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Gene Kennedy Reporting The Boston Globe newspaper says a Salt Lake City business leader arranged a meeting between Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney's supporters and an apostle for the LDS Church.
It has become an uncomfortable link between the church and Romney's presidential bid.
Now this local business leader, Kem Gardner, is taking the blame for all this. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that he admits arranging a meeting to drum up a network of support for Romney.
The Boston Globe newspaper claims top church officials, including President Gordon B. Hinckley, knew about this. So the meeting ended up linking political support for Romney with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The Church is trying to distance itself from this, reiterating its commitment to the principle of neutrality in party politics.
A church spokesman added, "These latest developments.." (in other words Gardner taking the blame)"... confirm that Church leaders were not involved in candidate fundraising."
Senator Orrin Hatch thinks the Boston Globe is on a witchhunt.
Sen. Orrin Hatch/ (R) Utah: "I think it's pure bunk. There is a lot of prejudice against Mormons out there, and they'll use anything they can to hurt him."
The Globe is standing by its story, saying it has emails proving its case, and that Romney is very willing to mix religion and politics.
When Senator Orrin Hatch ran for president, some Americans took issue with his religion. Polls showed 18 percent of Americans would flat out not vote for a Mormon.
Pollsters say that has to change for Romney to be elected.
Dan Jones, Pollster: "It's got to be down to three or four percent. I believe it's good that story comes out now. In this business that's called innoculation."
Political analysts agree that how Romney handles the Mormon issue will be a key factor in the 2008 election.
