Romney brings spotlight to Mormonism
- 12 years ago
Mitt Romney's bid for the presidency has put the spotlight on the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, or LDS Church.
A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that many Mormons feel discriminated against and do not feel accepted by other Americans as part of mainstream society.
That's a view shared by some in Salt Lake City Utah, the home to the headquarters of the LDS church.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CAMERON CALDER, SALT LAKE CITY RESIDENT, SAYING:
"I certainly believe that everybody has their own opinion about the Mormon church. You know as far as a misconception, I definitely believe that people have a misconception about Mormons but I don't think that really has a reflection on how he's going to be as a president."
The Pew survey also found that many Mormons are optimistic, and think acceptance of their faith is rising.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JEFF HORNE, FORMER-MORMON, RESIDENT OF SALT LAKE CITY, SAYING:
"I think any attention where it's brought to, I don't know, it's hard to say why. I think any attention towards [the church] is a good thing. I think people will start seeing it as less of a strange cult thing and more of just a regular religion."
Others are more suspicious, fearing that many still focus on the religion's polygamous past
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSAN PRITCHETT, SAYING:
"No I think the Christian south. We're from the south and I think the Christian south is going to have a problem with it."
So far during the Republican campaign, the focus has been less on Romney's religion and more on the millionaire's past as a Bain Capital executive. But that's a balance that could shift as the campaign moves forward.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.
A recent study by the Pew Research Center found that many Mormons feel discriminated against and do not feel accepted by other Americans as part of mainstream society.
That's a view shared by some in Salt Lake City Utah, the home to the headquarters of the LDS church.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CAMERON CALDER, SALT LAKE CITY RESIDENT, SAYING:
"I certainly believe that everybody has their own opinion about the Mormon church. You know as far as a misconception, I definitely believe that people have a misconception about Mormons but I don't think that really has a reflection on how he's going to be as a president."
The Pew survey also found that many Mormons are optimistic, and think acceptance of their faith is rising.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JEFF HORNE, FORMER-MORMON, RESIDENT OF SALT LAKE CITY, SAYING:
"I think any attention where it's brought to, I don't know, it's hard to say why. I think any attention towards [the church] is a good thing. I think people will start seeing it as less of a strange cult thing and more of just a regular religion."
Others are more suspicious, fearing that many still focus on the religion's polygamous past
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SUSAN PRITCHETT, SAYING:
"No I think the Christian south. We're from the south and I think the Christian south is going to have a problem with it."
So far during the Republican campaign, the focus has been less on Romney's religion and more on the millionaire's past as a Bain Capital executive. But that's a balance that could shift as the campaign moves forward.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters.