Republican Angle’s longtime pastor denounces Reid’s faith, calls Mormon Church cult

Angle’s longtime pastor denounces Reid’s faith

LAS VEGAS — The former pastor of Senate candidate Sharron Angle denounced Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s faith, calling the Mormon Church a cult that pretends to embrace Christianity.

Sonrise Church Pastor John Reed told The Associated Press on Thursday that the Nevada Democrat has devoted his political career to advancing the interests of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Reed said the Mormon Church is a cult in part because it swears members to secrecy and pretends to be Christian, but doesn’t accept Jesus Christ as its one savior.

Angle’s campaign distanced itself from Reed. Spokesman Jarrod Agen says that “as a Christian, Sharron shares the same values with other active Christians, including those of the Latter Day Saints community.”

Reid’s campaign has called for Angle to respond directly to the pastor’s comments.