By Dan Gilgoff and Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editors
(CNN)–For the next four days, the eyes of the political world will be on Tampa, Florida, the site of the Republican National Convention (which will now get started Tuesday, after Tropical Storm Isaac cancelled Monday's events).
Though politics will be the name of the game, it's a safe bet that religion will also play a major role. The convention opens with a prayer from a Hispanic evangelical leader and closes with a benediction from a Catholic cleric who's sometimes called "America's pope."
In between, balloons will drop on the first Mormon to be nominated by a major political party to be president of the United States. Here are eight ways faith will matter this week. What did we leave out? Let us know in comments and we'll expand our list as warranted.
1. The ghost of Todd Akin
Most people couldn't pick him out of lineup and he won't be attending the convention this week. But the Missouri Senate candidate who claimed that women could prevent conception in cases of "legitimate rape" opened a rift in the Republican Party, with GOP chieftains pressuring him to drop out while some powerful conservative Christian activists rally to his defense. Those activists are using the Akin episode to allege that the Republican Party wants quash their socially conservative agenda even as it happily accepts their votes. If the infighting continues into this week, there could be a battle for GOP's soul at a moment when the GOP wants to project unity.
2. The M word
Even now that he's talking more about his religious faith, Mitt Romney almost never refers specifically to Mormonism or to his membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And yet Romney has held a series leadership positions in his church. Will the Republican Party continue to studiously avoid one of its presidential candidate's defining characteristics? Or will some convention speaker make a case for why Romney's Mormonism is an asset? Will Romney himself mention his religion as he accepts his party's nomination?
3. Ladies night (or week)?
For months, the GOP has been on the defensive, as Democrats say Republicans are waging a "war on women," a theme the Dems began sounding when the American bishops blasted the White House for its contraception mandate for insurance companies earlier this year. This week, Republicans face a delicate balancing act in trying to assuage the concerns of moderate women voters while also satisfying its religiously conservative base. (See ghost of Todd Akin, above). A big part of that mission falls to Ann Romney, the Republican nominee's wife, and to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, both of whom have choice speaking slots.
4. The possibility of a culture war speech
"There is a religious war going on in this country," former presidential candidate Pat Buchanan told the 1992 Republican convention in a primetime address. "It is a cultural war, as critical to the kind of nation we shall be as the Cold War itself. For this war is for the soul of America." There are still debates over whether the speech, which provoked a media frenzy, helped or hurt President George H.W. Bush, who would go on to lose to Bill Clinton. But the Republican Party is keen on avoiding such moments as it tries to win over independents this fall. There's some nervousness about what Rick Santorum will say in his convention address.
5. Religious liberty
Many conservatives are livid over the Obama administration's requirement that health insurers offer free contraceptive coverage, even for employees of Catholic institutions. Plus, talking up religious liberty is likely less of a turnoff for moderate voters than is talk about bans on abortion and gay marriage, traditionally the top concerns of religious conservatives. Catholics and evangelicals, two key voting blocs, have been buzzing about religious liberty for months, with mega-pastor Rick Warren recently canceling plans for a presidential forum with Obama and Romney and announcing plans for one on religious liberty instead.
6. Israel
When it comes to foreign policy, look for convention speakers to try outdo one another in pledging support for the Jewish State - and in railing against Obama for what they'll allege are his administration's shabby treatment of a key American ally. Israel is especially important to the GOP's evangelical base, some of whom see a biblical bond with the Jewish people and some who believe Israel must be in Jewish control before the Second Coming can happen. Mitt Romney included Israel as one of his marquee stops on his recent foreign trip, including a photo-op at Jerusalem's Western Wall.
7. Hurricane theology
Will some televangelist claim that Tropical Storm Isaac, which is headed toward the Gulf Coast, is God's way of punishing the GOP for insufficient piety? It wouldn't be the first time a prominent preacher blamed severe weather on American insubordinance.
