by Sanford Levinson

With regard to Richard John Neuhaus, I warmly commend an article in which he addresses the question whether Mormons are really Christians. It's interesting not only in itself, but also, of course, with regard to the likelihood of right-wing (and traditional) Christians to support Mitt Romney. Giving up polygamy does not begin to bring the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints into the Christian camp, according to Neuhaus. Perhaps this is all irrelevant to the Christian Right, that it doesn't matter whether a candidate is presumptively damned unto eternity (as are, for many traditional Christians, Jews). But, at the very least, it may be a lurking issue. No one expects Joe Lieberman to say that he is Christian. Everybody who cares is satisfied that he prounounces himself strongly Jewish in belief and observance. But will Romney be allowed to describe himself as a Christian (assuming he does) without being called on it by Neuhaus and others who take their theology seriously?