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Brad Pitt's mom endorses Mitt Romney, slams Obama

Brad Pitt's mom says Christians should vote for Mitt Romney. Why are some Christians struggling to support a Mormon?

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(AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
Actor Brad Pitt smiles as he arrives for the screening of Killing Them Softly at the 65th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, in May. Brad Pitt's mom, Jane, recently endorsed Mitt Romney.

Actor Brad Pitt and his mom don't see eye to eye on politics.

Jane Pitt came out in support of Mitt Romney in a letter to the editor of the Springfield (Missouri) News-Leader on Tuesday.

As a celebrity endorsement, Brad Pitt's mom isn't exactly A-list. Romney's already seen celebrity endorsements from country singer Trace Adkins, comedian Jeff Foxworthy, actor Kid Rock, and Donald Trump.

But Jane Pitt's endorsement does point to another issue percolating among Christian conservatives: Will they vote for a Mormon?

"I think any Christian should spend much time in prayer before refusing to vote for a family man with high morals, business experience, who is against abortion, and shares Christian conviction concerning homosexuality just because he is a Mormon. 

Any Christian who does not vote or writes in a name is casting a vote for Romney’s opponent, Barack Hussein Obama — a man who sat in Jeremiah Wright’s church for years, did not hold a public ceremony to mark the National Day of Prayer, and is a liberal who supports the killing of unborn babies and same-sex marriage," wrote Jane Pitt in the Springfield News-Leader.

"I hope all Christians give their vote prayerful consideration because voting is a sacred privilege and a serious responsibility."

Brad Pitt's mom is responding to another opinion piece in the Springfield News Leader that argues that "the conscience of many Christians will not allow them to vote for a Mormon," by Richard Stoecker, a resident of Sparta, Mo. Mr. Stoecker says Mormon theology denigrates women and supports polytheism.

"Whether Christians opposed to Romney are denounced as bigots or not, I hope that in America their freedom to follow their conscience can still be respected. And I hope that wealthy and powerful GOP leaders who feel Romney will guarantee their victory will come to see that he likely will guarantee defeat," wrote Stoecker.

Brad Pitt has voiced his support for gay marriage, and appeared in play with George Clooney in Los Angeles in March. The play "8," is a stage reading about California's Proposition 8, a ballot initiative that bans gay marriage.

Brad Pitt grew up in Springfield, Mo., where his mom and brother, Doug, still live.

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