8. "America's pope"
The convention's closing prayer will be delivered by Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who leads the American Catholic bishops and is sometimes referred to as America's pope. It's a good indication of just how important the Catholic vote is thought to be this year, with Catholics accounting for 1 in 4 Americans and considered to be the quintessential swing bloc. Whoever wins these voters will likely win the White House.
Bob Marley has a song that says. "Cause I feel like ??? a church, now that I know that the preacher is lyin'"
Abortions are primarily the result of unwanted pregnancies.
Unwanted pregnancies are primarily the result of lack of readily available se.x education and contraceptives.
The lack of readily available se.x education and contraceptives is the primarily the result of religious beliefs.
So then that means that it is religious beliefs that are the primary cause of abortions.
Who knew?
The reality of se-x, contraception and STD/HIV control: – from a guy who enjoys intelligent se-x-
Note: Some words hyphenated to defeat an obvious word filter. ...
The Brutal Effects of Stupidity:
: The failures of the widely used birth "control" methods i.e. the Pill (8.7% actual failure rate) and male con-dom (17.4% actual failure rate) have led to the large rate of abortions and S-TDs in the USA. Men and women must either recognize their responsibilities by using the Pill or co-ndoms properly and/or use safer methods in order to reduce the epidemics of abortion and S-TDs.- Failure rate statistics provided by the Gut-tmacher Inst-itute. Unfortunately they do not give the statistics for doubling up i.e. using a combination of the Pill and a condom.
Added information before making your next move:
from the CDC-2006
"Se-xually transmitted diseases (STDs) remain a major public health challenge in the United States. While substantial progress has been made in preventing, diagnosing, and treating certain S-TDs in recent years, CDC estimates that approximately 19 million new infections occur each year, almost half of them among young people ages 15 to 24.1 In addition to the physical and psy-ch-ological consequences of S-TDs, these diseases also exact a tremendous economic toll. Direct medical costs as-sociated with STDs in the United States are estimated at up to $14.7 billion annually in 2006 dollars."
And from:
Consumer Reports, January, 2012
"Yes, or-al se-x is se-x, and it can boost cancer risk-
Here's a crucial message for teens (and all se-xually active "post-teeners": Or-al se-x carries many of the same risks as va-ginal se-x, including human papilloma virus, or HPV. And HPV may now be overtaking tobacco as the leading cause of or-al cancers in America in people under age 50.
"Adolescents don’t think or-al se-x is something to worry about," said Bonnie Halpern-Felsher professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco. "They view it as a way to have intimacy without having 's-ex.'" (It should be called the Bill Clinton Syndrome !!)
Obviously, political leaders in both parties, Planned Parenthood, parents, the "stupid part of the USA" and the educational system have failed miserably on many fronts.
The most effective forms of contraception, ranked by "Perfect use":
– (Abstinence, 0% failure rate)
– (Masturbation, mono or mutual, 0% failure rate)
Followed by:
One-month injectable and Implant (both at 0.05 percent)
Vasectomy and IUD (Mirena) (both at 0.1 percent)
The Pill, Three-month injectable, and the Patch (all at 0.3 percent)
Tubal sterilization (at 0.5 percent)
IUD (Copper-T) (0.6 percent)
Periodic abstinence (Post-ovulation) (1.0 percent)
Periodic abstinence (Symptothermal) and Male condom (both at 2.0 percent)
Periodic abstinence (Ovulation method) (3.0 percent)
Every other method ranks below these, including Withdrawal (4.0), Female condom (5.0), Diaphragm (6.0), Periodic abstinence (calendar) (9.0), the Sponge (9.0-20.0, depending on whether the woman using it has had a child in the past), Cervical cap (9.0-26.0, with the same caveat as the Sponge), and Spermicides (18.0).
Condoms are available over the counter. Make the Pill (type dependent on doctor’s evaluation) available over the counter and there will be no more debate. Planned Parenthood can offer deep discounts for those who prove they cannot afford said protection.
