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SALT LAKE CITY — Outspoken Baptist pastor Robert Jeffress, who last year attacked presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney and his "non-Christian faith," announced he will support the former Massachusetts governor for the Republican nomination.
Last October, Jeffress, who supported Rick Perry before dropping out of the race, said Perry was a true follower of Jesus Christ and Mitt Romney's faith was considered a cult.
"Rick Perry's a Christian. He's an evangelical Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ," he 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."
Jeffress added: "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. Mormonism is not Christianity. Mormonism is a cult. And just because somebody talks about Jesus does not make them a believer."
Appearing on Fox & Friends' weekend show, Jeffress addressed his so-called hypocritical position, saying he has never changed his position about Romney.
I haven't changed my tune. In fact, I never said Christians should never vote for Mitt Romney. When I talked about his theology I was answering a question about theology, and I still maintain there are vast differences in theology between Mormons and Christians.
–Robert Jeffress
"I haven't changed my tune. In fact, I never said Christians should never vote for Mitt Romney," Jeffress said. "When I talked about his theology I was answering a question about theology, and I still maintain there are vast differences in theology between Mormons and Christians. But we do share many of the same values, like the sanctity of life and religious freedom."
Fox News anchor Clayton Morris asked Jeffress about his comments where he said Evangelical Christians should not vote for Romney. Jeffress claimed he never asked Evangelical Christians to avoid voting for Romney, but said in choosing between President Barack Obama and Romney, the choice would always be Romney.
"I said, given the choice between a Christian like Barack Obama, who embraces non-Biblical principles like abortion, and a Mormon like Mitt Romney, who embraces Biblical principles, there is every reason to support Mitt Romney in this election," he said. "I've been consistent in that."
