Posted on 10/02/2011 7:39:12 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
In an interview published Saturday to mark 50 years of Christian Broadcasting Network, Chairman Pat Robertson said he liked Mitt Romney’s politics and saw the Mormon presidential candidate as an “outstanding Christian.”
Although many evangelicals are skeptical of the Mormon faith’s claim to Christianity, Robertson called former Massachusetts Governor Romney an “outstanding Christian” in an interview with The Associated Press.
But when asked if he was alright with a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the White House, the 81-year-old head of the television network refused to answer.
In a Pew Research Center poll in June, 34 percent of white evangelicals said they would not vote for a Mormon candidate, and a quarter of all Americans said they were less likely to do so. While Mormons also believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, there are many other doctrinal differences between evangelicals and the Latter-day Saints, such as on the Trinity and the Bible.
Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, one of the most influential groups in conservative circles, also said he would no longer endorse presidential candidates. “I’ve personally backed off from direct political involvement,” he was quoted as saying. “I’ve been there, done that.”
Robertson, a former Southern Baptist pastor, said he now believed that politics was not going to change the world. “It’s really not going to make that much of a difference.” But he would continue to comment on the news of the day, and his comment on Romney’s Christianity was perhaps part of that.
During Romney’s campaign for the 2008 Republican nomination, Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said, “Here is the bottom line. As an Evangelical Christian – a Christian who holds to the ‘traditional Christian orthodoxy’ of the Church – I do not believe that Mormonism leads to salvation.”
Controversies are not new to Robertson. He told viewers of his “700 Club” program this month that divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease, “a kind of death,” was justifiable.
“I hate Alzheimer’s,” he said. “It is one of the most awful things because, here is a loved one, this is the woman or man that you have loved for 20, 30, 40 years, and suddenly, that person is gone. They’re gone. They are gone.” Robertson’s views were criticized by most Christians.
Robertson, whose TV program is viewed by around 1 million people in the United States each day, admitted in the AP interview that he could have worded some of his controversial comments differently. But he appreciated his forgiving audience. During the 2008 presidential election, Robertson endorsed former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who was pro-abortion, for the White House.
After the 9/11 attacks, Robertson said the federal courts, pornography, abortion rights and church-state separation caused an angry God to allow the event.
Robertson was once a highly influential figure. He is founder of American Center for Law and Justice, Operation Blessing International Relief, Development Corporation, Regent University, and a few other organizations. In the 1988 presidential election, he was a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.
However, in recent years, Robertson has lost his political influence, and he knows that. “When I was in charge of the Christian Coalition I was available to mobilize grass roots support for somebody,” he said. “I don’t have any army right now. It’s just an opinion, and that isn’t quite as good as it used to be.”
Robertson said he wasn’t sure for how long he would continue to host the TV program. “I’m still strong and it seems like I’m doing all right, but I don’t want to overstay my time.”
Robertson recalled that what he started as a tiny UHF station in Portsmouth, Va., had now grown to become a sprawling campus in Virginia Beach. He was especially proud of reaching overseas audience, which he said would continue to be a focus of the network.
When PR gave permission to his wife to divorce him because of dementia that said it all.
Did PR fall down and hit his head recently?
Definition of SENILITY. : the quality or state of being senile; specifically : the physical and mental infirmity of old age
Examples of SENILITY: with his increasing senility, Pat Robertson is beginning to have more and more senior moments
Either he’s taking the wide path to be popular or he’s getting old and needs to retire. He was not someone I watched on TV. He really lost me when he endorsed Rudy.
Think again.
Cannot WAIT to not vote for Romney, and I’m really eager to not vote for Perry, also..! Like spotting the Matterhorn from the Disneyland parking lot as a 6-year-old...! You feel that excitement all over your body, you know....?
Ohhh.....! Which RINO to DUMP FIRST, Ooooooh.....!!!
Cannot waaaaait...!!!
Has she filed papers yet?
Obviously it’s past time for her to move on with her life.
Recently?!
Pat Robertson is a bloomin’ idiot.
Pat is a money-grubbing charlatan.
You are officially a cracked blashphemer and a double agent for the underworld.
The two doctrines cannot reconcile themselves to each other and you know it. Yet you make this ridiculous claim.
Pat, if you know anything about Mormonism then either you are a Christian within the body of Christ and Mormonism is something else and unique
or
Mormonism is right and correct thus all others have worshipped in apostacy and that salvation may only be found through the CoCLDS, Joseph Smith and some kinda Jesus Christ.
Have a nice frickin time on Kolob with your spiritually oppressed wives.
Loonuhtick...
He has a history of making questionable statements, but in the last few months, he seems to have completely left the reservation.
Hmmmm. In the words of Kyle .... “Really???”
Once again, some of the worst threats to conservatism come from our very own.
“Cannot WAIT to not vote for Romney, and I’m really eager to not vote for Perry, also..! Like spotting the Matterhorn from the Disneyland parking lot as a 6-year-old...! You feel that excitement all over your body, you know....?
Ohhh.....! Which RINO to DUMP FIRST, Ooooooh.....!!!
Cannot waaaaait...!!!”
HAHAHAH!! PERFECT!!! I am SO with you!!
This man is suffering from some kind of mental disease or dementia.
Fewer and fewer people ... well, maybe the Liberals/Left because they can use him ... even care what he says.
His useful days are behind him and he’s a caricature of his former self.
What ever happened to “until death do us part”?
I agree Rob...I’ve been married 39 years now...high school sweet heart...it’s been a roller coaster ride for the both of us but we’re safely bucked in with Gods arms and will this ride to the end and enjoy it!
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