Is homosexuality a sin? Piers Morgan puts the question to Romney
Piers Morgan, with the irritation of references to phone-hacking and his time at the Daily Mirror hopefully well behind him, is firmly establishing himself at the centre of the American political scene on CNN.
Romney: former Mormon missionary
Earlier this week New York's highly-regarded mayor Michael Bloomberg sat down in front of Piers, following the Aurora massacre, and spelled out what he would do to lessen the curse of gun violence in America. Bloomberg has set up a group of mayors across the USA, united in their efforts to wipe out the pointless killing.
Michael Moore was up next: challenging Obama: What if it HAD been his children in that cinema
On Thursday this week CNN will air an interview with presumptive Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney carried out in London. I have seen a preview clip - and Piers doesn't let Romney off the hook on the question of gay marriage.
Romney says he is against gay marriage but doesn't oppose other rights for gay people. Some of his staffers are even gay, he relates , and he has even as Governor appointed gay judges (although he says he didn't know at the time)
Piers bluntly asks Romney, a devout Mormon and former missionary, if homosexuality isn't a sin in the Mormon religion (it is). Romney doesn't answer but says , "Take it up with the church." He says you have to separate personal beliefs from political leadership - but would never let his personal beliefs interfere with running the country.
"I will not be a spokesman for my church in running for president. I am not going there," he insists.
The Mormon issue has not made much impact here in the US. Perhaps Piers's questions will stimulate discussion, At the beginning of this week the ex-Mirror editor's ratings were well ahead of MSNBC, although still behind Fox.