Associated Press
San Diego – The death of Mormon church President Gordon B. Hinckley renews attention on Mitt Romney’s little-known religion – yet rather than being reluctant to discuss it, he’s making a public embrace that shows some shifting political attitudes.
Two months ago, questions about Mormonism had grown so distracting that Romney went to the George Bush Presidential Library in Texas to outline his views about politics and religion in U.S. history and today’s society. Even then, he uttered the word “Mormon” only once during his speech.
Two months later, with some state wins behind him – and evangelicals less of a force in more populous states – the former Massachusetts governor has focused on the country’s ailing economy and his business background, which he argues makes him the most qualified to occupy the White House.
The death of Hinckley, and Romney’s decision to attend his funeral on Saturday, underscores his connection to and stature within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at a pivotal time for him: He is reaching out to conservatives for their support after a series of high-profile wins and endorsements have boosted rival John McCain’s campaign.
The difference now is that Romney approaches both his ongoing campaign and the funeral rites with less tension over his religion. Contests in Iowa and South Carolina, which both have significant evangelical voting blocs, are behind him.
The change was evident in the first public comments Romney made after learning of Hinckley’s death on Sunday at age 97.
On Monday in Florida, little more than an hour after Romney was told Hinckley had died, he expressed his admiration for his religion’s equivalent of the Pope. Romney also smiled at their personal interactions, and used his position as a prominent church member to pay tribute to the leader of his faith.
“We will miss him as a family, respect him as a man of great character and courage,” he said.
Then, Romney went deeper.
The candidate reflected on Hinckley’s efforts to expand church membership to about 13 million, to cultivate ties with mainstream reporters such as Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes” and to bridge any gulf with government leaders.
Such acts, Romney said, “distinguish him as one of the great leaders in our faith, and his effort to reach out across the world and to faraway lands and to build temples for our church is something which will also give him a legacy which will last many, many years indeed, and we will miss his leadership.”
It was a personal moment, one of only a few seen so far from a candidate who favors a tightly controlled campaign operation, and who, while attending church most Sundays, always does so out of sight of his accompanying media entourage.
It also reflected the changing dynamic of the GOP campaign.
According to exit and entrance polls for The Associated Press and television networks, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s initial win in the Iowa caucuses was fueled by the 60 percent of GOP voters who called themselves born-again or evangelical Christians.
Many of them have been taught that Mormonism is a “cult” and not a Christian faith. They flocked to Huckabee, once a Southern Baptist minister.
Yet their dominance has dissipated.
In subsequent contests in New Hampshire, where Romney again finished second, and Michigan, where he won, the number of evangelical voters was far fewer, and Huckabee shared their support with his opponents. And while Huckabee did about as well in South Carolina as he’d done in Iowa with evangelicals, it wasn’t enough to overcome Huckabee’s weak performance with other voters.
Romney and his closest competitor for the nomination, Arizona Sen. John McCain, have both done better among non-evangelical voters than with evangelicals, and with those saying it is not important they share religious beliefs with their candidate than with those who say that is important.
Still, there are concerns about a Mormon president among some Republicans.
An AP-Yahoo News poll shows that Romney has had very little success gaining the support of Republicans who have long-standing reservations about the idea of voting for a Mormon candidate. That group of Republicans represents half the party, and Romney trails McCain and Huckabee by 20 points each with those voters. Romney has made some gains with the other half of the party who felt more comfortable with the idea of voting for a Mormon, and now leads McCain among them.
That is not to say Mormons have not been an active force behind Romney’s campaign.
Numerous church members are volunteering on his staff, busloads traveled from southern California and Utah to Nevada before the latter state’s caucuses, and their impact is expected to be especially important in the 21 GOP contests on Tuesday, when large Mormon populations go to vote in Arizona, California and Utah – all among the current top targets for Romney’s campaign.
Their strength in the West was evident in Romney’s Nevada win: He got 95 percent of the votes of Mormons, in a contest where they comprised 25 percent of the overall turnout.
