Romney Seeks To Dispel Doubts About His Mormonism

Mitt Romney is appealing to America's tradition of religious tolerance and a "common creed of moral convictions" as he seeks to dispel skepticism about his Mormon faith in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Delivering a much-anticipated speech yesterday at the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station, Texas, the former Massachusetts governor refused to speak for or distance himself from his creed. Echoing the refrain of John F. Kennedy nearly a half century ago, he pledged that "no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions."

"When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God," Mr. Romney said. "If I am fortunate to become your president, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A president must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States."

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Mr. Romney has resisted discussing the particular beliefs of his religion, and this speech was no different. He uttered the word "Mormon" just once during the 20-minute address, and he made no reference to the doctrines and traditions that have driven debate about the religion throughout the campaign, such as its past practice of polygamy or the belief that Jesus Christ will return to rule in Independence, Mo.

The only specific tenet he addressed was his belief that Christ was "the son of God and the savior of mankind." The reference reflected that the targeted audience for his speech was evangelical Christians, whose support has largely shifted in recent weeks to one of Mr. Romney's top rivals, Michael Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and an ordained Baptist minister.

Mr. Romney argued that aside from his belief in Christ, little else about his faith should matter. "There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines," he said. "To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith."

In a line that drew sustained applause, he added: "For if he becomes president he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths."
As a man who once held a leadership role in his church, Mr. Romney made plain that he believes fully in Mormonism and lives by it, and he adamantly rejected pundits who suggested that such a confession would "sink" his candidacy. "If they are right, so be it," he said. "But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience. Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world."

Mr. Romney's speech comes at a crucial time for his campaign. After enjoying a months-long lead in the polls in Iowa, the key first voting state, he is now in a dead heat with Mr. Huckabee less than a month before the caucuses. Some of those surveys have shown his strength sapped by the departure of evangelicals who may be the most reluctant to vote for a Mormon, a religion that some Christian leaders have likened to a cult.

While he had initially resisted the idea of delivering an address solely on his faith, he chose to do so last week and wrote the speech himself, his campaign said. The decision drew immediate comparisons to the famous address given by Kennedy in September 1960, when, as the Democratic nominee seeking to become the first Catholic president, he sought to dispel concerns that the Vatican would influence his decisions in the Oval Office.

Mr. Romney's address earned favorable reviews from some Christian leaders and scholars of Mormonism. "I thought it was a superb speech and one that will resonate with religious people," a senior official in the Southern Baptist Convention, Richard Land, said. He said he had advised Mr. Romney to deliver such an address more than a year ago and said he showed a "deep conviction" that evangelicals will respect.

Mr. Romney's decision to steer clear of discussing specific Mormon tenets also drew praise. "It was not Mormonism 101, but it was a clear statement of what Mormons believe about the Constitution and the place of religious liberty in the American system," a noted scholar and author on Mormonism, Jan Shipps, said.

The broader language in the speech, rather than particulars, also made political sense, the dean of Regent University's Robertson School of Government, Charles Dunn, said. "The more you talk about that, the more you invite disagreement" with evangelical Christians, he said. "You don't need disagreement heading into Iowa."

Mr. Dunn said that if Mr. Romney erred, it was in trying too hard to cast himself as a Christian and to minimize differences with evangelicals who do not view Mormonism as a form of Christianity. "He should not have tried to make out like, 'I am one of you,'" Mr. Dunn said. He also noted that whereas Kennedy delivered his speech before an audience of skeptical Southern Baptist leaders, Mr. Romney spoke to a crowd that largely comprised supporters, who interrupted his speech frequently with applause. "He did not speak before the right audience," Mr. Dunn said.

Even as he urged Americans to consider his candidacy regardless of religion, Mr. Romney made a fervent plea to keep faith in the public square, a tradition that he said was firmly rooted in the nation's history. He denounced people who he said were intent on establishing a state "religion of secularism."

"We should acknowledge the Creator as did the founders — in ceremony and in word," he said. He voiced support for keeping references to God on American currency and in the Pledge of Allegiance, and for allowing both "nativity scenes and menorahs" in public places during the holiday season.

"I will take care to separate the affairs of government from any religion," Mr. Romney said, "but I will not separate us from the God who gave us liberty."

That segment elicited a harsh rebuke from Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, which has long opposed public displays of religion.

"I was disappointed in Romney's statement," the group's executive director, the Reverend Barry Lynn, said. "The founders of our Constitution meant for religion and government to be completely separate. Romney is wrong when he says we are in danger of taking separation too far or at risk of establishing a religion of secularism."

Mr. Romney was introduced yesterday morning by President George H.W. Bush, who said he had a "long history" with the Romney family but was not endorsing any Republican candidate.

Mr. Romney used the speech to praise aspects of several faiths practiced in America, singling out evangelicals, Catholics, Pentecostals, and Lutherans. He cited the "ancient traditions of the Jews" and applauded the "commitment to frequent prayer" of Muslims.

"It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions," he said.

He also contrasted the American religious tradition with that of many European countries, noting that even though those nations are filled with beautiful cathedrals, many of them now stand empty.

Mr. Romney interlaced his speech with references to the Bible and to American history. He said religious liberty had not come easy, citing persecution of the Puritans, the Baptists, and of a leader of Mormonism, Brigham Young, in early America.

The former governor was animated throughout the speech and appeared to become emotional at the end, when he spoke of how colonial troops came together to pray despite their different religions.

"And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God, they founded this great nation," he said, drawing a standing ovation.