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Subscribe to RSSThe Texas pastor who introduced Gov. Rick Perry at Friday's Values Voters Summit in Washington told reporters that he does not believe that former Massachusetts Mitt Romney is a Christian, and called Romney's Mormon faith a "cult."
"Well, Rick Perry's a Christian. He's an evangelical Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ," Dr. Robert Jeffress told NBC News. "Mitt Romney's a good moral person but he's not a Christian. Mormonism is not Christianity. It has always been considered a cult by the mainstream of Christianity. So it's the difference between a Christian and a non-Christian."
Perry's campaign quickly distanced itself from the words of the pastor. The Texas governor, according to campaign spokesman Mark Miner, does not believe Mormonism is a cult.
"The governor doesn't get into the business of judging other peoples hearts or souls. He leaves that to God," Miner said in an email. "The governor's campaign is about uniting Americans of all backgrounds behind a pro-growth, jobs agenda for this country."
Romney's Mormon faith had been more of an issue in his 2008 bid for the GOP nomination, when he took major strides to overcome social conservatives and evangelical voters' suspicions about his faith. He delivered a major speech in December of 2007 seeking to allay their concerns, but still went on to lose the Iowa caucuses and subsequent New Hampshire primary, where he had competed.
The issue of controversial pastors in a candidate's background aren't entirely foreign to presidential campaigns, either. President Obama, during the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, was forced to address and ultimately disavow his relationship with the controversial Chicago Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Jeffress introduced Perry to socially conservative conference-goers with an emphasis on Perry's evangelical Christian background. But he also raised eyebrows during his introduction of Perry, when he seemed to imply that Romney wasn''t a Christian.
"Do we want a candidate who is a good, moral person, or one who is a born again follower of our Lord Jesus Christ?" he asked.
Jeffress is the pastor of the 10,000-member First Baptist Church of Dallas. The author of 17 books, according to the church's website, Jeffress is an occasional guest on cable news shows.
***Update*** Miner tells NBC News via email that the Perry camp did not plan Jeffress' endorsement/ introduction at the Values Voter Summit, which the campaign calls "not a political event." He says that the event organizers planned Jeffress' introduction of the governor.
Representatives of Jeffress' church dropped off statements at the press tables before Perry's speech announcing the endorsement -- not on Perry stationary.
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There is nothing like good ol' Baptist bigotry! Soooooooooooooo ignorant!!
Yeah, I think Mormonism is a cult. But then I classify all of the more hardcore brands of Christianity as such as well, including evangelical branches.
I guess pastors are a stupid as politicians. Mormons aren't Christians, hogwash.
Since this pastor is clearly spending a lot of time engaging in political activism, as opposed to just sticking within his job description, I say LET'S TAKE AWAY THE TAX EXEMPTION FROM HIS CHURCH.
Good for the deficit, and maybe it'll shut a few of these loonies up.
Excellent point, Ann!!
Watching the GOP turn GOP tactics on other members of the GOP is somewhat dizzying. Like a roller coaster than went upside down one too many times.
The comment isn't aout being Christian. It's about Romney being a Mormon, which IS considered a strange cult with the majority of Americans, whatever their religion. All we see of Mormons is pretty bad-SisterWife, that guy getting life in prison for 12-year-old "wives", etc. The truth is Mormonism does not believe in one God so it is not Christianity....and that's why Romney doesn't get many votes when running in primaries where voters actually know what they, themselves, think-not what politicians and news people say that people think. Regular people don't like Mormons.
Early Christians believed in a separate God the father and his son Jesus as demonstrated at his baptism. The "three-persons in One God" concept wasn't settled until the ~325 AD by Emperor Constantine who converted to Christianity after winning a important battle.
Yea, this was a revelation, NOT...The First Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened in Nicaea in Bithynia (present-day İznik in Turkey) by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in A.D. 325. The Council was the first effort to attain consensus in the church through an assembly representing all of Christendom.[5]
Its main accomplishments were settlement of the Christological issue of the relationship of Jesus to God the Father;[3] the construction of the first part of the Nicene Creed; settling the calculation of the date of Easter;[2] and promulgation of early canon law.[4][6][7]
So before you start flinging BS around make sure you understand the history of Christianity and how it morphed in the centuries following Jesus' death and rebirth.
Like I said below, just go to mormon.org if you really want to get the straight story.
"Mormon" is the nickname given by people the name of the church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" how can we not be Christians when the name of Christ is in the name of the church, we are not a cult, we are Christians, we do not practice polygamy, the "Sister Wives" show on TLC, or the polygamist like Warren Jeffs are not Mormons or LDS or members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, they are Fundamentalist LDS if the ever belonged to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints they have been excomunicated for practicing polygamy, our "magic underwear" like some people call them are called Garments and we wear them as a symbol to keep ourselves clean spiritually, we do not believe that we have magic powers because we wear them. It is sad to see that there is still a lot of bigotry in this country and that people just comment on things that they have no clue about, they say what they have heard from ignorant people, if you are going to comment on something, do your research first and find out from people that really know about the issue.
I've known more cheating, lying, stealing "christians" than I've EVER known in the Mormon faith! No, I'm not a Mormon- I'm someone who was raised in the Assembly of God church, and have had many Mormon friends as well- and I can confidently say that the Mormons are without question the more moral of the two.
The very fact that this guy made the statements he did prove my point.
religion is a cult. a long time ago people could not explain anything. therefore a god was formed to explain it all. we need to make religion a personnel thing, not a political thing.
I didn't expect the Mormon card to played so soon, but, I knew it would be dealt. Just how will the evangelical christian right wing vote if Romney is on the ticket? If they do vote for Romney, can you spell hypocrite?
