Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke Beto O'RourkeJimmy Carter says his son smoked pot with Willie Nelson on White House roof O'Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: 'A champion for the values we're most proud of' 2020 Democrats do convention Zoom call MORE (D) has come under fire from conservatives after telling viewers at a CNN town hall on LGBTQ issues Thursday night that religious organizations should lose their tax-exempt status if they oppose gay marriage.

O'Rourke was questioned during the Human Rights Campaign-sponsored Equality Town Hall by CNN's Don Lemon Don Carlton LemonCNN's Don Lemon: 'Blow up the entire system' remark taken out of context CNN's Lemon: 'We're going to have to blow up the entire system' if Democrats win back White House, Senate Scaramucci to Lemon: Trump 'doubling down' on downplaying virus 'should scare' viewers MORE whether he believed churches, religious schools and charities should lose their tax-exempt statuses "if they oppose same-sex marriage."

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"Yes," he responded. "There can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break, for anyone, or any institution, any organization in America that denies the full human rights and the full civil rights of every single one of us."

"As president, we're going to make that a priority and we are going to stop those who are infringing upon the human rights of our fellow Americans," he added.

The answer was sharply criticized by various conservative commentators, including Daily Wire editor-in-chief Ben Shapiro.

"Your mere existence is an infringement, according to Beto O'Rourke," Shapiro said. "You want a culture war? You damn well have it, Beto O'Rourke."

"Beto O'Rourke does not get to raise my child. And if he tries, I will meet him at the door with a gun," Shapiro added, referring to O'Rourke's suggestion that the policy should apply to religious schools.

Ben Shapiro warns that if politicians try to mandate LGBTQ 'indoctrination' at all schools, then he will "pick up a gun." Further adding "Beto O'Rourke does not get to raise my child. And if he tries, I will meet him at the door with a gun" pic.twitter.com/Hq7SyF7FeI — Jason Campbell (@JasonSCampbell) October 11, 2019

Former presidential candidate Herman Cain Herman CainThe Hill's 12:30 Report - Presented by Facebook - Big 10 votes to resume football season Exclusive: Internal documents show officials waved red flags before Trump's Tulsa rally Herman Cain account tweets coronavirus 'not as deadly' as claimed after his death from COVID-19 MORE (R) also blasted O'Rourke, tweeting: "Does your church preach the Gospel? Then Beto O'Rourke wants to take away its tax-exemption. #ReligiousFreedom."

Does your church preach the Gospel? Then Beto O'Rourke wants to take away its tax-exemption. #ReligiousFreedom https://t.co/sH40i9UGrg — Herman Cain (@THEHermanCain) October 11, 2019

Time magazine and Fox News contributor Christopher Hale added that the policy would likely shutter a number of religious-affiliated charities that support vulnerable people due to their opposition to gay marriage.

"The Catholic Church feeds more hungry people every day in this country than any other institution, including the federal government. Under Beto’s misguided policy, the Little Sisters of the Poor would lose their tax-exempt status because they oppose same-sex marriage," he tweeted.

The Catholic Church feeds more hungry people every day in this country than any other institution, including the federal government.



Under Beto’s misguided policy, the Little Sisters of the Poor would lose their tax-exempt status because they oppose same-sex marriage. https://t.co/Wc0XU6M9Ao — Christopher J. Hale (@chrisjollyhale) October 11, 2019

O'Rourke, meanwhile, has doubled down on the remark and tweeted Thursday night that "there can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break for anyone or any institution or organization in America that denies the full human rights, and the full civil rights, of everyone in America."