Romney’s religion considered a factor in presidential race

Speaking at an event last October, a Baptist pastor who endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry urged… Speaking at an event last October, a Baptist pastor who endorsed Texas Gov. Rick Perry urged Republicans not to vote for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, saying that as a Mormon, Romney was not a Christian but a member of a “cult.” Perry later publicly disagreed with the pastor’s statement.

But according to a November poll by the Pew Forum, a project of the Pew Research Center, the pastor is not alone. The poll found that Romney’s membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints may affect his chances in the upcoming primaries. However, should he secure the Republican nomination, Romney’s religious affiliation would probably not affect his chances in the presidential election.

Susan Hansen, a Pitt political science professor who teaches how religion and politics interact, agreed that voters’ religious beliefs would play an important role in the approaching primaries. She said that while primaries typically have a low voter turnout, religious voters could significantly influence the outcomes of the elections.

“I think you have to pay attention to who’s going to be voting,” said Hansen, indicating the influence that Christian conservative organizations hold in Iowa. She cited “a very large anti-gay marriage group” as an example of such an organization.

Before Tuesday’s Iowa caucuses, many commentators speculated that Romney’s faith would be a significant factor for Republican voters in the state, where Evangelical Protestants comprise a large power base within the GOP — the group made up 60 percent of the party’s turnout during the 2008 caucuses, according to a recent article in the San Francisco Chronicle. This proved not to cost him the race; Romney won the most votes, edging out former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum by only eight votes.

Jim Roddey, 78, chairman of the Republican Committee of Allegheny County and trustee emeritus of Pitt, said he has heard only a few instances where Republicans have expressed misgivings about Romney’s religious affiliation.

“There have been a couple comments about it,” Roddey said. “A few people have said, ‘I won’t vote for Romney because he’s a Mormon.’”

But Roddey, who said he does not consider a candidate’s religious views when voting and has voted for Catholic, Jewish, Mormon and mainline Protestant candidates, has not seen many voters in Western Pennsylvania reject Romney as a candidate because of religion. He added that the issue might carry more weight in the middle of Pennsylvania, where voters tend to be very conservative.

The Pew Forum poll also determined that one-third of all American voters believe that Mormons, or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are a sect distinct from Christianity. Among Evangelical Protestants, a key power base within the Republican Party, that figure rises to a little more than half.

Brennen Murray, 47, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, called the view that Mormons are non-Christians a “misunderstanding.”

“The Church’s name itself is the Church of Jesus Christ, and when we pray, we end our prayers, ‘in the name of Jesus Christ,’” he said.

Murray is the president of the 4,200-member Pittsburgh stake of the Church. Members of the Church belong to wards, each headed by a bishop, which correspond to what other denominations call a “parish.”

A collection of wards forms a stake — roughly analogous to a diocese — which is headed by a president. Presidents and all other members of the Mormon priesthood are lay ministers and serve on a voluntary basis. Murray’s stake is one of two that include parts of the greater Pittsburgh area.

Murray pointed out that visitors to Mormon churches from other Christian denominations see no difference between their own beliefs and the beliefs which Mormons hold.

While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not take positions on political issues, the Church encourages all members to vote according to their consciences, Murray said.

Discussing the role religion plays in American politics, Roddey pointed out that religion is generally a larger issue for Republican than for Democratic voters. Roddey questioned the sincerity of some of the candidates’ displays of faith.

“Some of [the candidates] do it as a protective mechanism,” Roddey said. “They make that point so they can appeal to the right wing of the party.”

Hansen also said that religion matters more to Republican voters than to Democrats. She also agreed with the prediction of the Pew Forum poll that whether individual Republicans consider Romney a Christian or not, if he does win the Republican presidential nomination, Republicans would overwhelmingly support him.

When Vice President Joe Biden spoke at Pitt in November, he said it was “outrageous” that people would cite Romney’s religion as a reason to not vote for him.

“I find it preposterous that in 2011, we’re debating whether or not a man is qualified or worthy of your vote based on his religion,” Biden said.