Barry, as you know, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney attracted a wide variety of supporters in his run for the Republican Presidential nomination.  And, as you correctly point out, I supported Governor Romney in my individual capacity.  I believe that his domestic and foreign policy views, along with his proven track record of success in the private sector, would have served this nation well – especially during these challenging economic times. 

I do not believe his Mormon faith played a major role in his candidacy.  And that’s the way it should be.  As you know, Barry, the Founding Fathers went to great lengths to ensure that there’s no religious litmus test when it comes to presidential candidates. Article VI, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution is very clear:  

“The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”

Focus on the Family is a private organization.  It’s decision to post or not to post an interview with Glenn Beck is its editorial decision.  Yes, there are obviously differences between the Evangelical theology and Mormon theology.  But I do not know what was behind the decision to remove the interview from the website. 

Even with those theological differences, though, there’s plenty of examples of Evangelicals and Mormons working together for a common cause.  You don’t have to look any further than November’s vote in California – where a diverse group of Californians – including Evangelicals and Mormons – approved Proposition 8 – a validly enacted amendment that upholds the historical definition that marriage is an institution between one man, one woman.

The California measure, as we discussed in the past, is now before the California Supreme Court.  We’re filing a brief this week asking the state’s high court to uphold the amendment to the California constitution.

Our brief contends that Proposition 8 “does not create far reaching, sweeping, or profound changes in the state’s constitutional scheme.”  “Rather,” the brief asserts, “it merely confirms the historically recognized scope of a single right recognized in the California Constitution – the right to marry – as encompassing only those unions ‘between a man and a woman'” . . . 

The fact is that Prop. 8 supporters have been singled out and harassed by those who opposed the marriage amendment.  People of faith –  Evangelicals and Mormons alike – targeted for simply exercising their democratic rights.