Romney Calls Polygamy "Awful"

Former Massachusetts governor, Mitt Romney, who in the past has called the practice of polygamy (having multiple wives) "bizarre," recently called it an "awful" practice, and said he understands why many people find it "troubling." Polygamy is the first thing most people think of when Mormonism is mentioned. The Mormon Church outlawed the practice in 1890.

Romney, while distancing himself from his church's past, also understands why it was practiced early in the history of Mormonism. He explained the practice as a way to help the Mormons build up their numbers while settling in the desert of Utah. His great-great-grandfather had a dozen wives and his great-grandfather had five. His great-great-grandfather was told to take additional wives and he obeyed.

Romney, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination for the 2008 elections, made his comments in an interview on CBS's "60 Minutes," for a program to be aired this coming Sunday.

Although the Mormon Church officially banned polygamy and still excommunicates Mormons who practice it, there are an estimated 30,000-60,000 breakaway Mormons in Utah and nearby states who have multiple wives. Many persons, excommunicated for practicing polygamy, still consider themselves Mormons.

The history of Mormon polygamy goes back to Joseph Smith, the founder of the faith, who reportedly had two dozen wives. His successor, Brigham Young, had 20. Polygamy was banned not so much on religious grounds as on practical ones, when officials in Washington D.C. threatened to deny statehood to Utah unless polygamy was ended.