Tony Blair said recently that as Britain’s prime minister he played down his religious conviction to avoid being seen as “a nutter”. In the United States, an atheist would have to disguise his lack of faith to avoid being seen as a godless libertine, no better than a European. The US constitution enshrines freedom of worship and strives to separate church and state. But the country still expects to be led by a “person of faith” – so long as it is the right kind of faith.

In 1960, Catholicism was not certain to qualify. John F. Kennedy had to confront anti-Catholic bigotry to get elected. Almost 50 years later, many Americans regard Mormonism as a strange non-Christian cult. Mitt Romney, a Mormon and a leading contender for the Republican nomination, attempted a much-anticipated Kennedy moment when he addressed the issue head-on. He got a mostly friendly press. Possibly he has done for Mormonism in 2007 what Kennedy did for Catholicism in 1960, and has moved his faith inside the political mainstream.