Dec 6, 2007 7:14 pm US/Eastern
Romney Speech: No Need To Explain Mormonism
Had Hoped To Allay Fears Of Evangelical Christians
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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Romney delivered his speech at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Texas.
CBS
Mitt Romney is trying to become the nation's first Mormon president.
But in a country where few people understand the religion, his attempt to dispel peoples' fears and win over conservative Republicans left more questions than answers.
Mike Huckabee's has made a meteoric rise in the Iowa polls -- largely because of his appeal to evangelical Christians.
"Faith doesn't just influence me, it defines me," Huckabee said recently.
Statements like that were clearly on Romney's mind Thursday as he gave a speech on faith at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Texas. His goal was to dispel suspicions about his Mormon beliefs.
"What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus is the son of god and the savior of mankind," Romney said.
But while Romney argued that he shares moral convictions with Americans, he said said he should not have to explain his own religion.
That, says Randall Balmer, professor of religion at Barnard, left evangelical Christians with unanswered questions and concerns.
"I think some of the beliefs and practices that many evangelicals would be a little bit wary about would be the notion that the coming kingdom of God would be anchored in Jackson County, Mo.," Balmer said.
Balmer says Mormons believe:
* The Garden of Eden is in Missouri.
* In baptizing the dead so they can become Mormons in the afterlife.
* That God has a physical body and that human beings can become like God.
"All of those things would be viewed with some suspicion by many evangelicals," Balmer said.
CBS 2 HD posed the question to everyday New Yorkers: Would you vote for a Mormon in a presidential race?
Miles Lott of Manhattan: "No."
Eva Nowogorski of Queens: "I'm not sure."
Dennis Clemente of Brooklyn: "Yes, sure. Why not?"
Dana Isaacson of Manhattan: "I can't think of any Mormon running for president that I would vote for right now."
Romney won't find out whether his strategy worked until the primaries start next.
After the speech, the head of the Committee on Church and Society for the Evangelical Church Alliance, pointed out that the Constitution strictly forbids a religious test for office
The Rev. Bob Shenck called Romney's speech "courageous."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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