Mormon Bishop Under Fire for Harry Reid Criticism SALT LAKE CITY — Nov 8, 2014, A Mormon bishop in Los Angeles is under fire for his assertion that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is unworthy to enter the faith's temples because of his support for Democratic Party positions.
Mark Peredes' blog, titled "Good Riddance to Harry Reid, the Mormon Senate Leader," has drawn criticism from the church and Mormon Democrats.
Peredes called Reid an "embarrassment" and expressed his belief that Democrats' support of same-sex marriage, abortion rights and gambling runs contrary to church positions.
"Of all of yesterday's election results, the one that made me dance a jig was the ousting of Harry Reid as Senate Majority Leader," he wrote. "The Senate's most powerful perch will no longer be occupied by a man who does not take his religion seriously.
"I have no doubt that Harry Reid is a wonderful man who loves his wife and kids, attends church, and is kind to animals. However, he is not a man of serious religious faith," he added.
Church spokesman Dale Jones issued a statement criticizing the blog. The essay was published Wednesday in The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.
"Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are, of course, entitled to express their own political opinions," he said. "However, publishing such views while using a title of a church officer, even if only as a leader of a local congregation as in this case, is entirely inappropriate."
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