General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums'If we die, we die for Christ': Florida megachurch pastor encourages folks to keep coming to service
Marissa Higgins
Daily Kos Staff
Monday March 16, 2020 · 12:26 PM EDT
As nations around the world buckle down amid coronavirus outbreaks, approaches to isolation and social distancing are inconsistent, at best, in the United States. While some cities and states are implementing bans on restaurants and bars staying open and capping the number of people in a space, some groups are moving forward with, ahem, business as usual. One example from last Sunday morning? Pastor Guillermo Maldonado, of King Jesus International Ministry, a megachurch in Kendall, Florida, encouraged his congregation to keep coming to service, downplaying concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, as reported by the Miami Herald.
Do you believe God would bring his people to his house to be contagious with the virus? Of course not, Maldonado, a Trump supporter, said to his congregation, as reported by the outlet.
This service is usually packed. So now theyre home in a cave afraid of the virus, that you want to transmit the virus, Maldonado continued. The Herald noted the venue appeared half empty.
Maldonados take contradicts advice from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to cancel group gatherings of more than 50 people for the next two months. It also stands in opposition to what other religious groups are doing. For example, Catholic churches have begun canceling mass until further notice, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon church) canceled service indefinitely, and even some megachurches have switched to virtual services.
Of course, this is far from the first time Maldonado has been outrageous. The pastor once told his congregation that no undocumented immigrants would be deported if they attended a Trump campaign rally held at the church. As reported by The Advocate, Maldonado has claimed homosexuality invites unclean spirits into our lives and may stem from a demonic attack while in the womb. In terms of being chummy with Trump, Maldonado was selected to pray for the president as part of the Evangelicals for Trump rally in January.
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This might be their "rapture" but they'll really hate the dying-of-pneumonia-part of it...
SamKnause
(13,101 posts)Champp
(2,114 posts)And everyone else who has not dialed 1-800-UNHOLY-GRIFTER ready to give up their credit card numbers.
Republican "morality" is slime-bucket skeezy.
mindem
(1,580 posts)excel at finding new ways to be stupid and all-around pains in the ass.
mucifer
(23,542 posts)group that deems food at the most kosher, has come out and said prayer and Torah classes should be done be phone or video conferencing and community events should be postponed.
Link from 3/15
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/us-news/jewish-american-leaders-rise-to-coronavirus-challenge/2020/03/15/
Jamastiene
(38,187 posts)forever. Just freaking stay there, assholes.
They had better be glad i am not in charge. They would be forced to stay so they cannot spread this stuff and endanger everyone else. Just make them stay there indefinitely, the selfish, self-serving assholes.
NRaleighLiberal
(60,014 posts)lpbk2713
(42,757 posts)...
3Hotdogs
(12,375 posts)jls4561
(1,257 posts)we now have another reason to avoid these people like the plague
C_U_L8R
(45,002 posts)Blessed are the idiots for they will self-infect. Beware them with red caps marked by the beast Magat.
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)Looks like some have a functioning brain.
The Herald noted the venue appeared half empty.
Baitball Blogger
(46,703 posts)pansypoo53219
(20,976 posts)lindysalsagal
(20,680 posts)Ok, ok, that's inhumane. But they started it with their ignorant deathwishes.
It's a free country, and if they all want to die from a stupid virus, well, it wasn't my idea.
treestar
(82,383 posts)If you don't go to Mass and Confession, it's a sin of some kind. Interesting they allowed science to prevail.
Megachurches are full of idiots. And wasn't it one of those in S. Korea where one lady spread the virus to many? That was before it was known.
like Jews (see above) have institutional experience with pandemics and social distancing, and have already come up with theological justifications for not being dumb. Newer megachurches do not.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Yes, that makes sense. It was around during the plague. And the old can be excused from the requirements.
Goodheart
(5,321 posts)Sunsky
(1,737 posts)dalton99a
(81,475 posts)Zorro
(15,740 posts)Wonder if he got it at Costco.
dalton99a
(81,475 posts)treestar
(82,383 posts)sarge43
(28,941 posts)OnDoutside
(19,956 posts)Aristus
(66,328 posts)If this is what it takes to reduce the population of potential Trump voters for this November, I'm down with it...
NCjack
(10,279 posts)and keep that money flowing to that successfully looking preacher.
Sunsky
(1,737 posts)This weekend we attended church via Facebook/ YouTube. Only the pastor and a few essential personnel were at church.
BSdetect
(8,998 posts)sarge43
(28,941 posts)Always follow the money; you'll seldom get lost.
defacto7
(13,485 posts)sarge43
(28,941 posts)Any wonder why these types love the Moron so much - their kind of guy.
DBoon
(22,363 posts)Their cult was partly responsible for the spread of the virus
Response to Dennis Donovan (Original post)
agingdem This message was self-deleted by its author.
Under The Radar
(3,401 posts)Bengus81
(6,931 posts)Javaman
(62,525 posts)Zambero
(8,964 posts)Here, have you a drink of my Kool-Aid. You'll be in good hands for eternity!