March 2, 2015

Excommunicate Politicians?


Politicians and the mainstream media might do well to pay more attention to what is going on in Utah; and maybe work themselves into action to stop it.

Ominous news reports reveal that Mormon (Latter-day Saints) officials have kicked another high-profile member, John Dehlin, out of the religion.

An Associated Press story states that a regional church leader wrote Dehlin that a unanimous decision had been made to excommunicate him for apostasy.

The story states that the church defines apostasy as “repeatedly acting in a clear public opposition to the faith.”

That phrase alone ought to send chills up and down whatever proverbial spines congresspersons might own, given their clear opposition to the wishes of the majority of voters, except very near election time.

What’s more, politicians and other leaders should be aware that if the church is successful in kicking Dehlin out, a precedent could be set. The “ousting” movement could spread to other cultures. They ought to remember also that, last June, Kate Kelly, founder of a group pushing for women to be allowed in the religion’s lay clergy, was ousted.

Thus far, that ruling stands.

Dehlin’s primary offense, it seems, is making statements opposing the faith that were “disseminated on his website.” However, the letter reportedly advises Dehlin he was not being kicked out because he doubted and asked questions about church doctrine. Another church spokesman is quoted in the article as saying that while Dehlin’s views on gay marriage go against church teachings, they were not the reasons for his “discipline.”

If such ousting acts by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are allowed to remain unchecked, think of the possible consequences.

Coming immediately to mind is what might happen within the modern Republican Party.

It is easily imaginable how conservatives, Tea Partiers especially, could mount a campaign to toss out members of the more liberal, often called moderates, wing of the party.

Ousters could make the case that politicians like House Majority Leader John Boehner (sometimes dubbed John the Baptist) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (the Beav) have consistently and covertly, yea, sometimes openly and publicly, supported doctrines in direct opposition to the stated principles of the Republican Party.

Therefore, the reasoning could be, Boehner, McConnell and their likes should be ex-communicated from the party.

Conversely, the Republican Party establishment might turn the proverbial other cheek and lash out viciously pursuing an anti-conservative campaign that argues that non-moderates within the party, in particular rabid conservatives, are extremists, that they are people on the fringes.

To paraphrase some supporters of John Dehlin, they would be saying: “We don’t want you in the party.”

As for the other major party, an effort to kick out members of the conservative wing of the Democratic Party is likely to meet with success, if for no other reason than that there are so few of them. Dominant liberal/progressive Democrats, with strong support from President Obama, could probably easily kick a few weak conservative Democrats out of the party, if not out of the country.

A factor in the ouster argument is that such a purge of fringes from the Democratic Party could persuade members of the so-called “moderate” wing of the Republican Party to switch to the Democratic Party, where they might feel more comfortable, notably ones such as Boehner, McConnell, and Sens. Lindsay Graham (S.C.) and John McCain (Ariz).

The movement could actually result in a net gain for congressional Democrats. Not only that, it would probably bring into the official Democratic camp most Republican leaders from Massachusetts, New Jersey and other northeast states, not to mention Puerto Rico.

At the same time, the loss of such notables would enable Republicans to strengthen its conservative positioning.

Ergo, the goal of giving voters a real choice would be achieved.

Perhaps the two parties could even change their names, effecting, not a reform within the parties, but a death of the old parties and the birth of new parties, one solidly progressive/liberal, the other solidly conservative.

A third party wouldn’t be needed, because voters would have a clear choice, one they could make with as much sureness as could be had that what they voted for would be what they would get.


L.E. Brown, Jr. is a columnist based in Magnolia, N.C. Email him at [email protected].

Who We Are

The Patriot Post is a highly acclaimed weekday digest of news analysis, policy and opinion written from the heartland — as opposed to the MSM’s ubiquitous Beltway echo chambers — for grassroots leaders nationwide. More

What We Offer

On the Web

We provide solid conservative perspective on the most important issues, including analysis, opinion columns, headline summaries, memes, cartoons and much more.

Via Email

Choose our full-length Digest or our quick-reading Snapshot for a summary of important news. We also offer Cartoons & Memes on Monday and Alexander’s column on Wednesday.

Our Mission

The Patriot Post is steadfast in our mission to extend the endowment of Liberty to the next generation by advocating for individual rights and responsibilities, supporting the restoration of constitutional limits on government and the judiciary, and promoting free enterprise, national defense and traditional American values. We are a rock-solid conservative touchstone for the expanding ranks of grassroots Americans Patriots from all walks of life. Our mission and operation budgets are not financed by any political or special interest groups, and to protect our editorial integrity, we accept no advertising. We are sustained solely by you. Please support The Patriot Fund today!


The Patriot Post and Patriot Foundation Trust, in keeping with our Military Mission of Service to our uniformed service members and veterans, are proud to support and promote the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, both the Honoring the Sacrifice and Warrior Freedom Service Dogs aiding wounded veterans, the National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program, the Folds of Honor outreach, and Officer Christian Fellowship, the Air University Foundation, and Naval War College Foundation, and the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. "Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)

★ PUBLIUS ★

“Our cause is noble; it is the cause of mankind!” —George Washington

Please join us in prayer for our nation — that righteous leaders would rise and prevail and we would be united as Americans. Pray also for the protection of our Military Patriots, Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please lift up your Patriot team and our mission to support and defend our Republic's Founding Principle of Liberty, that the fires of freedom would be ignited in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.

The Patriot Post is protected speech, as enumerated in the First Amendment and enforced by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, in accordance with the endowed and unalienable Rights of All Mankind.

Copyright © 2024 The Patriot Post. All Rights Reserved.

The Patriot Post does not support Internet Explorer. We recommend installing the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome.