bishops aren't suppose to run for any office. As a
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:01 AM
Nov 2012

catholic I would not vote for any religious leaders for an government office.

gollygee

(22,336 posts)
17. Hmm I don't know.
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:05 AM
Nov 2012

My best friend when I was growing up was Mormon, and I did a lot of activities with her church, and the bishop was just a regular guy at the church really. He didn't seem parallel to a Catholic bishop, like not nearly as high up the ladder or something.

I guess I'm not really sure. I wouldn't vote for Romney, and he happens to be a Mormon bishop. But I don't know if I wouldn't be able to vote for ANY Mormon bishop. I don't know about Catholic bishops but I think they have taken vows that would make the point moot.

 

Firebirds01

(576 posts)
18. Catholic
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:06 AM
Nov 2012

would probably get told to step down because the church doesnt like their boys running for office. He could of course leave the clergy but it would be very unlikely for an ordained and practicing catholic bishop to get anywhere near public office without being told to shut the whole thing down, as it where. Protestant clergy will and have run

get the red out

(13,466 posts)
19. They would be running as a Republican
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:06 AM
Nov 2012

So no, I do not vote for Republicans, I don't agree with them on any issue I've seen yet.

get the red out

(13,466 posts)
43. I just can't imagine them being a Democrat
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 01:14 PM
Nov 2012

The Catholic and Mormon Churches are so heavily Republican in their official stands on issues overall, I just can not imagine a religious leader in those organizations would be a democrat. In the Catholic Church especially, there are currently Catholic Clergy telling people they will go to hell if they vote for a democrat, in the church.

That being said, I have voted for lay people who were Catholic Democrats, and if I lived in Nevada I'm sure I would vote for Harry Reid.

Mz Pip

(27,445 posts)
20. I have been really puzzled
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:07 AM
Nov 2012

All the talk last election about Rev Wright and what his beliefs were and he wasn't even the candidate . That was okay and hammered to death.

Why not even a fraction of scrutiny about Romney being a bishop? It's somehow off limits? Why? Why isn't Romney's high position in his church worth discussing? He's not just a member, he's a bishop. Seems worth looking into if he wants to be POTUS.

It's like his taxes. He doesn't want to discuss so the media rolls over and complies

dawg

(10,624 posts)
21. I could, but only if they could convince me they wouldn't use ...
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:08 AM
Nov 2012

the power of the Presidency to impose their beliefs on others. Unfortunately for them, the things they would have to do to convince me would probably get them excommunicated long before election day.

 

slackmaster

(60,567 posts)
23. Yes, but I probably couldn't make myself vote for a Muslim or a Hare Krishna for President
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:11 AM
Nov 2012

...or a Scientologist.

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,182 posts)
24. I doubt a Catholic bishop would ever run for political office.
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:12 AM
Nov 2012

While the Catholic Church heirarchy can be stupid, it isn't so stupid not to realize that one of their own running under a partisan banner could create some serious issues.

However, hypothetically speaking, if a Catholic bishop were to run for political office, I say it would be depend. If it were someone like the late Joseph Cardinal Bernadin, sure. If it was someone like some of the other fools they have installed, I'll pass.

NightWatcher

(39,343 posts)
27. how bout a Scientologist?
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:20 AM
Nov 2012

both are newly, made up "religions" that are nothing more than pyramid schemes

 

IdaBriggs

(10,559 posts)
28. Yes. The Mormon office of "Bishop" isn't quite like the Catholic version.
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:36 AM
Nov 2012

And I would be surprised if Harry Reid hadn't served in that capacity.

I would gladly vote for a man of Harry Reid's calibre.

Catholic Bishops are supposed to be devoting their lives to serving the church, and therefore should not be dealing with politics, in my opinion, so no, I wouldn't vote for a Catholic Priest or Catholic Bishop because they already have a job.

Mormon Bishops, on the other hand, are usually good men who serve voluntarily without pay (which means they need to have real jobs) for anywhere from four to seven years. It is, like many responsibilities, an honor to serve. It also involves getting to know everyone in your ward, and "being there" for them (with a concentration on spiritual stuff, of course). I also have great respect for the concept of the "Bishop's Storehouse" (where each local Bishop is supposed to make sure the members of his local church can go to get food in times of financial difficulty, also opened to the public, and used to send supplies to disaster areas in a fashion similar to the Southern Baptists Relief Effort, of which I have a good opinion based on Hurricane Katrina/American Red Cross service).

Snipped from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop_(Latter_Day_Saints)

"bishops are called from among the members of a local congregation, known as a ward, and traditionally serve, without pay, for four to seven years (the actual length of service can vary)."

(snip)

"The Bishop is often called "the father of the ward"[1] as he is the priesthood leader who is most intimately involved with individual church members. The bishop is not paid for the time he devotes to serving his ward. All ward and stake level callings in the LDS Church operate as a lay ministry; members donate their time to perform the duties assigned with each calling."

(snip)

"His duties include presiding over and conducting meetings and worship services; serving as president of the ward's quorum of priests; acting as a "Judge in Israel" or "common judge"; providing temporary financial relief for ward members; serving as the presiding high priest of the ward; and organizing and managing the ward's auxiliary organizations."

(snip)

"Presiding over services — Each Sunday, the bishop is responsible for organizing the primary worship services, called sacrament meeting. The bishop and his counselors select speakers from among the members of the ward, assigned high council speakers, and, on occasion, guest speakers. Infrequently, the bishop or his counselors also speak in sacrament meeting. A member of the bishopric conducts the meeting, introduces the speakers and occasionally concludes the meeting with a few remarks."

(snip)

"Additionally, the bishop also has the authority and duty to counsel members on spiritual matters, and sits as a “common judge” in the event of disputes between wardmembers. Bishops typically withdraw from involvement in matters which have been taken to the law."

(snip)

"Provide temporally for the members of the ward — Bishops also have the responsibility to oversee the payment of tithes and offerings in a ward, including the duty to accurately account for all money donated within his ward. The bishop also has the authority to authorize financial assistance, specifically the disbursement of fast offerings donated to help the poor, and other assistance to wardmembers according to the guidelines of the church. The other assistance a bishop can provide is "in kind" assistance in the form of food and household goods from the bishop's storehouse (which is managed by the Presiding Bishop (see below). The bishop disburses funds, authorizes distribution of food from the bishop's storehouse, or provides other appropriate assistance after evaluating the needs of the family and the resources available in his ward."


Bishops step up, do their duty, and then step down. The ones I know are men of good character.

I am not voting for Romney because of his religion. I am not voting for Romney because I don't care for his policies.

ChoppinBroccoli

(3,784 posts)
29. Well, Since I'm Areligious (Not Atheist, Just Anti-Organized Religion), Then Yes
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:41 AM
Nov 2012

When choosing who best represents me, religion enters my thought process not one iota. Truth be told, I just wish everyone would keep their damn religion to themselves. I mean, WHO CARES, really? It's a personal choice and should remain personal. That would be like saying, "I could NEVER vote for a candidate whose favorite food isn't pizza."

 

WinkyDink

(51,311 posts)
30. CATHOLIC BISHOPS CANNOT HOLD A SECULAR OFFICE. How could anyone here know this?!
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:43 AM
Nov 2012

Clerics are forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power. (Canon Law 285.3)

They are not to have an active part in political parties (Canon Law 287.2)

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PY.HTM

LynneSin

(95,337 posts)
40. I don't care what religion someone is - I care how they allow religion to affect their politics
Thu Nov 1, 2012, 11:57 AM
Nov 2012

nuff said.

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