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SALT LAKE CITY -- An LDS-oriented group is calling on GOP presidential hopeful Rick Santorum to disavow a pastor who made anti-Mormon comments earlier this week.
In a news release, MormonVoices, which is associated with the Foundation for Apologetic Information and Research, called for Santorum to "condemn the anti-Mormon comments made by his supporter, an honorary Florida chairman, the Rev. O'Neal Dozier" of the Worldwide Christian Center.
On Monday Dozier said "the Mormon religion is prejudiced against blacks, Jews and native Americans." He called Mormonism a "racist" religion and called on Romney to renounce it.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not issue a response to Dozier but earlier has said "people of all races have always been welcomed and baptized into the church since its beginning" and "the church unequivocally condemns racism, including any and all past racism by individuals both inside and outside the church."
Scott Gordon, managing director of MormonVoices, not associated with the church, said, "Dozier's comments represent a form of religious bigotry that should not be tolerated by any serious candidate for the Presidency of the United States. His comments are either ignorant or are willful misrepresentations for personal or political purposes."
