Orlando shooting praised as 'great' by Sacramento Baptist pastor
Pastor Roger Jimenez says government should 'blow brains out' of all LGBT people
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Your support makes all the difference.A Baptist pastor has praised the attack on an LGBT nightclub in Orlando that killed 49 people, the deadliest mass shooting in US history, during a sermon in Sacramento.
The remarks, made by Roger Jimenez just hours after the shooting, appeared on the Verity Baptist Church’s YouTube account.
“Are you sad that 50 paedophiles were killed today?” he said in the sermon. “Um no, I think that’s great! I think that helps society. I think Orlando, Florida is a little safer tonight.”
“The tragedy is that more of them didn’t die. The tragedy is I’m kind of upset he didn’t finish the job – because these people are predators. They are abusers."
Mr Jimenez went on to say he wished homosexuals would be put in front of a firing squad.
He said: "I wish the government would round them all up, put them up against a firing wall, put the firing squad in front of them and blow their brains out.
“We don’t need to do anything to help. As far as I’m concerned, Orlando is a little bit safer tonight.”
Sandrea Nelson, the Pride director of the Davis-Phoenix coalition, said in a statement: “He’s not a man of God. He is not teaching religion.
“Statements like this can cause more harm to our youth and people in the closet; it causes them to feel worthless. Bottom line is to love thy brother as you love thyself."
Kevin Johnson, the mayor of Sacramento, condemned the remarks.
He said: "The hateful comments made by a preacher in Sacramento do not reflect Christian values and have no place in our society."
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