Mitt Romney Says He Opposes Abortion

Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney speaks to a group at the Conservative Member Retreat hosted by The Heritage Foundation in this Friday, Feb. 2, 2007 file photo, in Baltimore. (AP photo/Gail Burton, File) (Gail Burton - AP)

"While Mitt Romney says he's not a multiple-choice candidate, his record shows that he has routinely changed his position on everything from abortion to taxes, making it difficult to know where he stands," said Stacie Paxton, a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee.

A Romney spokesman conceded the change but said Romney's current position is equally heartfelt and not political in nature.

"Governor Romney's personal experience with a family member impacted his view of the subject 15 years ago, but in grappling with the issue as an elected governor, he reconsidered the issue. That brought him to a personal decision and public policy decision where he felt it was important to protect the sanctity of life," said Kevin Madden, Romney's press secretary.

Madden added: "Any time a person deals with an important or delicate issue like this, there are moments that provide clarity, and this was clearly an issue where the governor realized he was wrong in the past and is clearly and firmly dedicated to advocating the position of protecting life."

Romney, who is Mormon, has long said he personally opposes abortion. The Mormon church opposes abortion with some rare exceptions.

Yet during an Oct. 25, 1994, debate with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., Romney said: "Many, many years ago, I had a dear, close family relative that was very close to me, that passed away from an illegal abortion. It is since that time my mother and my family have been committed to the belief that we can believe as we want, but we will not force our beliefs on others on that matter, and you will not see me wavering on that."

Romney later identified the relative as the teenage sister of his brother-in-law, Loren "Larry" Keenan. He was married to Romney's elder sister, Lynn. Keenan died in 2005.

Romney, who would have been in his 20s when the teen died, told reporters after the Senate debate, "I hadn't thought much about" abortion, but that the young woman's death "obviously makes one see that regardless of one's beliefs about choice, that you would hope it would be safe and legal."

Romney's other sister, Jane, said in an interview that the teen who died "was a beautiful, talented girl. We all loved" her. She said the teen was engaged when she became pregnant but sought an abortion even though they were illegal at the time.

"It was her fiancee" who was the father, Jane Romney Robinson said. "She obviously was upset."