Pro-Santorum Pastor Is Under Fire for Saying Americans 'Will Not Vote for a Mormon

The Rev. O’Neal Dozier has a "way" with words. The faith leader, who is backing GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, has allegedly made controversial comments about homosexuals, Islam and now -- candidate Mitt Romney's faith. In an interview with the Palm Beach Post following a speech that Santorum gave at his church, Dozier said that Romney can't win the U.S. presidency because of his Mormon faith.

What started as an opportunity for Santorum to reach out to African Americans has ended in controversy following the reverend's comments.

“You can look at the June Gallup poll that shows the people have already spoken – 22 percent of the electorate will not vote for a Mormon,” Dozier said. “The American people will not vote for a Mormon to be president of the United States.”

The Blaze has extensively covered Romney's faith, as we've explored to what degree it's impacted his candidacy. While polls show that being a Mormon wouldn't harm his chances in the general election, Dozier seemed certain it would.

The pastor went on to say that Romney would have a tough time gaining the support of the African American community, as he also maintained that the Mormon church is bigoted toward blacks. If given the ticket, Dozier seems to believe that Obama supporters will parade what he believe to be a racist viewpoint held within the Mormon church.

“Blacks are not going to vote for anyone of the Mormon faith,” he said. “The book of Mormon says the Negro skin is cursed.”

Following these comments, the Post article goes on to say:

From 1849 through 1978 the Church of Latter-Day Saints barred blacks from its priesthood. The church has lifted but not repudiated the policy.

In 1978, though, the church issued an official declaration following prayer and meditation that overturned the priesthood restrictions that once disallowed African American men from participating. A portion of the written description of the revelation read:

Aware of the promises made by the prophets and presidents of the Church who have preceded us that at some time, in God’s eternal plan, all of our brethren who are worthy may receive the priesthood, and witnessing the faithfulness of those from whom the priesthood has been withheld, we have pleaded long and earnestly in behalf of these, our faithful brethren, spending many hours in the Upper Room of the Temple supplicating the Lord for divine guidance.

He has heard our prayers, and by revelation has confirmed that the long-promised day has come when every faithful, worthy man in the Church may receive the holy priesthood, with power to exercise its divine authority, and enjoy with his loved ones every blessing that flows therefrom, including the blessings of the temple. Accordingly, all worthy male members of the Church may be ordained to the priesthood without regard for race or color. Priesthood leaders are instructed to follow the policy of carefully interviewing all candidates for ordination to either the Aaronic or the Melchizedek Priesthood to insure that they meet the established standards for worthiness.

Relations between African Americans and the Mormon church have been evolving and improving since this statement was issued. In a June 2011 New York Times article, Harvard University religion student Max Perry Mueller (he's writing a dissertation on African-Americans and the Mormon church) said that the church has “made a very sincere effort” to include blacks.

In fact, just this month two black members of the church released a four-part DVD series that explains misconceptions as well as the history behind these policies.

This isn't the first time Dozier has landed himself in headlines for making controversial comments. In one interview, he said, "One day our grandchildren will live under the grips of sharia law. It's coming our way. Islam has a plan, a 20-year plan, to take over America from within. And they're doing it."

Watch these comments, below (begins around 5:30):

In another video, he is seen defending the Tea Party and claiming that "God is not a socialist" and that "God is not a Robin Hood."

Additionally, Dozier was allegedly quoted as saying that homosexuality is "something so nasty and disgusting that it makes God want to vomit" back in 2003 as well.

The most recent comments about Mormonism were made to the Post after Republican candidate Rick Santorum made his first Florida campaign stop at Dozier's church. While at the house of worship, the conservative leader gave a faith-based sermon.

“He came to a predominately black church, and he began his campaign at the most impoverished, HIV-invested area of South Florida,” Dozier said of Santorum's visit to the church. “That will be a big boost to blacks Americans. The conservative blacks want a man who is principled.”

Dozier also expressed that he might be open to a Gingrich ticket, though he expressed dome doubts.

(H/T: Post on Politics)