The anti-gay founder of Focus on the Family, James Dobson, claims Donald Trump is now a born-again Christian

The evangelical leader, who is also a founding member of the anti-gay Family Research Council, labeled a “hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center, said Trump had recently come “to accept a relationship with Christ” and was now “a baby Christian.”

Dobson gave his account of Trump’s recent conversion at a meeting in New York on Tuesday with hundreds of evangelical leaders, and claims he knows the person “who led him to Christ.”

“I don’t know when it was but it has not been long,” Mr. Dobson says. “I believe he really made a commitment, but he’s a baby Christian.”

The term “born again” is generally used by evangelical Christians to describe a spiritual renewal when a person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal savior, reports the New York Times.

Last year, Trump said that he had never asked for God’s forgiveness, and he has not publicly mentioned that he is a born-again Christian.

Dobson also said Trump should be “cut some slack” because he “didn’t grow up like we did” and is still learning the ropes. “He doesn’t know our language,” he added.