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Show TheSalt Lake Tr ibune ELECTION 2002 Sunday, November | 0, 2002 Romney’s Election Says Volumes About Religious Tolerancein U.S. tasesSovot mdaay + 7 Catholic, and one have been BY MICHAELPAULSON controversies this year in the THEBOSTON GLOBE BOSTON Massachusetts, that in one century we've come long fected by a heightened aware- Young, rounded up their early ness of religious pluralism fol westward, and eventually to lowing the attacks of Sept. 11, Nearly twocenturies later, a Mormon has won the gover- these 2001 . norship in Massachusetts “We're all moresensitiveto little controversy Life at Boston College. and_ politics sociation. president; another peached and removed A Change in 1914. But Massachusetts has been slow to elect members of religious mi Christ of Latter-day Saints, as For decades, only Congrega tionalists or Unitarians were 1000 nationwide WHENEVER minutes.® Free long distance and roaming. $39.99 a month. norities to the corneroffice. said Grant Bennett, a top local official of The Churchof Jesus the Mormons are formally known Bennett, like other Mormon leaders in Massachusetts, ex. ¢ elected, and the state didn’t elec openlyCatholic gover noruntil 1914. Romney no long distance charges. Are we is poised to become Massachusetts who is not a member ofoneof the Catholic anti-Mormonism.Not only are 4 Mormonsa minority here, but or Protestant denominations tianity. The first, Michael Dukakis, a member of the Greek Orthodox church, was elected Bbverney in 1974, 1982 and1986 are viewed with suspicion by many Catholic and Protestant theologians. “When I started in the Leg islature in '62, it was incon ceivable that a Greek American could be elected governor— it just ethnic cards,” § “But people are now far more open andaccepting.” Mormonism, the most suc: rentissue. This year, Romney's faith cessful religion founded in the has appeared in news coverage spreading rapidly, The Church United States, has been of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints declares 11.4 million ad. herents worldwide, including 5.2 million inthe United States. including 20,000 in Massachusetts. Romney is an active Mor mon; he has visited Mormon “In '94, the issue of religion temples around the world to as mishandled, as the issue was raised in an awkward perform sacraments such as being baptized on behalf of his ancestors. He served for four manner, and this year there was anincreased sensitivity to makereligion the third rail on for the Kennedy campaign in onsultantfor the Mormon church, Kersonsaid the discussionof religion in the campaign this year may have beenlimited in part because Catholic candi dates whose churchhas been roiled by controversy overits handling of sexual abuse b: priests Romney's could not criticize church without opening the door to questions about their own. “Shannon O'Brien is years as the bishop of his churchin Belmont andfor nine years overseeing all Mormon congregations in metropolitan Boston. His campaign was fol lowed by Mormonsin Massa chusetts andin Utah, wher owns a house and worked as headof the Salt Lake City Win ter Olympics. ides has ma public sigi say his faith 's absolute! mh his spokesman, Get more’ minutes. More features. Moreservice. hrnstrom. “People here didn’ t even think about it. It wasn't evena topicofdiscussion.” But political scientists insist his election has significant im Only $49.99 Get more from life For homedelivery, call 1-800-TMOBILE, Business customers, call 1-866-GO-4-TMOBILE. Here’s A Deal ToMake You SALT LAKE CITY Heel neels Install a new Trane forced air furnace in your home and take advantage of the 5 1433 Nain Se eee Bi aypon freseny 435-755-0575 Seemannes F995, Sety vragen SMe S114! 44S Ma a har 5 6 TRANME 0s Hari} Sip A Dane’ FREE _ Programmabie Susease Coc aly Ma with every furnace Financing Avaliable 0.A.C. Ra, 852. Se George 2000 Newgate Mat 2055 5. See. LC Washington grgegy Saver Thermostat — Trust certitieg wr ws ES¢9 =~ 435-6524240 Rote 3665 01-74-0081 ®O1-818-0139 1290229 FrowTowne CanterProw (901-852-1029 435.792.2028 209) Layton His MalLaroo 901.593.5300 801-412-1232 (801 44.364) 801.479.1300 3651 WallAve, poetordi73 Highton Dr, LC (@01-4621.2755 01-075 ‘i. 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Redwood Rd Sugar House, 2120 $ 700 & LOGAN ‘OREM most energy-efficient, cost- has great values on Trane that "t be t can’ beat. www.t-mobile.com TYMOBILE STORES Fall Head ver ‘ « «Mobile: Motorola C332 __port, both in termsof religion aa SPECIAL O making this too easy? that dominate Western Chris theirbeliefs about the natureof Godandthe meanstosalvation i No time restraints, only the second governorof pected Romney's candidacy this year to spark a burst of bothsides,” said Scott Ferson, who worked asa political aide the American Political Science Association. Steven Senne/‘The AssociatedPress from office. types are being eliminated,” homosexuality. osama ~~= section “It also says some Mormor symbolic ofthe fact that stereo questions were raised about Romney’s contribution to Brig. ham Young University in Provo, which, following church teaching, bars expressions of of University and ch the the thing about thetolerance ofthe electorate.’ Evan Mecham, served as gov ernorofArizona from 1987 un til 1988, when he was im Mitt Romney's election is also only abouthalfasoftenasit did in 1994, most notably when of section American Political Science As- ernorof Michiganfrom 1963 t 1969 and ran unsuccessfully for members of minority faiths. U.S. Senate against Edward Kennedy, his faith was arecur. it's perfectly acceptable to be ang chairman ofthe religion George Romney, served as gov “Just as John F. Kennedy's election as president was a watershed event in having to remove stereotypes of Catholics, near Route2. now Mormon,” said Paul Djupe, a professor at Denison Mormonshaveenjoyed con creasing acceptance of Mormons in the United States, as well as the increasing willing ness of Americans to elect Faith an Issue: Eight years ago, when Romneyranfor the ‘on sistant professor of political science at Denison University said Paul Djupe, an as Utah, and some success in other states. Romney's father in. towering temple in Belmont, - century perfectly acceptable to be Mor mon,” siderable political success in his fellow Massachusetts resi The Mormons’ me in thespotlight here was abattle over their construction of a . come a long way, $0 Religion and American Public by less than half of a percent of demonstrates an of 7 —— so that now it's director of the Boisi Center for it occasioned. Theelection of Mitt Romney anadherentofa faith shared dents because Sept. 11,” said Alan Wolfe, the a development remarkable for how questions w “INTRODUCING T-MOBILE Utah. Romney's election suggests Catholic Church, so setting like much of America, was once 800d practice, but also good Politics,” Fersonsaid. that the religion's leaders, JoOther observers say the seph Smith and Brigham Campaign may have been af question of Romney's religion was not an issue in his observers say. and politics. side religion was not only so inhospitable to Mormons followers and ushered them Romney talks during a news conference at the Statehouse . . ana An 1 toate R Motel tarsand ra wee & ng € us emmocemarta, mn bepre Tne dont try areata oe hatte ew action on » tcoimtotanb Veh moma onphon ota oe ates seaoperons opemmoen dane. Our PC THY, which ben paahe Gas Ole waht ates Tilate USA, Inc T AG. CRE |