John Hagee Stands by Remarks that Sinful Gays Caused Katrina

Pastor John Hagee, whose endorsement John McCain gladly gobbled up, stood by remarks he made in 2006 that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for the sinful Southern Decadence party that gays were planning to hold in New Orleans.

At that time, Hagee said: “I believe that New Orleans had a level of sin that was offensive to God, and they are — were recipients of the judgment of God for that. The newspaper carried the story in our local area that was not carried nationally that there was to be a homosexual parade there on the Monday that the Katrina came. And the promise of that parade was that it was going to reach a level of sexuality never demonstrated before in any of the other Gay Pride parades. So I believe that the judgment of God is a very real thing. I know that there are people who demur from that, but I believe that the Bible teaches that when you violate the law of God, that God brings punishment sometimes before the day of judgment. And I believe that the Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans.”

Right-wing radio talk show host Dennis Prager yesterday asked Hagee to confirm if he still stands by those comments, asking, of Katrina, “I’m only trying to understand that in the case of New Orleans, you do feel that God’s hand was in it because of a sinful city?”

Responded Hagee: “That it was a city that was planning a sinful conduct, yes.”

Think Progress adds: “In February, after working hard to gain Hagee’s endorsement, McCain said he was “very honored” to receive it. Since then, he has both “repudiate[d]” and defended Hagee’s anti-Catholic and “anti-anything” remarks. But as Think Progress has noted, McCain has never specifically commented on Hagee’s offensive beliefs about Hurricane Katrina or his anti-gay comments. Given the fact that McCain will be in New Orleans tomorrow, will reporters ask whether he agrees with Hagee belief that the devastated city was cursed because of a gay pride parade? We’ll be watching.”

Previously
Pastor John Hagee: Anti-Gay Katrina Remarks ‘So Far Off-Base’ [tr]
John McCain Embraces, Rather than Denounces, Wingnut John Hagee [tr]