Or better yet, put a pack of condoms and a box of Pills in cereal boxes. Unfortunately, that would not ensure the condoms and/or Pills would be used. Maybe selling Pill-enriched sodas/coffee/beer ??? Hmmm? 🙂
Condom-fitted briefs for men?? Hmmm? 🙂
The door is open for other ideas!!!
Note: you can buy condoms on-line for 50 cents each or cheaper and in many cases get free shipping.
Condoms and the pill would be devices of the past if Jesus Christ's truth was taught in the schools again. Look how all the negative statistics skyrocketed since 1962-63 when atheists conned their way to remove His teachings from the public school system.
Idiot, the statistics show that the crime rate and the number of abortions have dropped steadily. Too bad your fairy tale is just that.
@HS
Have you proclaimed your authority over a wild beast yet?
From the Guttmacher Inst-itute- August 2011
"In 2008, 1.21 million abortions were performed, down from 1.31 million in 2000. However, between 2005 and 2008, the long-term decline in abortions stalled. From 1973 through 2008, nearly 50 million legal abortions occurred.[2]"
Gee, and guess who was President between 2005 and 2008?
Reality, why don't you do some research on what would have occurred had 50 million more people populated the earth had these abortions not occurred?
You'd rather stick a fork in the brain of an infant as it is being born? This is what the Democrat/Marxist party espouses.
CNN, wow.....if you wonder why your ratings are in the toilet, just read the comments here. Weirdos, sickos of the world unite....and blog on CNN.
9) They use the ignorance to promote their agenda of greed.
It would be nice if there is at least one Republican delegate at the convention who will not be afraid to have Romney address the one practice that might bear negatively on the political process: that of swearing an oath of consecration in the LDS temple. A holy oath given in the holiest of places for a mormon. In other words, how might an elected Mormon POTUS reconcile the two oaths he would have taken: the one which is spiritual and eternal against the one which is temporal.
How can the non-mormon electorate be reassured that the first one won't supercede, and take precedent, over the second one?
Amen brother.
Faith, how it solves unemployment: suckers, just pray a little harder for 2 min. wage jobs.
Faith: education is in the bible, why waste time on science or social studies, history...?
Faith: law is what god told us, and we're god's mouthpieces on earth, so into the slammer with you.
Faith: bible based economic principles have proven true. Did anyone ever hear about unemployment in the bible? Nope.
Faith: wages – see above and bible. Give onto Caesar Mitt what is his due.
Faith: science is fully described in the bible, what else do we need? Computers, what do you mean? God inspired Bill Gates, the rest is biblical history.
Faith: women -we need more of them, 2-3 to a man, we need more faithful Americans in our nurseries.
Faith: old men, always in power! Show me where the bible says otherwise.
Faith: anybody who believes contrary to above points will have a scheduled meeting with the Inquisitory Squad. Mr. Malfoy, take it away...
What to expect on Tuesday at the RNC:
Ann Romney will certify that Mitt is "man born of woman". Therefore, she will say, Mitt is well-suited to represent all the women of America.
Chris Christie will attest that Mitt is indeed Christie-like (in this sense Mormons can be Christian).
Rick Santorum will express his shame at ever having doubted that Mitt is the best man for the job of leading the most powerful country in the world. He will wash Mitt's feet and symbolically lick spittle from Mitt's chin.
Are you sure about that spittle on his chin?
What is the deal with Eddie Munster channeling John Wayne? Creepy!!
You atheists need to get a life and stop using handles closely matching mine. Oh, well, chalk it up to being spiritually dead heads.
GOP Convention Report
Cancellation.
The musical interlude with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and featuring the song and dance duo of John McCain and Dick Cheney performing "Money Makes the World Go Round" from Cabaret, has been cancelled,
Republican Convention Agenda Just Released!
