Sen. Ted Cruz is at odds with Dr. Ben Carson's view that a Muslim should never become president, saying it flies in the face of the U.S. Constitution.
"You know, the Constitution specifies there shall be no religious test for public office and I am a constitutionalist," said the Texas Republican during an interview with Iowa Public Television airing later this week,
The Des Moines Register reports.
On Sunday, Carson told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he would "not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that."
The remark spurred a Muslim group, The Council on American-Islamic Relations, on Monday to demand that Carson, a retired pediatric neurosurgeon, drop out of the race.
Carson's campaign said the soft-spoken physician has nothing to apologize for, and in an interview with
The Hill, Carson reiterated his position.
"I do not believe Sharia is consistent with the Constitution of this country," he told The Hill, in a reference to Islamic law.
"Muslims feel that their religion is very much a part of your public life and what you do as a public official, and that's inconsistent with our principles and our Constitution."
He said the only exception would be if a Muslim candidate "publicly rejected all the tenants of Sharia and lived a life consistent with that. Then I wouldn't have any problem."
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