Marco Rubio’s youthful encounter with Mormonism

The chances of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., becoming Mitt Romney’s vice presidential pick for a GOP ticket just got complicated. A stunner from Buzzfeed:

In the compelling personal narrative that has helped propel Florida Senator Marco Rubio to national political stardom, one chapter has gone completely untold: Rubio spent his childhood as a faithful Mormon.

Rubio was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his family at around the age of eight, and remained active in the faith for a number of years during his early youth, family members told BuzzFeed.

Rubio spokesman Alex Conant confirmed the story to BuzzFeed, and said Rubio returned to the Catholic church a few years later with his family, receiving his first communion on Christmas day in 1984 at the age of 13.

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

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76 comments Add your comment

Soapbox

February 23rd, 2012
10:34 pm

And to think if I run for President, someone might bring up the time I stole gum from the gas station when I was 9.

Mother Theresa

February 23rd, 2012
10:43 pm

ronnie,

turn that frown upside down.

Ted

February 23rd, 2012
10:49 pm

Jim, come back when you have something relevant to write about.

Centrist

February 23rd, 2012
11:01 pm

Ted posted “Jim, come back when you have something relevant to write about.”

Ouch. If he were to take your advice, he’d go from 2 of these a day to one a week.

Moon Mullins

February 23rd, 2012
11:10 pm

Rubio is bad news. There’s so much that’s unknown about him, but he’s trouble

Obama will spit Romney out like a sunflower seed. The GOTP doesn’t have an electable candidate.

honested

February 23rd, 2012
11:23 pm

The article never mentions an item of importance.

Despite his dabbling with various superstitions, is there a documented point where mario began to thing and act rationally (rather than react emotionally?).

Auntie Christ

February 23rd, 2012
11:23 pm

Gosh I get such a sad when I think I may have hurt the feelings of a backwater, redneck, ignorant, bible-thumping, holy roller sap like saint milsap. I hope jesus still loves me like he loves ronnie, after all ronnie seems like he really follows the teachings of jesus to the letter.

I also get a sad when I hear little children crying about how Mr Galloway just won’t write about the topics they insist on, and won’t adopt their point of view, but instead continually blogs about what he wants to and expresses viewpoints contrary to theirs. It’s just not fair how Jim Galloway hurts their widdle feelings.

The Truth

February 23rd, 2012
11:39 pm

When I was 8 years old my parents decided where I went to church, I doubt Marco Rubio had much input in deciding where he went to church. Why is this an issue? Because we have an Administration and its partners in the media who must deflect attention from the dismal economy, record foreclosures, $4 gasoline, the approaching takeover of medical services by Obamacare, a deficit and debt which is eating away at the future financial stability of the nation, handouts in the Billions to friends, supporters and cronies pretending to be Energy companies, and a First Lady who
takes vacations at an absolute dizzying pace.

Here’s an assignment for you in the Media……see if you can get your hands on Obama’s college transcripts from the Junior College in Calif where he was Barry Sotero to Columbia where Lord knows who paid his tuition, to Harvard Law School. What is he hiding? Where are those transcripts? WHY HAVE THE MEDIA ELITES NEVER DEMANDED THOSE TRANSCRIPTS? Come on AJC, do your job, are you Journalist or Obama Cheerleaders?????????

Auntie Christ

February 23rd, 2012
11:58 pm

When I was 8 years old my parents decided where I went to church,…

And now, years later, fox news decides what you think. You’ve come a long way baby!

Bernie

February 24th, 2012
12:49 am

LOL! I bet the good ole boys of the Southern Baptist and Christian Conservative Taliban sect is loving this one. rofl! No way, in all that is Holy and pure. Will they ever support and endorse two Mormon influcenced politicians as the head of a supposedly Christian Nation Namely the U.S.A. . Its looking better everyday for President Obama’s re-election as these truths are slowly being uncovered. LOL!
I love it! no wonder Rubio is so out of step with those of the Hispanic and Latino population. He is not one of them, he just looks like one. surely when it comes to the Republican Party, God has shown a real sense of humor. Thank-you, Jesus! :)

Boomer

February 24th, 2012
4:07 am

How does that complicate things? He was 8-13 years old and had no choice in the matter. Ooooh you must be implying that Mitt will hold a grudge against his parents. Nice try sir! Nice try! But I’m not buying what you are selling. Sincerely, Boomer.

good grief !

