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Romney Improves His Standing With Powerful 'Religion Speech'

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 7, 2007

Almost perfect in tone and delivery, Mitt Romney's long-awaited "religion speech" should reassure people of faith and students of American history that he has no intention of pushing the tenets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on the nation.

He surely improved his chances with undecided Iowa voters who will caucus in less than a month and with Republicans across the country.

But even those who don't care for his politics should be impressed with the direct and thoughtful way Romney addressed the role of faith in public life.

Romney made it clear that religion is important to him, as it is to most Americans, but that it should not be used to divide people or determine national policy.

"I do not define my candidacy by my religion," Romney said. "A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith."

Romney wisely avoided discussing particular Mormon traditions that some find troubling, even odd. Rather, he focused on values shared by people of faith in America. He said if elected president his decisions will not be dictated by the doctrines of his church.

"Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin."

And, "I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law."

He did not try to make the case that the Mormon Church is Christian but declared forthrightly a belief in Jesus Christ as the savior of mankind.

The speech surely held little appeal for atheists and agnostics or those who would keep any mention of religion out of the public square.

Unlike John Kennedy, who in his own religion speech during the 1960 presidential campaign said he believed in an America "where the separation of church and state is absolute," Romney said he "would not separate us from our religious heritage."

He talked about the American religious experience in an historic context, showing that his personal experience is not at odds with tradition. Like most of us, he finds genius in a secular government informed by the beliefs of all voters.

In shared values, he said, we, as Americans, find our strength.

Romney has frequently been accused of bobbing and weaving, changing his mind or flip-flopping, but he did not equivocate here. He delivered the speech with feeling, something we'd like to see more often from him.

While he may not have won over those who disavow any religion, he spoke to those who want a president who believes in a higher power. And he gave no reason for anyone to think his religion would keep him from leading the nation well.

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