VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., March 3 (UPI) -- Some students at the Virginia university founded by Pat Robertson say presidential candidate Mitt Romney is not Christian enough to speak there.
Robertson, a former presidential candidate himself as well as a broadcaster and evangelist, invited Romney, a Mormon, to address graduates at Regent University in May. He defended the decision in a memo to the faculty, The Virginia Pilot reported.
"Gov. Romney is running for the post of chief executive officer, not chief theologian," Robertson said.
Recent polls show a high level of distrust of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints remains in the United States and is strongest among evangelical Christians. Romney is also distrusted by some religious Republicans because of his former apparent support of gay rights and abortion rights when he ran for governor of Massachusetts.
The Pilot said e-mails and postings on Regent bulletin boards show feelings running high on both sides.
