Latter-day Saints say church neutral in race

Excerpts from his blog, Postman on Politics

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney visits Bellevue today for a fundraiser. The event is closed to the press, but the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints figures that if Romney is in town, inaccurate reporting on the church is likely to follow.

This week, Annette Bowen, Seattle area media-relations director for the church, sent reporters an e-mail with background information about the Latter-day Saints — the former Massachusetts governor's faith.

The e-mail includes links to a style guide that explains, "The official name of the Church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. ... While the term 'Mormon Church' has long been publicly applied to the Church as a nickname, it is not an authorized title, and the Church discourages its use."

A link in Bowen's e-mail also dispels myths about the church and polygamy. Although the church rejected polygamy more than 100 years ago, some Americans mistakenly believe it is still part of the faith.

About politics, her e-mail said:

"Though Romney is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he is not endorsed as a candidate by the Church, which has a policy of strict political neutrality. The Church does not seek to influence how members vote or officials govern. No tithing or Church funds are supporting the Romney campaign."

Bowen said she decided to send out the e-mail advisory "after reading so much in the press that is inaccurate."

Romney's candidacy is popular among church members.

The invitation to today's fundraiser includes 20 people listed as hosts.

At least half are members of the church, including state Sen. Pam Roach, R-Auburn, and former state Rep. Toby Nixon, R-Kirkland.

Roach said LDS members are excited about Romney's campaign.

She said the same thing was evident when U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore., also a Mormon, ran for office.

Nixon, the volunteer public-affairs director for the church's Kirkland Stake, a group of seven LDS congregations, said Romney should not assume fellow Mormons are committed supporters of his candidacy.

"Most of them are keeping an open mind," he said. "I guess we've all kind of learned over the years that just because you're Mormon doesn't mean you're perfect. It doesn't automatically mean that's the guy to support."

Church members are very sensitive about maintaining political neutrality, Nixon said.

"The fact is the church is being so meticulously neutral, it's almost like you talk about Romney or anybody at a church event and people try to hush you up," he said.

Romney spokeswoman Sarah Pompei said the candidate has been a frequent target of attacks because of his religion.

On Monday, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., a Republican presidential candidate, apologized to Romney for an e-mail from a Brownback staff member that said, in part, "the LDS Jesus is not the same Jesus of the Christian faith."

Monday night, Romney responded: "He [Brownback] said that religious attacks don't have any place in politics and, of course, we agree on that. I told him that was not a big matter to me. If I can't stand the heat, I shouldn't be in the kitchen."

This material has been edited for print publication.

David Postman is The Seattle Times' chief political reporter. Reach him at 360-236-8267 or at dpostman@seattletimes.com