Romney's Faith Splits Religious Conservatives

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: WASHINGTON: Mitt Romney's Mormon faith, an issue that has largely stayed below the surface of the presidential race, erupted into the open again at a gathering of religious conservatives, reviving questions about whether some in the evangelical community could accept him as the Republican nominee.

Mr Romney spoke to the conference on Saturday, a day after a Texas pastor and supporter of the Texas Governor, Rick Perry, at the event labelled Mormonism "a cult" and said Mr Romney was not a Christian.

Mr Perry's campaign quickly distanced itself from Robert Jeffress's remarks. "The Governor does not believe Mormonism is a cult," the campaign spokesman, Mark Miner, said.

Mr Jeffress introduced Mr Perry at the Values Voter Summit, but made his controversial statements to reporters after Mr Perry's speech, calling his own view "mainstream" among evangelicals.

"I believe that Governor Romney is a good, moral, family person," Mr Jeffress said. "But he's not a born-again follower of Christ."

Mr Romney did not address Mr Jeffress's comments directly on Saturday but made a plea for tolerance. "Poisonous language doesn't advance our cause," he said. "It's never softened a single heart nor changed a single mind." » | James Oliphant, Michael Memoli | McClatchey Newspapers | Monday, October 10, 2011