Carson: In order to preserve women's rights, America must remain a 'Judaeo-Christian' nation

Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who has been near the top of opinion polls, also said that he thought a US president's faith should be "consistent with the Constitution."

Republican presidential hopefuls, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson gestures while speaking during the Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on September 16, 2015.  (photo credit: FREDERIC J BROWN / AFP)
Republican presidential hopefuls, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson gestures while speaking during the Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California on September 16, 2015.
(photo credit: FREDERIC J BROWN / AFP)
While speaking at a rally at a Michigan university Thursday, Republican presidential hopeful Dr. Ben Carson said that America should remain a "Judaeo-Christian" nation in order to preserve "the American way" as well as women's rights, adding that Islamic societies treat women like "chattel."
Carson went on to say that Muslim societies who adopt from Sharia Law, a faith based system of religious rules, oppress women, stating "We do not want to import that type of ideology into America," according to news publication The Christain Science Monitor.
The comments, made at Spring Arbor University, come on the heels of recent controversial statements Carson made last week in regards to Islam, when he said that, in his opinion, a Muslim should not be president because the faith contradicts American values and the US Constitution, The Monitor added.
"I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that," Carson said while being interviewed on NBC's Meet the Press.
Carson, a retired neurosurgeon who has been near the top of opinion polls for the crowded field of Republican presidential candidates, also said that he thought a US president's faith should be "consistent with the Constitution."
Carson later clarified that he would not object to a Muslim president if they were "willing to put the Constitution above their ideology," according to the Detroit News.