2012 Republican National Convention Schedule –Tampa, FL.
4:00 PM – Opening Prayers and Massages Administered by Rev. Ted Haggard
4:05 PM – Presentation of Confederate Colors
4:10 PM – Pledge of Allegiance to Kolob
4:15 PM – Invocation of Paul Ryan's great bod.
4:30 PM – George W. Bush Speech on Legacy of Peace and Prosperity, Canceled
4:45 PM – Dick Cheney Instructional Seminar on Waterboarding, Canceled
5:00 PM – Karl Rove Speech on Government Accountability, Canceled
5:15 PM – Tribute to the U.S. Const.i.tution, Canceled
5:30 PM – VP Beauty Contest and Swimsuit Compet.i.tion, featuring Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani
5:45 PM – Tribute Film to Mitt Romney’s Houses
6:00 PM – Free Jack Abramoff Pep Rally
6:15 PM – Free Tom DeLay Pep Rally
6:30 PM – Free Ted Stevens Pep Rally
6:45 PM – Invocation of John Paul Ryan's great bod.
7:00 PM – VP Briefing Session: The Busy Mom's Guide to Battling Islamic Terrorism
7:15 PM – Larry Craig "Family Values" Lecture and Toe-Tapping Exhibition
7:30 PM – Restroom Break
7:45 PM – Invitation to "Strip Down and Get Relaxed," delivered by Mark Foley via Instant Message
8:00 PM – Lecture on the Effectiveness of Abstinence-Only Education – Sarah Palin
8:15 PM – Accidental Reference to "Mormons"
8:30 PM – Tribute to a "Nation of Whiners" – Paul Ryan
8:45 PM – Invocation of Paul Ryan's great bod.
9:00 PM – Group Sing–Along: "Bomb Bomb Bomb, Bomb Bomb Iran"
9:15 PM – Mitt Romney Endorsement of Corporate Greed
9:30 PM – Joke Interlude: Paul Ryan Tells the One About the Lawyer and the Catfish
9:45 PM – Rallying Call to "Drill Here, Drill Now," Followed by Unveiling of an Oil Rig on Speaker's Platform
10:00 PM – Halliburton Seminar: Profiting from the Next 100 Years of War in the Middle East
11:00 PM – Mitt Romney Acceptance Speech and Plea to Delegates to "drive more Cadillacs and help Detroit like I did"
11:30 PM – Closing Invocation of Paul Ryan's great bod.
12:00 AM – Rapture and Farewell to Earth as we know it
Outstanding!
*WARNING**WARNING*
GOP CONVENTION
To all delegates and guests. Convention security has received reports that Mitt Romneys arch-enemy, Joe Biden, has obtained a quant*ity of Kobolite from the planet Kobol and plans to plant it at various convention locations. As many of you know that being in the vicinity of Kobolite, about 30 feet, will make magic underwear burst into flames causing severe pain and distress. Kobolite is a dull grey rock that glows blue under artificial light; repot ant sighting to security. For your safety, security recommends that people DO NOT repeat DO NOT wear any magic underwear. We acknowledge that this may lead to excessive groping, fondling and diddling but may contribute to the party atmosphere we hope to achieve.
Children under 18 should not attend any events.
Do you repot a lot of ant? Romney / Ryan 2012
Ronald's drinking the koolaid again. He thinks he lives in a theocracy where his imaginary friend god has control and he forgets that without the republitards the country wouldn't be in such the mess they are (Obama had to do the clean up)...only one solution to put people like this in their rightful place and get religion of government-OBAMA 2012
@RR
Sorry, Ronald, from time to time I slip into the Kolobian language to translate "report any", tanhks fro notziitink.
You mormons and athiests are walking the tight rope that leads to satan's living room, hell. My couch cusion is so soaked with pee that part of me is floating in it. Until you read the Bible, the truth of God given to us as a gift from his son Jesus, you will never be able to live for eternity in paradise.
