Evangelical Christian Billy Graham stops calling Mormonism a 'cult' to help Romney into the White House



Evangelist Reverend Billy Graham has decided to no longer refer to Mormonism as a 'cult' following a sit-down meeting with Mitt Romney last week.

The 93-year-old Christian leader met with the Republican candidate for the first time at his home in North Carolina last week.



An article on Graham's website defining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a cult - along with Scientology and Unitarianism -has been taken down following the meeting, as Graham said he 'did not wish to participate in a theological debate'.



However the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association stopped short of calling it a change in their opinion of Mormonism.

Erasing: Reverend Billy Graham's website has removed language calling Mormonism a cult one week after sitting down with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, pictured

A statement from the Billy Graham Association read: 'We removed the information from the website because we do not wish to participate in a theological debate about something that has become politicized during this campaign.'

'Our primary focus at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association has always been promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ,' Ken Barun, chief of staff for BGEA said in a statement.



While calling his meet with Romney an ‘honor’ that included the company of his son Franklin Graham, their time together included a prayer session and broadcast praise of the presidential candidate that just fell flat in a full Romney endorsement.

‘It was an honor to meet and host Gov. Romney in my home today, especially since I knew his late father former Michigan Gov. George Romney, whom I considered a friend.

'I have followed Mitt Romney's career in business, the Olympic Games, as governor of Massachusetts and, of course, as a candidate for president of the United States.



Possible exception: Mr Romney, seen with Rev Billy Graham and his son Franklin, right, is a devote Mormon which until now has been defined as a cult by Mr Graham

'I hope millions of Americans will join me in praying for our nation and to vote for candidates who will support the biblical definition of marriage, protect the sanctity of life and defend our religious freedoms,' Mr Graham said in a statement following.

DEFINITION OF A CULT

'Teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate from the biblical message of the Christian faith' Examples: Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarians, the Unification Church, Scientologists and Spiritist - Billy Graham Evangelistic Association



Claiming to have said more, Romney campaign spokesman Rick Gorka said the reverend also told Romney: 'I'll do all I can to help you,' according to the Washington Post.

Describing a cult as a group that 'teaches doctrines or beliefs that deviate from the biblical message of the Christian faith' - listing Jehovah's Witnesses, Unitarians, the Unification Church, Scientologists and Spiritists as examples - the article's listing of Mormonism was removed after New Civil Rights Movement, a gay rights group, reported it remaining on their page following the reverend’s meeting on October 11.

Tip-toeing: The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association stopped short in both officially endorsing Mitt Romney as well as explaining the article's removal as a change of opinion in Romney's religion

Evangelical voters make up a quarter of the electorate according to recent surveys with most not considering Mormons as Christians though most of them still backing Romney’s candidacy.



'Most Christians would not recognize Mormonism as part of the Christian faith ... they have a lot of other things that they believe in too that we don't accept theologically.' - Franklin Graham in February



Late last year Franklin Graham, the president and CEO of the BGEA, expressed support for Mr Romney telling the Christian Broadcasting Network that his religion is just a side note to his political capabilities.



'You can have the nicest guy and he can be a Christian and just wonderful but have absolutely no clue as to how to run a country, you don't want that,' he said in December. 'Mitt Romney is a very capable fellow.'



When asked in February of this year by MSNBC whether he considers Romney a Christian, he said:

