Students who watched Mitt Romney’s Thursday address on religion were both impressed by his statements that LDS leaders wouldn’t influence his decisions as president and disappointed that he didn’t give more details about his faith.
Students, professors and reporters gathered in the Hinckley Institute of Politics early Thursday morning to watch Romney’s “Faith in America” address, expecting a disclosure of his specific spiritual beliefs and how they relate to his politics.
The Republican presidential candidate announced that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no authority over his political decisions, which should be made in the interest of the people, he said.
“Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin,” he said.
Instead of going into further detail about the LDS Church, Romney spent the rest of his speech talking about religious freedom and the similarities among all faiths. The Hinckley Institute audience showed little enthusiasm.
Some felt he should have addressed the specifics of his faith instead of pointing out the similarities.
“It was interesting how he only talked about Christ,” said Chase Clyde, a sophomore in political science who sported a “Hillary ’08” T-shirt to the address. “He didn’t talk about Mormon-specific characters like Joseph Smith.”
Clyde also pointed out that Romney quoted the Bible in his address, but not the Book of Mormon.
Romney mentioned Brigham Young, but only in the historical context of Americans who have stood for religious liberty. He also mentioned Anne Hutchinson, Roger Williams and the founding fathers.
“My church’s beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths,” but the differences are a test of America’s reputation for tolerance, not a basis for criticism, Romney said.
Romney said he admires aspects of all faiths, such as the ceremony of the Catholics, the tradition of the Jews and the dedication to frequent prayers of the Muslims. Romney said he believes every faith he has encountered leads its followers closer to God and that a president will need the prayers of all faiths.
Romney avoided specifying his differences with other religions and his own religious beliefs.
Zachery Fountain, a senior political science major, said Romney’s shyness about his beliefs puts him in a weak position against rival candidate and outspoken Christian Mike Huckabee.
Huckabee, a former Baptist minister, said he is the best candidate to represent the interests of Christians and makes a point of advertising that in his campaign. Huckabee’s ads ran the morning of Romney’s address. Fountain said they were “a direct attack on the speech,” and he didn’t think Romney “really covered it up.”
On the other hand, Fountain thinks that Romney dodged a political bullet by avoiding specific Mormon doctrine, which carries “a negative connotation” in the public sphere, he said.
Pollster Dan Jones said the speech will likely help Romney with evangelicals in early-primary states such as New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Jarad ReddekoppStudents and Salt Lake City residents fill the Caucus Room in OSH on Thursday morning to hear Romney make a statement about the LDS presence in his campaign.