An antigay pastor from Idaho who ignored public health orders and reopened his church in early May for in-person services, during which he discouraged congregants from wearing masks, has checked into an ICU after developing COVID-19.
Paul Van Noy is the senior pastor at Candlelight Christian Fellowship in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, a non-denominational church that opposes same-sex marriage and masturbation and compares homosexuality to bestiality, stopping just short of saying anyone who engages in such behaviors should be put to death.
A spokesperson for Candlelight Christian Fellowship says Van Noy has spent the past two weeks hooked up to an oxygen machine in a hospital bed while his wife, Brenda, who also contracted the virus, has been recovering at home. Five other church staff members have also been infected.
The spokesperson adds that Van Noy has no idea how he contracted the virus, although it really doesn’t seem like that big of a mystery.
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In a July 17 Facebook post, Van Noy told followers that his church would not comply with a local mask mandate, writing:
I have said here at Candlelight, ‘If a person wants to wear a mask they should be allowed to do so. However, if they don’t, that’s ok too.’ We will not close down our church, we will not stop singing praises to the Lord, and we will not be required to wear masks or refrain from allowing those who wish to wear one the opportunity.
When asked about this, the church spokesperson said, “We all have different opinions and approaches about things.”
In a recent Facebook post, Brenda Van Noy took a break from sharing Fox News clips and peddling QAnon conspiracy theories to say she underestimated the coronavirus.
“I haven’t taken this Covid seriously enough. I’m humbled,” she wrote. “Please take this serious. Pray for healing. Love each other. Pray for those who have lost loved ones because of this EVIL virus!”
We pray Van Noy makes a full recovery from COVID-19. And, once he does, we pray that he makes a full recovery from his homophobia, as well.
Related: Preachers gone wild: 5 religious leaders who refused to cancel church services (and one who died)
Cam
Typical Republican They don’t mind if thousands of people die until it effects them directly.
handy6924868
Could not have happened to a more deserving IDIOT!
scottk6561
Totally agree. If only Trump who doesn’t believe in science contracted the virus and science cured him the idiot still wouldn’t believe.
CMarks
Be assured that even if Van Noy fully recovers he will find a religious reason for his recovery and have absolutely no change in his ministry or his anti-homosexual preaching.
Matthewnow
Poop in poop out. That’s what it comes down to really.
vinnieboiblue
They should have let him die at the alter.
scottk6561
Agree
exgoalie
You may pray for his recovery but, personally, i hope his case of covid-19 is as nasty as his anti-gay comments and “teachings”. I also hope he has lingering effects for months and months after he’s “recovered”. He deserves what he gets.
MISTERJETT
why do people think they’re immune or think that covid-19 doesn’t even exist??
scottk6561
Because we have a president that keeps saying that this is a hoax and stupid people believe him.
jax florida
I remember back in the early eighties many evangelicals – and others – complained that people with HIV – then GRID – shouldn’t be allowed to take up hospital beds and shouldn’t get medicaid because they “caused their own illness.” I bet this church doesn’t think that should apply to them.
barryaksarben
of course they dont even tho they caused their own illness. It is so unfair tor people to point out their shortcomings while all they do is harp on other peoples lives
barryaksarben
She wont admit that even tho she was terribly wrong about this virus she could be wrong about many other things she thought. No, they are so full of their own divinity they cant see clearly. Or they could just be full of shit. I have to say if people are dying he should join them since he has that in with Jesus
Liquid Silver
Oxygen machine? Shouldn’t he rely on God to heal him with His Holy Oxygen? He don’t need no machine for that, just prayer.
8millionandcounting
Anytime I see the uniform of scam pastors I pretty much stop listening.
Uniform you ask?
Starched cheezzzzy Alan Flusser type shirts worn untucked and heavily starched medium wash 125.00 dollar jeans with high shine shoes so they can come off as cool and hip and not all stuffy so they can get down on your level to make you believe the B S they are feeding you in turn making sure to convince you that your tithe is going to the church and not funding their extravagant lifestyle. He deserves everything coming his way for being basically a snake oil salesman.
boymikefl
God doesn’t want people to be mean, hurt people, judge. Be compassionate, be humble, not greedy, don’t steal & this guy was all of that. So, He’s trying to teach him a lesson. He will decide his fate.
Glynn
He’s taking his f***ing time.
nitsua74
They should have refused him care. You love and believe in God so much? Go visit him then…
Ricanthony
Well, the world wont miss if he croaks.
James
ONE LESS NAZI TRASH LOSER IN THE WORLD !!!
HA HA HA HA HA HA !!!
cuteguy
Typical hypocritical conservative loser who is taking advantage of the overworked health care system bc he refused to wear a mask. He doesn’t deserve aid. He should go home and pray and preach so his cult followers can get the virus and we can be rid of them
Dkro
Give him what he wanted.
Magic over Science.
Hatred over Compassion.
Ignorance over Understanding.
#PullHisTube
Den
“When asked about this, the church spokesperson said, ‘We all have different opinions and approaches about things’.”
What is so typical (and so sad) about both the excessively religious and so much of the right is an inability to understand the difference between opinions and actuality. As for ‘approaches’, actions intended to avoid disease are best based on fact and statistic and never on opinion or religious belief. These people obviously never heard the old saw: “God helps those who help themselves”, believing instead that “God helps those who avoid constrictive action and do nothing but pray and endanger themselves.”
charlieeod74
Just another science denying Christian. When enough of them die perhaps they will come to believe.