From the Archives…

Well, sort of. Check this out:

Republican presidential candidate and Baptist preacher Mike Huckabee declined Thursday to describe his views on women in the ministry as he continues to keep quiet about his beliefs even while praising a rival for explaining his faith.

Huckabee said that he hadn't seen Mitt Romney's speech Thursday morning in which the former Massachusetts governor explained how his Mormon religion would shape his presidency, but he praised Romney for doing it.

''I think it's a good thing and healthy for all of us for people to discuss faith in the public square,'' Huckabee, a former governor of Arkansas, said outside a private fundraiser in Greensboro. ''I have nothing but respect for his coming forth and sharing what he did. I've been very clear about my own personal views. I think all of us who seek the office of president should be candid with the American people.''

But asked later whether he personally believes women should serve in a church's pastoral leadership _ an oft-discussed issue among Southern Baptist congregations _ Huckabee kept his views quiet, saying it shouldn't be a campaign trail issue.

''It's so irrelevant to being president that I wouldn't even get into that,'' Huckabee said before meeting with about 350 supporters. ''Churches have different views on that and my personal views are completely immaterial as it would relate to being president.''

For the same reason, Huckabee has also repeatedly declined to overtly discuss his views on the creation of the earth.

Under fire, Governor Huckabee has said the very same thing about theology that we have: It matters in a presidential race only insofar as it would affect one's policies.

On the other hand, he's invited these questions by running an overtly sectarian campaign.