- The Washington Times - Tuesday, April 9, 2019

South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 presidential hopeful, took another shot at Vice President Mike Pence’s religious faith Monday, saying it’s time for the country to “move on toward a more inclusive and more humane vision” of Christianity.

“All of us deserve equal claim on the blessings of life in this country,” Mr. Buttigieg told reporters outside a campaign event at the MadHouse Coffee shop in Las Vegas.

“Just because you are LGBTQ doesn’t mean it’s OK to discriminate against you,” he said. “I think most people get that, I think most Christians get that, and it’s time for us to move on toward a more inclusive and more humane vision of faith than what this vice president represents.”

It’s the second time in recent days that Mr. Buttigieg, an openly gay Christian, has criticized Mr. Pence’s faith as it relates to his record on LGBTQ rights when he was the governor of Indiana.

Mr. Buttigieg said during a speech at the LGBTQ Victory Fund’s annual brunch on Sunday that his marriage to a man moved him “closer to God.”

“That’s the thing I wish the Mike Pences of the world would understand: That if you have a problem with who I am, your quarrel is not with me. Your quarrel, sir, is with my creator,” he said.

Last week, Mr. Buttigieg questioned the faith of President Trump, saying it’s “hard to look at this president’s actions and believe that they’re the actions of somebody who believes in God.”

• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.

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