Texas Gov - Perry Backer - Romney In A Cult - The Associated Press

By KASIE HUNT, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) The pastor exactly who introduced Texas Gov . Rick Perry in a conservative gathering Friday stated rival presidential customer Mitt Romney is just not some sort of Christian and is within a cult for the reason that he could be a Mormon.

Robert Jeffress, senior citizen pastor with First Baptist Church within Dallas, supported Perry on the Values Voters Summit, introducing your pet since "a proved leader, an authentic conservative, along with a entirely voter of Christ."

After his remarks, Jeffress informed reporters that Perry's religion takes a different approach from Romney's.

"Rick Perry's a Christian. He's an evangelical Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ," Jeffress said. "Mitt Romney's a fantastic moral person, although he's not really a Christian. Mormonism seriously isn't Christianity. It happens to be deemed your cult by the mainstream of Christianity."

Romney is usually a fellow member from the Church regarding Jesus Christ associated with Latter-day Saints, in whose affiliates could be called Mormons.

Perry's campaign stated the actual Texas governor disagrees by using Jeffress.

"The governor will not imagine Mormonism is usually a cult," reported spokesman Mark Miner.

Perry's marketing explained that Values Voters Summit organizers, possibly not the campaign, chose Jeffress in order to expose the particular Texas governor. Perry's strategy could not quickly improve with doubts about no matter if the governor have decided possess Jeffress introduce him.

Jeffress possessed created similar feedback regarding Romney before, through the previous Massachusetts governor's first presidential work within 2008.

"Mitt Romney is a new Mormon, and you should not make anybody show you otherwise. Even however your dog mentions Jesus as his adept along with savior, they're certainly not your Christian," Jeffress mentioned in the 2007 sermon. "Mormonism isn't Christianity. Mormonism is often a cult. And even if a person talks concerning Jesus isn't going to make all of them a believer."

In that sermon, Jeffress stated your dog accepted Romney anyway. But they said, "What really distresses me is actually a few of my ministerial friends, and also commanders in our convention, say, 'Well, he talks with regards to Jesus, all of us talk about Jesus, exactly what is the significant deal?' It may be a big deal."