Amen.
You pervert atheists that keep portraying me as a cheap carnal common cvnt for jesus are all going to roast in the flames and be eaten by the worms and have to service Satan for eternity.
@To fake HS
tommie tom, cough, scotty you are on the warpath spreading your lies about Jesus on these blogs. My leaking anus is stuck to the couch. It is time for you to start your walk with Jesus and read the Bible and learn God's truth.
Amen.
After December 12th, 2012 It's not going to matter which religion you practice.
Kana: Really? What happens then or are you just another stupid conspiracy theorist?
The phony heavensent is a control freak pervert.
So, basically indistinguishable from the real one.
Religion buys votes. If an American running for president could be a Jew, a Christian, a Muslim and a Hindu all at the same time, they would absolutely do that.
On day though, it'll be much easier for a future President to get votes. They'll merely have to be atheist. In No God We Trust!
Money buys votes. After the first term of a Romney/Ryan administration where are you going to find an atheist in America? Romney/ Ryan 2012
Ronald: Where will you find an Atheist? In America!!! What exactly do you think can EVER be done? The constitution can't be changed that easily you idiot!! Time to put down the giant book of fairy tales little boy and pull up your big boy panties and live in the 21st century or go back to the sand box and leave the elections to the adults!!
The question wasn't where can you find an atheist in canada. Mind your own F'n business and keep your qu eer bait opinions off OUR const itution . There's your sign
@Gonzo... smiling. Your subtlety is almost too much for most to recognize. Be a little less subtle so the majority gets it. Good try though.
Captain Ass: NO I will take full advantage of freedom of speech...now get back on your trolley and ride the rail back to your own country ISLAM or sign yourself back in to the asylum and request they double your dose of anti-psychotic drugs.
" There's some nervousness over what Rick Santorum will say in his convention address. " Only from the Republicans. Rational humans can't wait to hear this twit embarrass himself.
We look for Senator Santorum to be a key policy maker in the Romney/ Ryan administration. Get your sinning done by November so you will be able to transition to the new and improved America.
Ronald: Outside of your book sin doesn't exist and given that your book can't be used to make laws, you need to seek medical attention for your delusions. I hear Islam has a place for religitards like you!! You live in a Secular country not a christard country; your imaginary friend does not exist!!
Ronald is a one note troll – just looking for a reaction, and pretty boring, actually.
Ronald is not looking for canadian bull sh it. Mind your own F'n business liar prevails we will look to US and do not need your input. Mr. "midwest" go fck yourself. There's your sign.
Another boring troll.
midwest: CA and Ronald both want your country to be a theocracy. They fail to see the damage that will cause. Your only hope is to vote OBAMA or these losers might stand a chance.
It's really best for all people including children to have an agnostic approach to god, and an atheistic approach to all religion. Teaching kids to be agnostic helps reinforce their understanding of the new real things they can see and learn about in life. It helps them properly separate the known from the unknown without confusing them. They just need to be taught things that are unknown, like god, and things that are made up, like all religion.
Atheists have strong minds, and don't run and hide their misdeeds within their religion (and by doing so, disserving society).
We have only begun to scratch the surface in using the mind to its maximum. Damaging it with made-up junk that politicians and salesmen dreamed up long ago is senseless, and limits the mind's potential. These politicians and charlatans didn't even do a good job of organizing and being consistent with the stuff they dreamt up to try to control people. Daddy used to say they were caught with their pants down when the bible was first translated so that common folk could read it. Very true.
Instead of praying to make-believe people, get a good cup of coffee or tea and go on and sit down and collect your damn thoughts. My goodness.
mama kindless
While sipping that tea say a prayer for the untold millions that atheists have murdered and are murdering around the world.
Atheists are not killing (check out the poor innocent christian girl about to be killed by people who believe). Atheists don't need or want your prayers...we're not weak minded-we know they have no effect!!