I didn't expect the Mormon card to played so soon, but, I knew it would be dealt. Just how will the evangelical christian right wing vote if Romney is on the ticket? If they do vote for Romney, can you spell hypocrite?
Since this pastor loudly proclaims such little knowledge about the Mormons, how can anyone expect him to know anything about God? Much of what he's saying seems to be coming from the other direction.
Obama wants amnesty for Mexican Illegals for their votes but he fails to realize they are Catholics and he's done nothing but try to cut Christian holidays and take any mention of Jesus out of our schools. I don't honestly think this article was worth printing. So, what are they not publishing? FAST AND FURIOUS!!! THE GREEN COMPANY LOANS SCANDAL........? Sure aren't see all those references to Obama's involvement in them
What drugs are you on? Cut holidays? Take Jesus out of schools? Where did you get this crap--on right wing radio or tv?
Obama didn't ask for Christian holidays and the mention of Jesus taken out of school I believe that was done in the late 50ies correct me if I'm wrong and that was at the request by a women who was later found dead along with her son?????
He may be on those drugs imported by the illegal Mexican Catholics using DEA guns provided by Holder to keep Jesus in schools. Or, maybe, just like Hank, Jeffress and Perry, he was just the fastest swimming sperm from daddy's "school"... would that be evolution, creation or an "Obamanation"? Let not your heart be troubled; Hannity will explain all on Monday, he's the "right-type" Christian too. And you can bet your azz right wing radio will spin this hard. Open mouth, remove foot and cross, call Rove in the morning.
I have CNN (Obama Channel) on right now - I love it how this media outlet (CNN) goes to the finest degree to stem something up (putting religion in front on who we should elect as our next President in 2012) to go against anyone challenging the failing Obama administration...The Obama channel (CNN) is a cult!!!
In the usual definition of a cult--"Outside of us, there is no salvation/wisdom/coolness, etc. Heretics will be punished. We have the only Truth."--the GOP is turning into one.
Heretics to the new GOP include:
Anyone who ever raised any tax, anywhere, for anything;
Anyone who does not believe that the Morning After Pill, is murder;
Anyone (in South Florida) who thinks that our 50-year old policy on Cuba, is not getting rid of Fidel & Raul;
Anyone who thinks that it is getting warmer, each year, and we may have something to do with it;
Anyone who thinks that smoking is bad for you;
Anyone who thinks that the various stories in Genesis of the Creation are ALL not the Word of God. (The folks who wrote Genesis, took the best-available Babylonian science at the time, and changed it a little in the end.")
You get the point.
ALL religions have some strange things in their mythology. (The Pontius Pilate shown in Mel Gibson's movie, would not have lasted as a military governor for 5 minutes, in the real Roman Empire.)
Former Gov. Romney is a salesman, who will tell anyone anything, to close the deal. Why attack the one thing he is sincere about?
realist- I agree with you completely. I am a Mormon also. I am a christian too. I also believe in Jesus Christ as my savior! I have complete faith in our religion! These people do not know what they are talking about!
Who cares?
These evangelical put labels on other religions, well................I think people in this country ought to give a GOOD look at what evagelicals are all about....They should not be throwing stones at Mormons as a cult. They should look in the mirror to see what cults are about...they fit the label perfectly. They hate catholics, Judaism, mormons, muslims shintoism, hinduism etc,etc,etc.................
Sheesh, didn't we go through this four years ago with Mike Huckabee claiming Romney wasn't Christian? Why is it that every time some born-again evangelical issues a fatwa like this, the MSM feels obliged to pick it up and run with it?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the fourth largest denomination in the United States. They have over 14 million members worldwide. Some cult... The fact is, we are Christian, just not Pastor Jefress's flavor of Christian - there are differences, admittedly. If you still don't believe me, just go to mormon.org and find out for yourself. There's really no excuse anymore for the kind of ignorance this pastor is displaying.
Thank you K. Kammeyer.
Your point is lucid, topical and well versed but I suspect evangelicals may decry your use of "fatwa" to describe their brand of religious (in)tolerance...too Islamic.
I couldn't get past the first paragraph when one so called religious leader poked his boney finger and accused another religion of being a "Cult". Hahaha, while I do believe in a "Higher Power" I just don't see it the way these whack jobs do. All modern day religion is nothing more than a "Cult". And you too can be a member, all you have to do is donate more than you can afford every Sunday, Hallelujah Brothers, Amen.
I think Mitt's cadre put this guy up to saying Mitt isn't a "Christian." That will surely get the moderates thinking about nominating Mitt as he isn't part of the fringe evangelicals.
WahoooooOOOOO!!! Ridem cowboy!! Keep that Republican crazy comin' to the top...EEEEEEHHHHAAAAA!!!
Just in time for Saturday morning cartoons featuring all your GOP favorites---Bachman, Perry, Romney, Paul, Palin, Christie, where's Cheney......
he's out contemplating who his next hunting victim is going to be, that's where he is.....Hey Perry, you up for a hunting trip?
Everything is bigger in Texas - especially the ignorance!! What a moron!! Who gives a crap if he is Mormon? He is running for President not as the pastor of the country.
Got news for Dr Jeffress; he's no Christian either. Evangelicals have highjacked Christianity; their version is an obomination.
I think Perry and his pocket pastor need to sit dow and read the 10 comandments.
Amen!!!
Have any of the bigots gone to a Church of Latter Day Saints? I am a Presbyterian and I did. I heard the name of Jesus Christ more than I normally get in my own church. Anythings worse than a simple bigot...an IGNORANT BIGOT!
No I am a Morman!!