Photo Caption: The Nauvoo Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is seen in the foreground while just down Wells Street is the spire of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church.

By: By Tom Dermody

NAUVOO — While the presidential candidacy of Mitt Romney has caused some in the United States to take a first look at Mormon beliefs, the Catholics of Hancock County have long called members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints neighbors.

In the historic Mississippi River community of Nauvoo, the temple that was rebuilt and dedicated in 2002 by Mormons is located just a short block up Wells Street from Sts. Peter and Paul Church.

In Carthage, the restored jail where Mormon prophet Joseph Smith and his brother were murdered in 1844 stands across the street from Immaculate Conception Church.

Because of those sites and others, as well as the region’s role in Mormon history, the area has a large, fluid Mormon presence of missionaries and tourists.

In recent years, Catholics, Mormons, and other faith communities in this area have been laying more “delicate foundations” in the forms of relationships, friendships, and moves to foster greater dialogue and understanding of beliefs.

“It’s a very delicate, slow process,” said Father Tony Trosley, pastor in Nauvoo and Carthage as well as of Catholic parishes in Dallas City, Warsaw, Hamilton, and Raritan. Since his arrival in 2003, Father Trosley has worked to establish a greater “relationship of trust” between Christian and Mormon leaders. An interfaith partnership was begun, and has led to twice annual interfaith symposiums where area churches can educate on the teachings of their faith.

“The thing we find is Mormons place a very high value on friendship and the dispelling of suspicion and mistrust,” said Father Trosley. “That’s a prelude to any serious dialogue.”

Since 2009, Father Thomas Szydlik, parochial vicar, has taken the lead in the Catholic-Mormon dialogue. He told The Catholic Post this week that among the relationships he has established has been friendships with Mormons who take part in an annual pageant telling the story of Joseph Smith each July at an outdoor amphitheater.

“I’ve been very much welcomed as a friend of the production,” said Father Szydlik, who is now the parish liaison for the interfaith symposiums.

Asked to characterize Mormons, Father Szydlik called them “very friendly and very virtuous people” with a high degree of close family ties. But the difference in beliefs between Catholics and Mormons mean “there is an absolute need to define your terms,” since words such as “sacraments” have different meanings.

Founded in 1830 as the Church of Christ, and now officially The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormon communities fled persecution in their early years. They arrived in Nauvoo in 1838, and the city soon became one of the largest in Illinois.

Following the deaths of the Smiths, they began a westward migration that eventually brought them to Utah.

Father Trosley noted Catholic roots in the region go even deeper with missionary priests plying the Mississippi River.

“The Mormon population hasn’t grown to the point where it has overcome the Catholic population,” he said. “Catholics are still very strong in Nauvoo and historically in Hancock County.”

He acknowledged that there have been periods of friction between the groups. But now there is “more of a mutual acceptance” and efforts to dialogue. When Sts. Peter and Paul Church was rededicated last summer following a remodeling, for example, Mormon leaders were in attendance.

“No matter what the political climate, it’s our role to set up such a relationship that we can engage in open exposition and discussion of our teachings,” said Father Trosley. “That’s been the approach here.”