Whatever happened to American Christians' concerns over Mitt Romney's Mormon faith?
Like concerns about Romney's conservatism and pro-life record, theological issues have been brushed aside in anticipation of November's election.
According to Tony Perkins from the Family Research Council, 'growing enthusiasm' for Romney's campaign has much to do with the Obama administration's support for same-sex marriage and his Contraceptive Mandate, which forces religiously affiliated organisations such as hospitals and universities to include coverage for contraceptives in their health insurance plans.
The Contraceptive Mandate's implications for religious freedom have convinced some to vote for Romney despite doubts about his pro-life record, and broader concerns about the 'marriage of convenience' between pro-life Christians and the Republican Party.
Prolific American Catholic blogger Mark Shea has been especially critical of the Republicans' failure to represent the pro-life movement. Shea sees Romney as merely the most recent and lacklustre avatar of a Republican Party in which 'the so-called 'pro-life Republicans' regard prolifers as useful idiots'. Shea views Romney's pro-life 'conversion' as suspect and his support for torture as typical of a moral decline in the conservative movement.
Shea cops some criticism for his position, ranging from 'Obama thanks you for your vote, your check is in the mail' to 'Evidently, there is no candidate pure and correct enough for you', and even: 'It's not that complicated: Obama wants to kill the Church and Romney doesn't. Anything after that is simple posturing.'
While Obama's attack on religious freedom might justify voting for 'the lesser of two evils', let's not forget that the lesser of two evils is still an evil. Shea concedes he respects the 'I have to vote Romney because Obama is an open and naked enemy of the Faith', but he is 'not going to pretend this makes Romney/Ryan a good ticket'.
This attitude of reluctant support can be hard to maintain in the fiercely oppositional atmosphere of partisan politics, especially in the prelude to an election. Elections demand more than a reluctant vote. They demand professions of support aimed at winning further converts. Elections are a battle in which esprit de corps outranks careful consideration. There are no bumper stickers extolling 'Romney 2012: not as bad as the other guy!'
An American Christian who