US Fundamentalists: hurricane was God’s judgement on New Orleans
-31/08/05
By Gary Hopkins
As emergency teams fight to reach survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, a conservative group in the US has claimed that the hurricane was an ìact of Godî in judgement on the city.
Repent America, an organisation that claims to ìgo out into the streets and communities of America declaring the word of God and proclaiming the Good Newsî, has said that an upcoming event in the city caused God to act.
The annual event was ëSouthern Decadenceí, which brings together thousands of homosexuals, enabling them to celebrate their sexuality.
This year, the Louisiana governor ordered the evacuation of New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina headed towards the city, resulting in the event having to be cancelled.
The hurricane hit New Orleans and flooded up to 80% of the city. It could take up to a month just to clear the water.
As some survivors continue to fight for food and water, Repent Americaís director, Michael Marcavage, suggested that ìthis act of God destroyed a wicked city. New Orleans was a city that opened its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same.î
He continued, ìWe must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long.î
But Rev. Martin Reynolds from the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) told Ekklesia, ìThis is an awful, evil way of interpreting Godís love, it is cruel, criminal and contrary to everything I understand of scripture and the love of God.
ìNormally I wouldnít give them a second thought, but I am concerned for Christians who take this seriously. I wonder if theyíve grasped the basic message of our faith.î
ìI hope that those in the area will not judge Christians upon what these people say.î
Gary Hopkins is a reporter for Ekklesia and a Methodist lay preacher.
US Fundamentalists: hurricane was God’s judgement on New Orleans
-31/08/05
By Gary Hopkins
As emergency teams fight to reach survivors of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, a conservative group in the US has claimed that the hurricane was an ‘act of God’ in judgement on the city.
Repent America, an organisation that claims to ‘go out into the streets and communities of America declaring the word of God and proclaiming the Good News’, has said that an upcoming event in the city caused God to act.
The annual event was ëSouthern Decadence’, which brings together thousands of homosexuals, enabling them to celebrate their sexuality.
This year, the Louisiana governor ordered the evacuation of New Orleans as Hurricane Katrina headed towards the city, resulting in the event having to be cancelled.
The hurricane hit New Orleans and flooded up to 80% of the city. It could take up to a month just to clear the water.
As some survivors continue to fight for food and water, Repent America’s director, Michael Marcavage, suggested that ‘this act of God destroyed a wicked city. New Orleans was a city that opened its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. May it never be the same.’
He continued, ‘We must not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long.’
But Rev. Martin Reynolds from the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM) told Ekklesia, ‘This is an awful, evil way of interpreting God’s love, it is cruel, criminal and contrary to everything I understand of scripture and the love of God.
‘Normally I wouldn’t give them a second thought, but I am concerned for Christians who take this seriously. I wonder if they’ve grasped the basic message of our faith.’
‘I hope that those in the area will not judge Christians upon what these people say.’
Gary Hopkins is a reporter for Ekklesia and a Methodist lay preacher.