February 24th, 2012
4:24 am

Nice article, Jim. It shines a light on Rubio’s early childhood joining of a church for a few years. The Mormons worship God, as far as I know. They believe Jesus came to North America…I wasn’t there, so I don’t know. I’m Presbyterian, and as far as I know worshiping God is worshiping God, right?

Buckhead Boy

February 24th, 2012
4:44 am

Its much to do about religion with Republicans until that becomes inconvenient; like its much to do about “family values” until that becomes inconvenient; like its much to do about government corruption until that becomes inconvenient, like its much to do about “government getting between you and your doctor” until that becomes inconvenient … . Conveniently though, campaigning in a church near you soon will be the twice converting, at least twice adulterous, thrice married, reprimanded former Speaker and presently Republican Presidential front-runner in Georgia.

Moon Mullins

February 24th, 2012
7:33 am

@Ronald Milsaps — You’ll quit hearing the voices if you take your meds.

Tom

February 24th, 2012
7:54 am

fyi, pretty sure “Ronald” is a parody

honested

February 24th, 2012
7:54 am

Can we stop worrying about where rethugs go to church and what sort of magic underwear they may prefer?

Instead can we concentrate on how obviously incompetent the whole lot of them is and that we don’t trust them to lead a one car funeral let alone the United States of America?

Attack Dog

February 24th, 2012
7:57 am

If Rubio changed to Southern Baptist, but his family stayed Mormon. Does that mean he is still a Mormon? Dixiecrats have a history of hatred toward Blacks, Jews, Catholics, Mormon, and Methodists, and Muslums. They simply hate those from the Far East because they do not understand their faiths enough to hate them for that reason…Yet!

Wallis the dog

February 24th, 2012
8:14 am

Galloway, you old capon, you consider this is a “stunner?” I’m stunned that you would think so.

jeffbwillis

February 24th, 2012
8:21 am

This is truly an interesting scenario. But Marco Rubio would not be the first who joined the LDS, then exited. At eight years of age, any Christian or Jew would conclude that he had not reached the “age of accountability.” It certainly would complicate his relationship with Mitt Romney. But Mitt Romney has bigger problems. While the Republican “bluebloods” in the East love him, he continues to fail to gain traction with mainstream Republicans. Perhaps it’s because they don’t trust him. After all, he is the candidate of Wall Street and the big banks. His single largest contributor is J.P. Morgan Chase. He is a confirmed globalist and doesn’t see a problem with one of Americas’ greatest woes: outsourcing. This is the single issue that can win the election for either party. Barack Obama has sat on the porch, talked a good game, but done little to prevent jobs from leaving the country. In fact, his rigid environmental objectives are killing more American jobs than Romney’s bank cronies. With both, it a prime example of ” two dogs with different kinds of fleas.” Rubio potentially could become th Republican nominee. The “birthers” are a bunch of “nut cases” who need to read the constitution. Rubio is eligible to be president. Period! But I think that his being Romney’s running mate would be a long shot, with or without “the Morman history.”

barasso

February 24th, 2012
8:24 am

hey galloway, how about some stuff on obamas past? oh, that would be jounalistic sucide, right?

cartoon

February 24th, 2012
8:29 am

retardo-rama

WOW

February 24th, 2012
8:48 am

I have numerous reasons to not support Romney or Rubio, there religion certainly isn’t one of them.

curious

February 24th, 2012
9:01 am

Now that the Birth Certificate issue has died down (not gone away), college transcripts have come up.

What’s next; Sunday School attendance records?

For all of you that see Galloway’s posting as irrelevant, why are you still posting?

liberalefty

February 24th, 2012
10:00 am

wow this means MITT wont have RUBIO as his vp…one mormon on the ticket is enough…lol

Mittiful

February 24th, 2012
10:22 am

Still wondering what makes the opportunist flip flopper like Mitt qualified for President. The man has more positions on both sides you could call him “bi”. He keeps touting his record in MA when most of it was due to having to actually perform those actions because of the state constitution. When he runs against a liberal, he becomes more liberal. When he runs against a conservative, he suddenly becomes more conservative. When questioned about an illegal working for him his response is that he cannot have this happen – NOT because it is illegal and wrong but because he is running for office. As for his economic record, his top economic advisors are all Keynesians. Anyone on the right side who votes for this clown needs to tear up their GOP card as well as their voter ID.

24 February 2012 | MormonVoices

February 24th, 2012
11:14 am