On Sunday, between 1,500 and 2,000 people from Catawba Valley Citizens Against Hate and other groups in a protest outside Providence Road Baptist Church in Maiden, North Carolina, where Pastor Charles Worley had recently suggested gays and lesbians be rounded up in camps behind electrified fences. The demonstrators were met by dozens of counter-protestors who supported Worley’s message of hatred.
On Friday, a power box shorted out at the church, though the fire marshal doesn’t believe the incident was connected to Sunday’s demonstration.
According to the Hickory Record, Worley was warmly received at the pulpit:
Church members and about 100 visitors from in and outside the area gave Worley a standing ovation when he approached the pulpit. A few members stood up from the pews and spoke out in favor of Worley as officers watched and intervened when one particularly longwinded member spoke.
The atmosphere was a vocal and jubilant one. The sanctuary was mostly full, with the vast majority of the crowd singing and crying out in joy. Many threw their hands up in praising the Lord and in support of the pastor.
“I appreciate all the support,” Worley said, buoyed by the loud cheers and applause of the congregation.
More videos from the protest:
How about we take this to the next level?
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http://youtu.be/hXxUgQEbfLk
Stephen
They weren’t outside the church. You need to fact check.
1equalityUSA
Thanks for going through the trouble of speaking out and spending an afternoon fighting hatred from the pulpit Catawba Valley Citizens Against Hate.
Unconditional love is impossible to sell, it needs to be lived. That is the only way its trueness may be measured. The Church ought to know this. It’s scary that they don’t and it makes the Church, the leaders of the Church, appear less true. People underestimate the damage that inequality does. It takes years, generations, to overcome being thought of as, “lesser than.” Being different is more of a lesson for those who encounter us, rather than the other way.
It’s easy to love one of your own. If you merely love those who love you, what quality of credit and thanks is that to you? For even the very sinners love their lovers—those who love them.
MarkG
What’s interesting is that the people acting the most crazy are the so called religious people in these videos.
Jaroslaw
I couldn’t watch the video clip, but I’ve read a lot about this and I am surprised that no one mentioned (and apparently Worley can’t figure out) is that HETERO couples give birth to Gay children. So the fence idea won’t work. DUH.
B
Interestingly, the most obese of the lot seemed to be the “Christian” counter protesters. I guess “homo sex” is a sin because they dropped gluttony from the list and had to find a replacement PDQ.
Hansy
Christians who hate…. it boggles my mind. i grew up in a Pentecostal church, did my pastor rant and rave when he found out i was gay?? no, he loved me unconditionally. i dont understand how people who claim to love and serve Jesus can say such things…