Mitt Romney’s $10,000 bet challenge to Texas Gov. Rick Perry not only has fallen flat as a debate tactic but also apparently is against his Mormon faith. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a long history of opposing gambling,
The Washington Post’s blog On Faith reported.
The former Massachusetts governor leveled the challenge during the Republican presidential debate Saturday. Romney was using the bet to challenge Perry to prove assertions that Perry was making about the content of Romney’s book, “No Apology.”
The website, LDS.org notes that the “Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is opposed to gambling, including lotteries sponsored by governments. Church leaders have encouraged Church members to join with others in opposing the legalization and government sponsorship of any form of gambling.”
There is no state lottery in Utah, and the church long has lobbied to keep other forms of gambling out. The church’s opposition to gambling dates back to Brigham Young, who urged Mormon women in 1845 not to raffle off quilts, the Post reported.
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