Donald Trump has been lambasted by the senior editors of The Christian Post in an unusual move to "encourage our readers to back away" from the Republican frontrunner.
An opinion piece for the popular Christian news website said it does not usually take political positions but was making an exception "because Trump is exceptionally bad".
The Republican candidate, who is favourite to win the nomination in most of the 12 Super Tuesday states, "claims to speak for and represent the interests of evangelicals", according to the piece.
It reads: "We feel compelled by our moral responsibility to our readers to make clear that Donald Trump does not represent the interests of evangelicals and would be a dangerous leader for our country."
One of the editors' main gripes with Trump is that he "has never asked for forgiveness".
"There are certain non-negotiable actions needed to become a Christian: One must repent of their sins and follow Christ as Lord and Savior. Trump doesn't talk this way, even when urged to," they wrote.
However the article did not stop there. The authors went on an extraordinary all-out assault against the presidential candidate and New York billionaire.
"Trump is a misogynist and philanderer," they wrote. "He demeans women and minorities. His preferred forms of communication are insults, obscenities and untruths. While Christians have been guilty of all of these, we, unlike Trump, acknowledge our sins, ask for forgiveness and seek restitution with the aid of the Holy Spirit and our community of believers."
They continued: "Trump is promising many things that he cannot possibly deliver, but the most frightening part is Trump's stated willingness to ignore the authority of the Supreme Court, Congress and the U.S. Constitution if he were to become president."
The article also takes a swipe at Trump's previous career in business saying he has been "surrounded by controversy for decades because of his untruthfulness, questionable business practices, reported association with organized crime, and abrupt changes in fundamental positions."
It concludes: "This is a critical time in American history and we call on all Christians to pray for personal repentance, divine forgiveness and spiritual awakening for our nation. It is not the time for Donald Trump."
