'The Islamic religion in my view is a cult,'' Dozier said Friday, when asked to recap the cooffntroversial comments he made earlier on The Steve Kane Radio Show on WNN-AM 1470. ''On the show I said that Islam is a dangerous religion.''

Dozier was on the program to address efforts by him and other black ministers to block a plan by the Islamic Center of South Florida to build a center in Northwest Pompano Beach.

The ministers say they don't want the Islamic center, with its mosque, in their neighborhood. They have argued it will jeopardize the community's safety because of what one group member characterized as the religion's ''track record'' of terrorism.

The pastor of Worldwide Christian Center in Pompano Beach, Dozier is leading a protest over a mosque's planned move to the city's black community. In a news release late last month, Dozier called Islam "a cult" and said the mosque's plans have residents in the predominantly "black Christian neighborhood" feeling less safe and secure.

"With such a cult in our neighborhood, we believe that our neighborhood could become a breeding ground for terrorists," he said.

Dozier, a prominent black Republican who has recruited blacks to the GOP and advised President Bush, was unapologetic.

"I don't see the crime I committed," he said. "We're fighting for freedom in Iraq. I guess there's an exception to that when you accept an appointment."

On Friday, Gov. Bush's office issued a statement distancing him from Dozier.

''Gov. Bush in no way shares Rev. Dozier's views on Islam,'' said Alia Faraj, Bush's spokeswoman. ''Florida's greatest strength is its diverse population, which is bolstered by the many faiths of our residents.''

Dozier said later Friday that his comments ''shouldn't be linked'' to the governor.

He said he is concerned about political repercussions. Gov. Bush appointed Dozier to serve on Broward's Judicial Nominating Commission.

''I am concerned about the criticism in that I don't see where my personal opinion should cause an uproar in other people's hearts,'' he said.

Dozier, who has a degree from the John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, is among a growing number of black ministers who have embraced conservative Republican values on such issues as abortion and same-sex marriages.

From FrontPage Magazine we learn that radical mosques are being built across the United States at an alarming rate, all tethered to a fanatical strain of Islam emanating from Saudi Arabia.

And while so many have gone up, not one has come down. Not even Brooklyn, New York's Al-Farooq Mosque, which housed al-Qaeda's American hub in the early 90's, the Alkifah Refugee Center, has met its demise. Recently, a new mosque of this kind was given the green light, a 29,000 square foot goliath, smack in the middle of South Florida.

And lets not forget that terrorist cells in the U.S. is still a major concern.

I believe that the minister has every reason to be concerned.

I't be very interested to know the true source of the funding for the mosque, and how much of it can be traced to the Saudis and other Islamist supporters.