Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin writes: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's religious speech, delivered on Thursday morning, December 6, was reminiscent of the famous religious address given by Senator John F. Kennedy in 1960. Both Romney and Kennedy referred to the "No Religious Test" clause of Article 6 in the U.S. Constitution. Read my related posts regarding both religious speeches.*

To those commentators who have accused me of intentionally misinterpreting Article 6, I suggest that you read the words of both Romney and Kennedy. My interpretation of Article 6 is identical, so those commentators who think they have better interpretations than those of John F. Kennedy, Mitt Romney, and the ever so humble, but correct, Conservative Wordsmith, need to do some serious introspection into themselves. The key to the door of religious tolerance shall also open the door to a true comprehension of Article 6.

The Conservative Wordsmith Weblog has maintained a consistently correct interpretation of Article 6.** Some of you think there are different ways to interpret Article 6. I'm sorry to inform you, but this is not the case. My advice to each of you is this: be careful, lest you find yourself to have frippery of wit, which is not a desirable trait.***

"In a speech delivered at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum less than a month before the first nomination primaries, Romney said he shares 'moral convictions' with Americans of all faiths, though surveys suggest up to half of likely voters have qualms about electing the first Mormon president." 1

These are the words related to Article 6 from Governor Mitt Romney's "Faith In America" speech - November 6, 2007--George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, Texas:

"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines," Romney said. "To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes president, he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths." 1

****"When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God," Romney said in a pledge echoing the famous speech Democrat John F. Kennedy made in 1960 when he was seeking to become the first Catholic elected president." 1

"If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause and no one interest," Romney said. "A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States." 1

These are the words related to Article 6 from the Address of Senator John F. Kennedy to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association - September 12, 1960—Rice Hotel, Houston, Texas:

"'I believe in an America that is officially neither Catholic, Protestant nor Jewish--where no public official either requests or accepts instructions on public policy from the Pope, the National Council of Churches or any other ecclesiastical source--where no religious body seeks to impose its will directly or indirectly upon the general populace or the public acts of its officials--and where religious liberty is so indivisible that an act against one church is treated as an act against all.'" 2 

"'For while this year it may be a Catholic against whom the finger of suspicion is pointed, in other years it has been, and may someday be again, a Jew--or a Quaker--or a Unitarian--or a Baptist. It was Virginia's harassment of Baptist preachers, for example, that helped lead to Jefferson's statute of religious freedom. Today I may be the victim- -but tomorrow it may be you--until the whole fabric of our harmonious society is ripped at a time of great national peril.'" 2 

"'I would not look with favor upon a President working to subvert the first amendment's guarantees of religious liberty. Nor would our system of checks and balances permit him to do so--and neither do I look with favor upon those who would work to subvert Article VI of the Constitution by requiring a religious test--even by indirection--for it. If they disagree with that safeguard they should be out openly working to repeal it.'" 2 

"'And in fact this is the kind of America for which our forefathers died--when they fled here to escape religious test oaths that denied office to members of less favored churches--when they fought for the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom--and when they fought at the shrine I visited today, the Alamo. For side by side with Bowie and Crockett died McCafferty and Bailey and Carey--but no one knows whether they were Catholic or not. For there was no religious test at the Alamo.'" 2

****"But if, on the other hand, I should win the election, then I shall devote every effort of mind and spirit to fulfilling the oath of the Presidency--practically identical, I might add, to the oath I have taken for 14 years in the Congress. For without reservation, I can "solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution . . . so help me God." 2

1 Romney: No religious test for president http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22129738/
Say `moral convictions', not his Mormon faith, binds him to Americans- Associated Press -
Please click this link to view the video of Mitt Romney's speech, a Web extra video, interactive, plus slide shows.

2 http://www.boston.com/
news/nation/
articles/2007/12/02/
address_of_senator_john_f_kennedy_
to_the_greater_houston_ministerial_association/ - Click this link to read John F. Kennedy's entire address and/or listen to the complete audio clip.

Related Links

http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/

http://www.mittromney.com/ 

http://www.mittromney.com/
Ann-Romney/index 

http://www.evangelicalsformitt.org/ 

http://www.mittreport.com/ - Click this link to watch Mitt Romney's full "Faith In America" speech, and/or read the whole speech.

My Related Posts

*Romney and Kennedy: Two Voices of Tolerance
*Mitt Will Go By Constitution, Not LDS Church 
*Romney, Kennedy, and "Faith in America"
**Mitt Romney Qualifies With Article 6
**Mitt Romney and Two Political Deists
**Mitt Romney #1 Fave Of Top Evangelicals
***Thomas Jefferson's Interview With God 
Mitt Romney and A PLEA FOR RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Mitt, Freedom, and Destiny's Question
Shall Romney and Jefferson Meet In Hell? 

The original date of this revised post was
December 6, 2007. 

Conservative Wordsmith Susan Baldwin, author of the Conservative Wordsmith Weblog, appreciates your thoughts and comments.