Mitt Romney - Perry Supporter Says Romney's Religion A Cult

Rick Perry best friend says really don't vote with regard to Mitt Romney because they've a Mormon

Robert Jeffress details Church regarding Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as 'cult'

Perry distanced themselves from comment forms on Friday

Washington (CNN) Controversial remarks through the pastor of the Dallas rec center stole the limelight out of numerous Republican White House contenders Friday during the best day connected with the Values Voter Summit, an 12-monthly meeting of evangelicals along with sociable conservatives.

After a review of Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Robert Jeffress, pastor of the First Baptist Church with Dallas, explained to reporters that will Republicans shouldn't vote for White House for sure Mitt Romney simply because he's a Mormon as well as described your Church with Jesus Christ with Latter-day Saints being a "cult."

Speaking continue to exist CNN's "The Situation Room," Jeffress told CNN Political Correspondent Jim Acosta, "I think Mitt Romney 's a good, moral man, nonetheless I believe those of people that are born-again supporters involving Christ should always prefer an ideal Christian into a competent non-Christian similar to Mitt Romney. So this is why I'm serious concerning Rick Perry."

In that very same exchange, Jeffress shared with Acosta that the Southern Baptist Convention "has officially labeled Mormonism as a cult." In fact, an internet site preserved through the Southern Baptist Convention prospect lists this Mormon faith below its "New Religions and Cults" section, which as well contains Jehovah's Witnesses and also the particular Church of Scientology.

Contacted simply by CNN, the particular Romney advertising campaign had no inquire into Jeffress' remarks. Michael Purdy, some sort of spokesman to get The Church involving Jesus Christ regarding Latter-day Saints, rejected to be able to investigate a assertion "made with a political event."

"But people who want to know the centrality of Christ to be able to your religious beliefs might read more about us all in addition to what we should consider when you go to mormon.org," Purdy claimed in a statement.

The Perry advertising campaign told CNN through e mail so it did not ask Jeffress for you to bring in your Texas governor at Friday's event. Asked i believe in relation to Jeffress' remarks after some sort of campaign event inside Iowa Friday night, Perry advised reporters of which he / she could not think Mormonism is a cult, a new view Perry spokesman Mark Miner experienced spoken to earlier on Perry's behalf.

Speaking Friday evening about CNN's "John King, USA," Tony Perkins, president with the Family Research Council and a strong organizer with the two-day event, said the particular Perry plan appeared to be prepared not one but two several weeks previously about event organizers' prefer to possess Jeffress bring in Perry as well as the Perry camp, in Perkins' words, "signed away on" that plan. Perkins in addition advised CNN Chief National Correspondent John King that event organizers did not find out what Jeffress seemed to be likely to say in presenting Perry nor does the Texas governor's campaign.