Romney to talk about his faith

BOSTON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney has decided it's time to speak to America directly about his Mormon religious faith.

Romney spokesman Kevin Madden said the former Massachusetts governor will deliver a speech, "Faith in America," Thursday at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas, The Boston Globe reported Monday.

"This speech is an opportunity for Gov. Romney to share his views on religious liberty, the grand tradition religious tolerance has played in the progress of our nation, and how the governor's own faith would inform his presidency if he were elected," Madden said in a statement.

Romney's speech harkens back to the 1960 presidential campaign when Democrat John F. Kennedy spoke about his Catholic faith at a time when there were people concerned the pope would have too much influence on him if elected.

But Alan Wolfe, director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College, said the decision by Romney is in response to gains being made by Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor.

"There's only one reason for it -- Huckabee," Wolfe said. "Huckabee is pulling ahead of him in Iowa, so that, I'm sure, forced his hand."