Mike Huckabee said in an interview with Newsmax TV recently that President Obama only “pretends to be” a Christian, as evidenced by his invitation of several pro-gay-rights and pro-choice Christians to a reception with the pope this week and the fact that he has, according to Huckabee, made it “very difficult for people to practice their Christian faith” in America.

When Newsmax’s Ed Berliner asked Huckabee about his GOP presidential rival Ben Carson’s comment’ that there should never be a Muslim president, Huckabee responded that “there is no religious test to hold public office in America,” and that he was more concerned about people like the president whose faith lacks “authenticity.”

“I’m less concerned about what faith a person has. I’m more concerned about the authenticity of their faith and how that plays out in their policies,” he said. “I’m also concerned about a guy who believes he’s a Christian and pretends to be and says he is, but then does things that make it very difficult for people to practice their Christian faith.”

“I’m disappointed if a person says, ‘I’m a Christian,’ but you invite the Pope into your home and then you invite a whole bunch of people who are at odds with the Catholic Church policy. I think there’s something very unseemly about that.”

Huckabee said earlier this week that the president’s guest list for the pope’s visit is another reason why his administration “will go down as the most anti-Christian in American history.”