Orthodox Jewish Rabbinical Alliance Of America Calls Mitt Romney A "Dangerous Homosexualist", Calls Upon LDS Church To "Sanction" Him

According to WorldNetDaily, the Rabbinical Alliance of America, an organization of 850 Orthodox Jewish rabbis who minister to some 500,000 religious Jews in the United States and Canada, has denounced Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney as a "dangerous homosexualist" and has called upon the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to examine Romney's record and join them in sanctioning him. YouTube video embedded below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVppk7yfDmM



Rabbi Yehuda Levin spoke for the Council, and here are the two most critical parts of his statement:

"While our organization does not make any endorsements of political candidates, in view of the disastrous national decline in morality, we are compelled to condemn Mitt Romney's support and promotion of the immoral homosexual lifestyle and agenda. While we sympathize with those challenged by homosexual urges, or a desire for minors or adultery, they all remain prohibited activities that debase the practitioners and demoralize society. Gov. Romney over a long political career has earned the title: 'Dangerous Homosexualist' – one who constantly advances the militant anti-religious, anti-society, immoral homosexual agenda to the detriment of family people."

{snip}

"We plead with other religious denominations, most particularly the Mormon Church which maintains a traditional view regarding the homosexual agenda, to examine Romney's record and join us in sanctioning him. The time has certainly come for other denominations to emulate the manifesto of the Central Rabbinical Congress of the U.S. and Canada which, in the early 80s, prohibited voting for, honoring or supporting pro-homosexual agenda politicians".

The Rabbinical Council of America takes a hard line against homosexuality, condemning both the sin and the sinner. According to a recently-issued "Declaration on the Torah Approach to Homosexuality", they believe that same-sex attractions can be modified and healed, and condemn the propaganda blitz that has been launched to persuade the public about the legitimacy of homosexuality. But is Mitt Romney truly a "dangerous homosexualist"?

The answer is No -- it is an exaggeration. Back on June 7th, 2011, Romney did tell CNN's Piers Morgan that he would advance efforts to eliminate discrimination against people who are gay. But he also reiterated his opposition to gay marriage, going so far as to subsequently sign a pledge in August sponsored by the National Organization for Marriage promising to support a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. In December, Romney had a heated exchange with a gay veteran about gay marriage. But Romney has earlier told CNN "I separate quite distinctly matters of personal faith from the leadership one has in a political sense. You don't begin to apply the doctrines of a religion to responsibility for guiding a nation or guiding a state."

Doesn't sound like a "dangerous homosexualist" to me. It's also unlikely the LDS Church will join in any effort to "sanction" Mitt Romney; the Church neither endorses, promotes or opposes political parties, candidates or platforms, nor does it attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader. But the Church does reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.

Nevertheless, it is good to see an influential group of religious Jews take a firm stand against the promotion and statutory protection of homosexuality. Secular progressive Jews have been disproportionately predominant in the effort to promote homosexuality in the United States.