If you ever wanted proof that religious right leaders do no have the best interest of their flocks in their hearts, listen to Louisiana preacher Tony Spell, who faces charges for violating COVID-19 sheltering protocols.
“True Christians do not mind dying,” of the virus, he opined, not bothering to define “true” Christians.
Spell first made headlines in late March when police slapped him with six misdemeanor charges. Spell violated lockdown prohibitions against large gatherings by bussing in more than 1,800 people to a church service. In early April, he did the same thing, preaching to around 1,000 people at his Tabernacle Life Church near Baton Rouge, an epicenter of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Now the minister tells TMZ that real Christians should ignore social distancing guidelines promulgated by federal and local governments.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Related: Minister accused of raiding HIV/AIDS charity funds to pay for his own luxury living
“True Christians do not mind dying. They fear living in fear,” Spell claimed in the interview.
He went on to say he would feel no responsibility when his church services spread the potentially lethal virus. “Yea, that we walk through the valley of the shadow of death will fear no evil because God is with us… Death looks to them like a welcome friend.”
“People have been locked in their homes now for 23 days like prisoners,” Spell continued. “The only vent for their emotion they have is coming to the house of God and worshipping, like free people,” not to mention contributing to his ministry.
Hmmm. He might wanna instead try a pleasant stroll around the local park where it’s easy to avoid infecting others or getting infected and bringing the virus back to your loved ones, risking serious illness or even a long, isolated, painful death.
Spell also commented that he hopes to hold a massive Easter Sunday service this week. Because there is nothing like sickness and death on Resurrection Sunday.
In addition to his contempt for common sense, Tony Spell has a long history of anti-LGBTQ commentary.
In the past, he likened marriage equality to group marriage, saying “Same-sex marriage gives the benefit of sexual pleasure and marital rights while separating themselves from the responsibility of reproduction.”
He also claimed “the spirit of the majority of TV sitcoms are homosexual oriented” and that movies “promote homosexuality” and will destroy the American family.
One might argue he’s doing a much better job of that all by himself.
Watch. Or don’t:
Kathukid
But wait, I heard “the blood of Jesus can cure anything and will protect Christians”. And now they are willing to die? Nothing is more crazy than religion.
blackhook
Exactly! #ImagineNoReligion #ItsEasyIfYouTry
Jared MacBride
He cares about one thing: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Josh447
Bingo. And one thing only.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
This carnival barking snake oil salesman puddle of puke’s motivation is pure greed.
• No butts in the pews
• No bucks in the basket
Normally I would say this is great way to cull the herd and have these hate filled noxious bigots deservedly die off.
They are deliberately exposing dedicated healthcare workers and innocent people to a deadly virus they should all be locked up in some kind of concentration camp let them all sit and wallow in their own disgusting hate filled hatred.
The joke is on them because Jesus and God look down on these cretins in disgust they don’t carry their word
of peace love and understanding are all destined to burn in the darkest corner of Hell for all eternity in excruciating agony
Cam
The Trump cult is morphing into a suicide cult.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Who said there is no good news lately?
🙂
Tempus
You know I hear it’s a impossible to get a glass of water in hell but I bet he’s earned at least a sip with this drivel. I don’t know any Christians who are willing to die or unafraid to die. They may have faith there’s an afterlife but that doesn’t mean they’re going to commit suicide to get there which is a major sin and I consider purposely endangering your life as well as others with a potentially deadly virus essentially the same thing. I mean you don’t know you’re definitely going to die but if you’re like who cares then that’s pretty much suicide. Of course we all know nobody sane really feels this way. I bet if a parishioner coughed in his face he’d try not to freak out in front of them and then secretly get tested ASAP.
cruzerdad
Well since he doesn’t mind dying, I hope he’s one of the first to go. You reap what you sow … asshole.
CMarks
Agreed, he should lead by example.
radiooutmike
Oh sure, blame the queers.
It’s never their “sins” which cause anything.
Dick Gozinia
…and I don’t mind letting them die if they are stupid enough to believe that ‘pastor’ and stupid enough to go to church while all reasonable people are saying ‘Stay home!’
JromeGervais09
The majority of Americans are in a war with the republican administration and the far right evangelical wingnuts. In war, there is always death.
t
Great! Let’s quarantine one positive case of COVID with his entire congregation for 3 months, supplying them with all the food and water they would need but no access to healthcare. Godspeed!
Kangol2
But I thought he was “pro-life”!
Diplomat-G
Excellent please die quickly.
loren_1955
Not wishing harm on anyone, however, if they die it will reduce from the gene pool these idiocies.
Mack
If “True Christians” don’t mind dying-then hurry up and die. Then we can tell the “true Christians” from the fake. Something tells me there is going to be a hell of lot of fake out there.
Creamsicle
“Same-sex marriage gives the benefit of sexual pleasure and marital rights while separating themselves from the responsibility of reproduction.”
So does a hetero couple that doesn’t want kids. Condoms exist, vasectomies and tubal ligation exist, menopause exists. No couple stays fertile forever. Should all hetero marriages therefore dissolve as soon as a woman enters menopause, a man experiences Erectile Dysfunction, or one partner discovers that they are infertile?
TomG
There is NO SUCH THING as a “True Christian” because when it comes right down to it they ALL ARE SCARED OF DYING.
scotty
if you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people.
midwest sensible
i suggest he be the first to get in line to die.
James
JESUS DID NOT DIE FOR THIS CREEP.
OhHellNo
I certainly don’t mind “Christians” dying, since they suck at being Christians. Why have a war with them when the dumbasses can just kill themselves? If there were a God he’d be shoving ’em into the church and locking the door.