From Deseret News archives:
Prominent Dallas minister says Romney no Christian
And the Baptist pastor calls Mormonism 'a cult'
The Dallas Morning News has reported that the Rev. Robert Jeffress, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, said in a sermon on Sept. 30 that while Romney "talks about Jesus as his Lord and savior, he is not a Christian. Mormonism is not Christianity. Mormonism is a cult."
The newspaper story published Thursday said some members of the pastor's large audience began to applaud as he continued his discussion of Romney's faith as part of a talk titled "The Power of a Positive Purpose."
"What really distresses me is some of my ministerial friends and even leaders in our convention are saying, 'Oh, well, he talks about Jesus, we talk about Jesus. What's the big deal?' It is a big deal if anybody names another way to be saved except through Jesus Christ," the pastor said.
The Rev. Jeffress had prefaced his remarks about Romney by saying, "I'm going to get in trouble I know for saying this, but I think it needs to be said" and that he was "neither for nor against Mitt Romney ... he may make a worthy president."
"Dr. Jeffress' comments are unfortunate and certainly don't represent the beliefs of the growing number of evangelical and social conservative leaders from across the country who have lined up in support of Governor Romney's candidacy for president of the United States.
"These endorsements show recognition of the common values that Governor Romney shares with all Americans strong family, strong moral fiber and a belief in doing what's right. Governor Romney is the strongest candidate to stand up for conservative values in the White House," Gitcho said.
Kirk Jowers, director of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics, said ministers who criticize Romney's faith "are being incredibly shortsighted to urge religious bigotry among their congregations against those who don't share their identical beliefs, especially when it could so easily be turned against them."
Jowers, a Romney supporter, said the Rev. Jeffress "is apparently clearly exasperated by some of the endorsements by evangelical leaders" that Romney has received. "A lot of people see a wave of evangelical support moving toward Romney right now," Jowers said.
Recent comments
SFCFRETDENNIS and Wrong,
I've read more about your religion and...
Wake-up | Oct. 28, 2007 at 10:17 p.m.
Many anti-Mormon writers quote from the Journal of Discourses.
Not...
Brigham and the Journal | Oct. 25, 2007 at 4:02 p.m.
those are not baptist publications, you said there was a baptist...
silliness | Oct. 25, 2007 at 6:28 a.m.
- Housing plan reaches 1 in 5 8:51 a.m.
- 25-year sentence in scuba slaying 8:50 a.m.
- Gunman in NY school surrenders 8:49 a.m.
- Fed: Weak economy won't spur jobs 8:48 a.m.
- Subway train stops short of woman 8:37 a.m.
- Ida weakens, heads east 8:34 a.m.
- Obama pressed into role as healer 8:14 a.m.
- FBI reassessing past look at Hasan 8:14 a.m.
- Oil below $79 as Ida weakens 8:12 a.m.
- Stocks open lower 8:11 a.m.
- Soccer MVPs know how to win
- TCU showdown has big implications
- Matheson gets no thanks from GOP
- Seniors helped BYU regroup
- Bystanders framed for child porn
- Lambert surprisingly tops news
- Mitchell seeks to block witnesses
- Hope for single moms
- Attorney given report on Taser death
- Price injured; Miles has cast removed
- House passes health care bill
234 - TCU showdown has big implications
184 - Lobo suspended
182 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
154 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
131 - TCU 4th in AP poll; U. 16th, Y. 22nd
118 - Thousands protest health bill
117 - Senators want food tax restored
104 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - No 'backlash' for pioneers, gays analogy
101
Meghan McCain, the daughter of former presidential candidate John...
To: Slowly: "Bush Inherited a Cake Walk". Hows That? Nine Months into the...
we're gonna be ready!
Ummm, this is a really challenging question. AF is amazing and their show...
We should make congress give up their health care until thay pass some kind...
@TC: Everyone knows that Deron does not like AK shooting the ball. There is...
It's alway easier to spend someone else's money.
Watch it buddy, don't even start to tell me what "Americans" want.
Obviously Seth has been reading revisionist history. He also must be too...
I'm curious as to whether the author would characterize a person's "choice"...
Does John think he was a contributor to the better good of education so he...


