But with his own Church Romney had struck a silent agreement: he would conduct himself as he felt his principles demanded in the realm of politics, and he would allow them to conduct Church business as they saw fit. Maintaining public silence on discriminatory Church policies while working assiduously to advance desegregation and anti-discrimination in the public sphere was Romney’s way of striking a tenuous balance between honoring his conscience and honoring religious vows he had made to “consecrate” his time and resources to the Church and sustain its leaders.
