LANCASTER, Calif. (February 2, 2010)--Lancaster, Calif. Mayor R. Rex Parris is getting some criticism for telling residents that their town is a growing Christian community and they should be proud of that.

Parris made the remarks at the end of his annual State of the City address last week.

The Greater Los Angeles area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations denounced the comments and said it plans to file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Justice Department.

Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said elected officials shouldn't be using their public positions to impose their religious beliefs.

Parris told the Los Angeles Times that wasn’t his intention and said he won’t apologize.

Lancaster is about 40 miles northeast of Los Angeles.