A U.S. conservative Christian pastor has come under fire for comments he made about interracial marriage.

On Saturday, Dale Partridge said in an online post that interracial marriage is not the “ideal,” while praising his own marriage to a Mexican American woman—remarks that have drawn backlash for perceived hypocrisy.

Partridge, an author, shared his comments in response to fellow conservative pastor Joel Webbon, who argued that interracial marriage falls outside of God’s “normative design.”

Partridge wrote: “Now, like Joel, I do not believe it is sinful, and if providence positions two Christians from different ethnic backgrounds to unite in marriage, it can be a glorious thing (which it has been for us). However, interracial marriage does create a variety of additional hurdles in marriage and family life.”

In a separate post discussing interracial relationships, he added: “Christ can help them overcome their racial and cultural differences, but should this be viewed as the norm or equal to the harmony of a non-interracial, cultural marriage? Of course not.”

In response to his comments, one user said she completely disagreed with his perspective, writing: “The Bible doesn’t say anything about an ‘ideal’ marriage for a Christian except that a man must marry a woman and must not be unequally yoked.” She added that while wisdom may guide whether a couple is well suited, this “has nothing to do with skin color.”

Others, however, expressed agreement with Partridge’s sentiment. One supporter said that “some cultures are compatible, and some are more difficult” to bring together.

Partridge, who said he has been married for 16 years, also stated that a husband must learn how his wife’s “ethnos has shaped her instincts, sensitivities, and assumptions.”

He added that external factors, including extended family dynamics, can feel “awkward or frustrating,” and said that “all of this can extend to children and their lives.”