Sacramento Baptist Preacher Praises Orlando Gay Nightclub Attack

June 13, 2016 11:59 PM
By Angela Musallam

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A Sacramento Baptist preacher’s sermon praising an attack on an Orlando nightclub that killed 50 people has the local LGBT community outraged.

Recordings of the sermon by Pastor Roger Jimenez surfaced under the Verity Baptist Church’s YouTube account.

“Are you sad that 50 pedophiles 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 remarks were delivered on Sunday morning, hours after the attack happened.

“We don’t need to do anything to help. As far as I’m concerned, Orlando is a little bit safer tonight,” he said.

Sandrea Nelson, the Pride director of the Davis-Phoenix coalition, was left in shock after hearing Jimenez’s sermon. He says in all his years growing up Baptist and attending church, no pastor ever spoke of inequality.

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“He’s not a man of God. He is not teaching religion,” he said.

Jimenez’s sermon went on to call for even more death at the hands of the government.

“If we lived in a righteous government, they should round them all up and put them up against a firing wall, and blow their brains out,” Jimenez said in the sermon.

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Nelson says it’s hateful and violent statements like these that keep many in the LGBT community shut out.

“Statements like this can cause more harm to our youth and people in the closet; it causes them to feel worthless,” he said.

CBS13 went to speak with Jimenez at his home on Monday morning, but he declined.

With the LGBT community less than a year removed from a Supreme Court ruling opening the door for marriage equality, Nelson says they’ve become complacent. But Jimenez’s remarks are a reminder the fight for equality isn’t over.

“Bottom line is to love thy brother as you love thyself,” Nelson said.

10 p.m. UPDATE: Sacramento mayor Kevin Johnson condemned the remarks

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Kevin Johnson
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The hateful comments made by a preacher in Sacramento do not reflect Christian values and have no place in our society. #standwithorlando
10:02 PM - 13 Jun 2016



The original video of the sermon was taken down late Monday night by Youtube for violating the service’s policy on hate speech.

Angela Musallam facebook Twitter: @AngelaNews Facebook: AngelaTVNews Email: AMusallam@kovr.com Angela joined CBS13 in March 2016 as a general assignment reporter. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to continue her storytelling career in her home state. Born...
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