Back Talk: Romney, Faith and the Media

'Romney's Journey': Readers commented on what they viewed as the undue emphasis on Mitt Romney's Mormon faith. One said, "As an agnostic, libertarian-oriented independent, I was prepared not to like Mitt Romney. But after reading your cover story, I found him to be a principled, hardworking family man with deep values. I just might consider voting for him." Another described her measure of the man. "I really don't care if someone is a Mormon, a Methodist or a Catholic. After all, our country believes in a separation of church and state."

On abortion: From a NEWSWEEK.com Live Talk on "A New Ambivalence."

Clayton, Mo.: Do you think that abortion will ever cease to be a polarizing issue? Is there any scientific advancement that might tell us once and for all when life begins?
NEWSWEEK'S Debra Rosenberg: Scientific advancement—particularly ultrasound and advances in treating the youngest preemies (as early as 22 weeks in one unusual case)—has changed what many Americans think about fetal development and what's acceptable in terms of abortion. But the question of when "life" begins and when "personhood" begins and how you balance that against the rights of a person already living (the mother) is a much thornier problem. I don't think science will ever solve that in a way that both sides can agree on.

On 'Just Don't Call Me Mr. Mom': "You know how many people told me I was crazy ? Yeah, I spent some savings but I would not trade this experience of being at home with my son for the world. Your article helped convince me I wasn't alone. Good stuff."
Steve Holt
Fredericksburg, Va.

A Mormon ' s Quest for President

We've researched and analyzed journalism articles on Mormonism from the past 100 years. Your Oct. 8 article "Mitt's Mission" is the best we've seen at portraying Mormons not as stereotypes but as complex and thinking Americans. Thank you for pointing to the strange political regression that makes Mormonism a much bigger obstacle for a presidential candidate now than it was 40 years ago, when George Romney ran for the Republican nomination. You're right that Mitt Romney's Mormonism is essential to his public authenticity, and sure, some will find parts of that heritage strange. But other elements speak poignantly to America's common experience. It's a shame Romney plays down even the positive aspects while moving away from his father's example of pluralistic political integrity.
than Yorgason and Chiung Hwang Chen
Laie, Hawaii

When it seemed that everyone else in the country was asking themselves whether they could vote for a Mormon, I was asking myself if I could vote for a Republican. For the first time in 40 years, I was hoping to be able to do so. Sadly, I concluded "not for this Republican." I'm a Mormon, complete with polygamy and persecution in my heritage and prejudice in my personal experience. I flew to Paris on the same plane with Mitt Romney as a missionary in 1966, hence my interest in voting for him. Romney at first blush seemed a thoughtful, pragmatic, middle-of-the-road possibility, but I was quickly disillusioned when he scrambled to package himself as a man of the religious right. The rock-ribbed ethical basics of Mormon theology and practice don't appear to have translated well to the political arena. I'm sorry to say that the conclusions of your writers match mine. If Romney can't or won't accept the ramifications of his faith—much less be honest about his social or political views, then there's little hope for him as a candidate.
Richard Butler
Tucson, Ariz.