A discussion has arisen between the two of us about the appropriateness of this blog covering the kind of down and dirty political attacks represented by the recent South Carolina thing.  We are not, nor do we ever want to be, a Romney campaign blog.  It is true and admitted that Lowell is supportive of the Commonwealth PAC, and John is leaning in Romney's direction, but uncommitted; our effort in this blog is to examine the religion issue, as it springs from that campaign, but in broader scope when appropriate and as impartially as possible.  We run a risk, when we tackle stories like that one, of seeming more partisan than we want to be.

Nonetheless, after some discussion, we will continue to cover such things - here's why:

1. Such attacks may raise religious questions but they are not really religion/politics issues - they are pure politics.  We need to be able to distinguish between genuine religious issues, and faux religious issues so that we can go where we want to with this blog.
2. We started this blog, in large part, to help religion find its proper place in politics and more, to prevent the great beast that is politics from swallowing religion whole.  In attacks like this the politician makes religion the instrument of politics, and does so regardless of the actual stance of religion.  This could perhaps irrevocably harm religion in America.  The establishment clause and Article VI protect religion from corruption as much as they create freedom in this country.
3. As demeaning as Evangelical prejudice towards Mormons may be to Mormons, such political attacks, miscredited to Evangelicals, are demeaning to Evangelicals.  In these cases the sword cuts both ways.

We will endeavor, as always, to be factual, not partisan, in covering these events.  We will leave the partisan stuff to the numerous "XXX for Romney" blogs out there, but we will continue to sort the wheat and chaff when it comes to legitimate and illegitimate religious questions.

–John and Lowell

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