Thursday, September 01, 2005

ANOTHER FATWA

Via Andrew Sullivan, Christian activist Michael Marcavage claims that Hurricane Katrina was an act of God in judgement for New Orleans' decadent ways.
"Although the loss of lives is deeply saddening, this act of God destroyed a wicked city," stated Repent America director Michael Marcavage. "From 'Girls Gone Wild' to 'Southern Decadence,' New Orleans was a city that had its doors wide open to the public celebration of sin. From the devastation may a city full of righteousness emerge," he continued.

[snip]

"We must help and pray for those ravaged by this disaster, but let us not forget that the citizens of New Orleans tolerated and welcomed the wickedness in their city for so long," Marcavage said. "May this act of God cause us all to think about what we tolerate in our city limits, and bring us trembling before the throne of Almighty God," Marcavage concluded.

New Orleans, a city of righteousness? Friends, this kind of talk is simply un-American.

Here's a little background on Marcavage, who in 2001 was apparently forced to undergo a psychiatric evaluation by Temple University authorities (a federal court later found that Temple had acted appropriately.)

Now, this whole idea of committing wild-eyed Christians to mental wards strikes me as more than vaguely Soviet, and I'm against it. I'm quite conservative in such matters, and thus in cases involving hateful Christianist bigots like Marcavage who turn Christ's message of love and tolerance on its head I prefer the ancient Roman method, involving a colosseum and some ravenous exotic animals. But that's me. I'm a traditionalist.

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