Romney’s attendance at Hinckley’s service will give further exposure to their shared faith, but many of those who tune in may be surprised by how similar things look to funeral rites they’ve witnessed in their own faith.
The service will be held not in a ward house, but at the church’s Conference Center in Salt Lake City. The venue was chosen for its ability to handle a crowd expected to number 21,000, just as St. Peter’s Square would accommodate the overflow crowd for a papal service.
Hinckley will be buried in traditional all-white Mormon funeral clothes, but the rest of the service will be conducted by officials dressed in the same business suits seen on Easter or Christmas in Christian houses of worship.
And there will be eulogy-like tributes from family members and friends, as well as singing.
The music will be performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir – the church symbol that to date has been the most recognized and embraced by outsiders.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted February 1, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Mormons are people too…my brother-in-law is a Mormon (not my sister)and he is just as human as the Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodists etc. He just has different beliefs. Thus Romney is just a person too, with beliefs. Should that make any difference as to electing him or not? No. Do I agree with the Mormon faith or think it is a cult? No, but then I don’t agree with a lot of religion.
All this article says is: Romney is running for the White House and happens to be a Mormon. Should that make a difference as to his ability to run the country? No.
posted February 1, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I agree. It should not bother anyone that he’s not a Christian.
posted February 2, 2008 at 12:44 am
As with Huckabee, I have no intention of voting for former Gov Romney. As with Huckabee, it has nothing to do with Romney’s religion and everything to do with their stance on a number of issues from undocumented workers, to marriage, to the Endless War in Iraq…and, on and on.
Peace!
posted February 2, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I don’t intend to vote for Romney either, and has nothing to do with his religion. However Huckabee…first I just don’t like him, and he is tooooo religious for me…and I think it could interfer with decisions as president. However, I don’t think he has a chance anyhow.
posted February 2, 2008 at 3:25 pm
I’ve heard that McCain might choose Huck for VP, which would continue a long string of Republicans choosing very bad VP’s; impeachment insurance, I suspect.
posted February 3, 2008 at 11:09 am
Anyone notice how many “Mormon.org” radio and TV advertisements there have been since Romney began his race? It seems like they are everywhere. I predict that, if he is has to drop out, they will disappear overnight.
posted February 3, 2008 at 11:25 am
There have always been Mormon.org radio ads. I think people just notice them more.
posted February 3, 2008 at 6:30 pm
If indeed McCain ends up as candidate AND wins the big office, I think I could live with that…BUT if he indeed takes Huck as VP…really scary!
posted February 3, 2008 at 7:43 pm
I HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH MANY PEOPLE, I’M AFRAID. I AM A CHRISTIAN,,,PENTECOSTAL,,AND I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT THE MORMON PEOPLE HAVE JUST BEEN DECEIVED. THEY ARE GOOD, MORAL, UPSTANDING PEOPLE, BUT THEIR DOCTRINE IS WRONG, AND WHEN THEY STATE THAT WHEN WE DIE WE WILL RULE OVER KINDOMS AS gods & godesses I HAVE TO SAY SOMETHING!
CHRISTIANITY STATES WHEN WE CONFESS JESUS CHRIST AS THE ONE & ONLY SAVIOR AND ARE REPENTED OF OUR SINS, BAPITZED IN HIS NAME, AND FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, WE ARE SAVED! OUR COUNTRY WAS BROUGHT UP ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF THE ONLY WORD OF GOD, THE HOLY BIBLE! NOT ANOTHER BOOK OR GOD!
PLEASE, PEOPLE OF AMERICA, WAKE-UP AND SEE THAT MORMONS DO NOT NEED TO BE IN THE WHITE HOUSE RULING OUR COUNTRY. THEY ARE A CULT! BE CAREFUL WHOM YOU VOTE FOR~PLEASEEEE!! GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!
posted February 3, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Crystal:
This country wasn’t founded on Christianity, or brought up on Christian doctrine. Our founders made sure that Christianity or any other religion would NOT run the country. Separation of church and state is a staple of this country…and our freedom to believe or not believe as we see fit. This country is a country of Christians, Jews, Hindu’s, Pagans, Atheists, Buddhists, Muslims and many more of different faiths. Many faiths have Holy Books, and all are true to the believers. The Bible isn’t the only Holy Book…it is one of many.
