Posted on 10/07/2011 7:45:17 PM PDT by LouAvul
The pastor who introduced Texas Gov. Rick Perry at a conservative gathering Friday said rival presidential candidate Mitt Romney is not a Christian and is in a cult because he is a Mormon.
Robert Jeffress, the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Dallas, made similar remarks about Romney when he ran in the 2008 campaign. Event organizers at the Values Voters Summit selected Jeffress to introduce Perry, but the Perry campaign was consulted about the choice and approved Jeffress to introduce the Texas governor.
Jeffress endorsed Perry at the event and introduced him as "a proven leader, a true conservative, and a committed follower of Christ."
After his remarks, Jeffress told reporters that Perry's religion is different from Romney's.
"Rick Perry's a Christian. He's an evangelical Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ," Jeffress said. "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."
Romney is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are commonly called Mormons.
Perry and his campaign made clear that he disagrees with Jeffress.
Asked by reporters Friday night in Tiffin, Iowa, whether Mormonism is a cult, Perry replied, "No."
Earlier Friday, spokesman Mark Miner said that "the governor does not believe Mormonism is a cult."
Still, the campaign refused to definitively say whether they were accepting his offered endorsement. "The governor is running a campaign of inclusion and looks forward to receiving the endorsement of many people," Miner said. "People can endorse whoever they like."
Jeffress had made similar comments about Romney before, during the former Massachusetts governor's first presidential run in 2008.
"Mitt Romney is a Mormon, and don't let anybody tell you otherwise. Even though he talks about Jesus as his lord and savior, he is not a Christian," Jeffress said in a 2007 sermon. "Mormonism is not Christianity. Mormonism is a cult. And just because somebody talks about Jesus does not make them a believer."
In that sermon, Jeffress said he was frustrated that some religious leaders had backed Romney anyway. "What really distresses me is some of my ministerial friends, and even leaders in our convention, say, 'Well, he talks about Jesus, we talk about Jesus, what's the big deal?' It is a big deal."
The campaign initially said the decision to have Jeffress introduce Perry had been made strictly by organizers, but a Perry spokesman told The Associated Press Friday night that the campaign had agreed to it.
"It was their suggestion; it was their choice of who introduced us. They asked our campaign what we thought, and we said OK," Miner said.
Jeffress is a prominent religious leader in Texas. His First Baptist Church has more than 10,000 members. In 2009, Perry recognized Jeffress by name during his speech at a dinner for the Light of Life dinner and gala in Dallas.
Exactly.
If you get down off your high horse and look around you can easily find where Perry stands on all the issues. Perry for President covers some of his stances and On the Issues website fills in the the blanks with all the hard data any one could ever use. Stop being laqzy. Google is your friend. And NO, don't ask me to help you. Do your own research, smear merchant.
Btw, you should stop eating those bennies like they were candy. LOL
IMO, Romney’s religion is a valid issue, it determines his worldview and the culture and frankly, also affects his political stances and his flip flopping.
*************************
I certainly respect your take on Mormonism reaganaut, and sometime would like to know why it would have bearing on his politics and flip flopping. LEADING with that as a criticism though is bad politics, IMO. The majority of Americans have scant understanding of Christianity, far less Mormonism. Few care, in what is frankly a witlessly apostate general population. I just don’t see the percentage in choosing that as the principal point of attack when so many other approaches are easier and will have more resonance in an anti-statist atmosphere.
Say what you will as long as you have facts to back it up.
This is nothing but nasty slander.
The MSM will never attack him for being a Mormon because their hero Harry Reid is a Mormon too. Better a Mormon than a Muslim.
How about this. Make a rational case FOR Perry based on his Presidential Agenda.
OH but that right. He has yet to tell us what it would be.
So you would rather support a guy who whole campaign consists of continually telling us “Vote for me I am a great guy from Texas” then one who is offering a solid Conservative agenda with real solutions to problems.
********************************
I don’t need to make a rational case for Perry to suit your whims, you’ve shown yourself to be loud and rude in my best estimation.
You like Cain, that does me no harm—get on with your bad-self but don’t expect me to kowtow to your demands.
When my Savior tells me,
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Mathew 11:28-30I believe Him... and have done so.
I am also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what many call a "Mormon."
And I am supporting Herman Cain for President now that Sarah Palin is not getting in.
The MSM will never attack him for being a Mormon because their hero Harry Reid is a Mormon too. Better a Mormon than a Muslim.
- - - -
Nope. Double standard. If Mittens gets the nom it will all be about the racist history of Mormonism, them becoming Gods, the White Horse prophecy and a lot of other stuff.
And Mormonism is a lot closer to Islam than most realize, even to the point of the LDS shunning Christian charities in favor of Muslim ones.
In the heat of the Missouri “Mormon War” of 1838, Joseph Smith made the following claim, “I will be to this generation a second Mohammed, whose motto in treating for peace was ‘the Alcoran [Koran] or the Sword.’ So shall it eventually be with us—‘Joseph Smith or the Sword!’ - Joseph Smith
And that is just for starters...
I know far too much about Mormonism (from personal experience) to ever vote for one.
Since when has religion become a reason to vote for or against a candidate?
Do you really want Obama for another term?
- - - - -
Since I became a Christian and realized how much worldview is determined by religion. I know way too much about Mormonism to ever vote for one.
I don’t want Zero, but I sure as Hell don’t want Romney either. Neither is acceptable.
What makes you a member of cult, Sandy, is the LDS teachings you fail to mention...like you can become Gods, Jesus is only one of 3 gods of the godhead, Jesus is a created being, God wasn’t always God, Jesus only saves you ‘after all you can do’ and you have to ‘pay him back’, that the Bible is corrupt, that Christ died only so you could be resurrected, exaltation (aka Heaven for Christians) only comes to good ‘worthy’ temple LDS.
And I can source all of those using LDS sources if you would like.
There is certainly many other reasons to not vote for (or vote against) Mitt, but it concerns me that there are people who buy the propaganda so easily. For me, and many others, Mitt’s religion is an issue and it will be a major factor if he gets the nomination. It is better to be prepared, IMO of the arguments that will be presented.
Amen Sister!
Jeff, have you done ‘all you can do’ according to your church’s teachings for grace to kick in? Are you fully obedient to the ‘laws and ordinances’ of the gospel so that you may be saved?
Your post sounds nice, but it isn’t Mormon theology at all, and I can source that.
Sorry.
Ah yes... but according to Glen Beck (sorry for the mention) you do have to choose between the lesser of two evils (at times)...
So... what/who do you choose?
I have said several times, I will not vote for Romney and if he is the nominee, like JR, I am out of the GOP for good.
Neither is acceptable and I will stand by my Christian principles. I cannot, as a Christian, vote for Romney.
Courtesy ping to JR.
Can understand you position... but when the forces of evil are elected, you should look to yourself...
Keeping up this nonsense plays into Obama’s hands. Think about it, especially if Romney gets the nomination. Obama and his tools will use this and make it look like the Republicans bad-mouthed Romney’s religion. I believe that it is illegal to discriminate based upon race, creed, etc.... but here we have this pastor doing just that with his character assassination!
No, I will look to the GOP, it is their election to lose, and by shoving Romney down our throats they will be the ones who re-elect Obama.
I for one will do my best to make sure that Romney doesn’t get the nomination, even if that means fighting the GOP establishment.
Understand you reaction... do not necessarily agree (especially if Obama gets reelected) but do understand..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.