Lies be Told didn't make it out of kindergarten!!
ah yes, the party of old, rich, religious, prejudice, straight, white males - or at least that's the only people the republicans help. as you cross any of those things off the list, you become less republican.
Where will you be living after November? Romney/Ryan 2012
Robald: He'll be living in the USA. Your constitution allows for separation of church and state; freedom of and from religion and given that your imaginary friend can't be proven to exist, you will NEVER live in a theocracy. If you want a theocracy I suggest you take your boyfriend CA and his Mommy/Sister HeavenSent and run off to an Islamic country!!
The Republican Party convention will be a waste of money. Why is that?
Why the Christian Right i.e. the Republican Party no longer matters in presidential elections:
Once again, all the conservative votes in the country "ain't" going to help a "pro-life" presidential candidate, i.e Mitt Romney, in 2012 as the "Immoral Majority" rules the country and will be doing so for awhile. The "Immoral Majority" you ask?
The fastest growing USA voting bloc: In 2008, the 70+ million "Roe vs. Wade mothers and fathers" of aborted womb-babies" whose ranks grow by two million per year i.e. 78+ million "IM" voters in 2012.
2008 Presidential popular vote results:
69,456,897 for pro-abortion/choice BO, 59,934,814 for "pro-life" JM.
And the irony:
And all because many women fail to take the Pill once a day or men fail to use a condom even though in most cases these men have them in their pockets. (maybe they should be called the "Stupid Majority"?)
The failures of the widely used birth "control" methods i.e. the Pill and male condom have led to the large rate of abortions ( one million/yr) and S-TDs (19 million/yr) in the USA. Men and women must either recognize their responsibilities by using the Pill or condoms properly and/or use other safer birth control methods in order to reduce the epidemics of abortion and S-TDs.
By M word, you mean Obama and MUSLIM, right?
@Uncle Bernie,
I don't think so 😉
I think it's a word that sounds like a bit like moron. But doubtless you knew that.
Get ready to rumble! The crypto-Muslim is being challenged by the stealth-Mormon.
Uncle Bernie: FAUX news is not a reliable source for information!!! Obama is not muslim nor does it matter...no where within your constitution does it require a president to be a believer of any form.
Please tell me another lie Mr. Romney.
The seniors will need it to commit suicide when their health care dollars run out.
Second Amendment. Honor it and keep it holy.
WORD = GOP Association
Old People = Glob of cells that we don't care about. Let them die.
Sick People = Glob of cells that we don't care about. Let them die.
Poor People = Glob of cells that we don't care about. Let them die.
Female People = Glob of cells that we don't care about. Let them die.
Non-white People = Glob of cells that we don't care about. Let them die.
Non-christian People = Glob of cells that we don't care about. Let them die.
Unemployed People = Glob of cells that we don't care about. Let them die.
Gay People = Glob of cells that we don't care about. Let them die.
Glob of cells in a womb = Something we PRETEND to care about just to get votes.
The machine of capitalism is oiled with the blood of those people. They are important. Never say they aren't.
Prayer changes things.
You know I had a dream about you? I was having monkey sex with a beautiful Cambodian whore in a supermarket when you came on over the announcement system. "Prayer changes things" you said. Do you know what an orgasm is? Do you? Well you ruined a perfectly good one.
@toad
Do you have any experiences with actual people? God bless
Dark lord of the underworld here...
If the hurricane bypasses the RNC it'll be because the republicans have been chosen by god. Chosen to let the poor go homeless and starve, chosen to take control of every womans womb, and chosen to eliminate social security and medicare,
just the way Christ intended. Hallelujiah!
If the hurricane hits the RNC, it'll be because the republicans have been punished by god. They nominated a cultist and a popist and had a Pope-in-waiting deliver the benediction. The did not do enough to destroy the false idols of marriage equality and choice for women in reproduction. The fruits of their sins will be divine retribution the way Yahweh intended. Hallelujiah!