Mitt Romney blasted the decision to have evangelical tele-Pastor Robert Jeffress, a Fox News contributor, give a blessing at the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, slated for Monday.

Jeffress, the head of a Dallas megachurch known for his controversial (if not outright loony) comments about other religions, believes Islam and Mormonism are cults and “a heresy from the pit of hell.”

Romney, a Mormon and Senate candidate for Utah, took to Twitter to remind his followers of the pastor’s history:

“Robert Jeffress says ‘you can’t be saved by being a Jew,’ and “Mormonism is a heresy from the pit of hell,'” Romney wrote. “He’s said the same about Islam.”

“Such a religious bigot should not be giving the prayer that opens the United States Embassy in Jerusalem,” he said.

Robert Jeffress says “you can’t be saved by being a Jew,“ and “Mormonism is a heresy from the pit of hell.” He’s said the same about Islam. Such a religious bigot should not be giving the prayer that opens the United States Embassy in Jerusalem.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) May 14, 2018

In comments to NBC News, Jeffress denied he was a “bigot,” but doubled down on his belief that Mormonism is “wrong” and that the the Southern Baptist Convention had designated it a “cult.”

“Mormonism has never been considered a part of historic Christianity. People may disagree with that view, but it’s not a view unique to me,” he told NBC.

[image via screengrab]

—

Follow Aidan McLaughlin (@aidnmclaughlin) on Twitter

Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com

Aidan McLaughlin
• Twitter
• Email