The truth of the different faiths are in the beliefs of their members. Your think your way of thinking is the only way, but other folks think their’s is the only way. THERE IS NO ONE TRUE RELIGION! Not yours or anyone elses.
As to the Mormons, and your thinking they are a cult. The same can be said of many religions, even yours.
This is a multi-faith country. It is richer for it. All religions are due respect, which doesn’t require you to agree with it.
posted February 3, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Crystal, there are a lot more important reasons to vote for or against a person than their religion or lack thereof.
posted February 4, 2008 at 9:47 am
If the Morman’s can run casino’s in Las Vagus they certainly can run this country. Nixon was a Quaker and we elected him. Kennedy was a Catholic and we elected him by popular vote, a major controversy at the time for protestants in this country who thought they ruled the world. We have running for president a Morman or a Jew or a Woman or a person of Afro-Native-American heritage with a ?Muslim name who turned Christian. Oey Vey! What is this country coming to. Do we want diversity in this country?
Should we stick to the right winged main stream Anglo Saxin what ever that is. Aren’t we all mixed in this country except for the new imagrants with pure blood coming in. Some people don’t want pure blood coming in. They think it might mix with their mixed up blood. Hmmm! Do you think our blood will change or will it still remain as A, O, AB or B, positive or negative? The puritans are no longer pure. Can we accept new blood, new visions and new ideas and new faces in the political arena? I want mamma and Obamma. We need a matriarchal voice and a voice of diversity and the republican party cannot be trusted in this country at the present time. Thank you very much for reading the post.
posted February 4, 2008 at 10:46 am
Crystal-
I want to echo what has already been said….the USA is a country with citizens of many (and, no) religious affilitations. We are not all Christians.
This is not an election for president of our denominiation, presbytery, nor, an election for our minister, priest, or coven leader.
All that said…..I have no intentions of voting for Romney…nor, Huckabee. Not because of their religion….but rather because of their stances on: equality, individual rights, economics, security of our country, and on and on.
Peace!
posted February 4, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Thomas Jefferson on Christianity:
“Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man.”
“History I believe furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance, of which their political as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purpose. ” – Thomas Jefferson to Baron von Humboldt, 1813
“I have examined all the known superstitions of the world, and I do not find in our particular superstition of Christianity one redeeming feature. They are all alike founded on fables and mythology. Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned. What has been the effect of this coercion? To make one half the world fools and the other half hypocrites; to support roguery and error all over the earth.” –Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782.
“Christianity…(has become) the most perverted system that ever shone on man. …Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and importers led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus.”
“The Christian god can easily be pictured as virtually the same god as the many ancient gods of past civilizations. The Christian god is a three headed monster; cruel, vengeful and capricious. If one wishes to know more of this raging, three headed beast-like god, one only needs to look at the caliber of people who say they serve him. They are always of two classes: fools and hypocrites.”
“The clergy converted the simple teachings of Jesus into an engine for enslaving mankind and adulterated by artificial constructions into a contrivance to filch wealth and power to themselves…these clergy, in fact, constitute the real Anti-Christ.”
“And the day will come when the mystical generation of Jesus, by the supreme being as his father in the womb of a virgin will be classed with the fable of the generation of Minerva in the brain of Jupiter. But may we hope that the dawn of reason and freedom of thought in these United States will do away with this artificial scaffolding, and restore to us the primitive and genuine doctrines of this most venerated reformer of human errors.” –Thomas Jefferson, Letter to John Adams, April 11, 1823
“Religions are all alike – founded upon fables and mythologies.”
“I do not find in orthodox Christianity one redeeming feature.”
“It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are 20 gods, or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg.”
posted February 4, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Jay:
Thanks for the quotes. Proves many points about the Founding Fathers.
Very wise men.
posted February 4, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Yes, wise man that TJ.