The White House says Christians have a right to be upset after secretary of state nominee Mike Pompeo was interrogated during a Senate hearing over his religious beliefs regarding marriage.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) demanded to know if Pompeo opposed same-sex marriage. Booker came dangerously close to suggesting Pompeo’s Christian faith and religious beliefs made him unsuitable to be secretary of state.

Booker: "Is being gay a perversion?“

Pompeo: "Senator, when I was a politician, I had a very clear view on whether it was appropriate for two same-sex persons to marry. I stand by that.”

Booker: "So, you do not believe that it’s appropriate for two gay people to marry?“

Pompeo: "Senator, I continue to hold that view.”

Sen. Booker then grilled the former CIA director about his views on gay sex.

“You believe that gay sex is a perversion? Yes or no,” the senator demanded to know. “Yes or no? Do you believe gay sex is a perversion?”

The Family Research Council accused Booker of putting forward “what is essentially a new litmus test that says one must endorse homosexuality — effectively choosing between faith and public service.”

Thousands of people have already signed an FRC petition urging the Senate to reject Booker’s religious test. Click here to sign the petition.

White House spokesman Hogan Gidley addressed Booker’s line of questioning Monday on the “Todd Starnes Radio Show.”

“It’s an attempt by Cory Booker to try and shame Mr. Pompeo and I think it’s backfiring in spectacular fashion,” Gidley said on the radio program. “Christian groups should be outraged.”

Booker doubled down on his Facebook page, calling Pompeo an unacceptable choice for secretary of state.

At a time when suicide rates for gay youth are painfully high; at a time when gay youth make up an unacceptable level — 40 percent — of homeless youth; at a time when bullying and violence is disproportionately high against gay youth with large percentages of gay youth reporting missing school because of fear for their safety: what does it mean that we elevate a man to be our Secretary of State — 4th in line to the presidency — who believes that a gay youth is a perversion?

It’s becoming increasingly difficult for people of the Christian faith to practice their religion in the public marketplace. Religious liberty is under attack — as evidenced by this sordid congressional hearing.

The cold, hard reality is there are some in Congress who believe that Christians who believe in the Biblical definition of marriage should not be allowed to bake cakes, sell wedding dresses, own flower shops or become secretary of state.

Sen. Booker publicly shamed Mr. Pompeo because of his deeply held religious beliefs. That is disgraceful and it’s bigoted and it’s downright un-American.