Presidential candidate defends his Mormon faith

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • December 7, 2007 - 10:50

Some claim the Mormon faith is too far removed from the fundamentals they say the US is built upon.

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Mormon Presidential candidate and one time gay rights supporter Mitt Romney took his thoughts on religion public on Thursday morning when the Republican hopeful delivered a controversial speech on faith in America.

Intended to address those who have questioned the Mormon faith's place in leading this country, the speech stressed that religious liberty "is fundamental to America's greatness," though Romney has long argued the fact that he is Mormon should have no bearing on his ability to be elected.

"There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders," Romney said, according to CNN.com.

"Freedom requires religion, just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God.

"Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone," he said.

The former Massachusetts governor has come under fire in the gay community.

He turned his back on what had appeared to be a long-standing commitment to gay rights when he sought to overturn a Massachusetts law allowing gays and lesbians to marry and is now under fire from religious America.

Some claim the Mormon faith is too far removed from the fundamentals they say the US is built upon.

"I think he was saying, 'I am a person of faith, forget which faith it is,'" CNN Contributor Roland Martin said of the speech.

Political analysts saw this speech as a chance for Romney to separate himself from the Republican pack, something many in politics say he may or may not have done.

Ross von Metzke

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