Virginia pastor who defiantly held church service dies after being infected with the coronavirus

[Miles Archer]

An evangelical pastor died of COVID-19 just weeks after proudly showing off how packed his Virginia church was — and vowing to keep preaching “unless I’m in jail or the hospital.”

In his last known in-person service on March 22, Bishop Gerald O. Glenn got his congregation at Richmond’s New Deliverance Evangelistic Church to stand to prove how many were there despite warnings against gatherings of more than 10 people.

“I firmly believe that God is larger than this dreaded virus. You can quote me on that,” he said, repeating it a second time to claps, saying that “people are healed” in his church.

Happily announcing he was being “controversial” by being “in violation” of safety protocols — with “way more than 10 people” at the church — he vowed to keep his church open “unless I’m in jail or the hospital.”

https://nypost.com/2020/04/13/virginia-pastor-who-held-packed-church-service-dies-of-coronavirus/

[lpbk2713]

1. Some things are best left unsaid.

So I'll say nothing.

[old guy]

36. It's very hard not to say what I want to but I'll join you and stay silent.

[AllTooEasy]

85. WHY are DUers embracing this RW hit-job on a Dem-supporting pastor by the (Trump-loving) NY Post!

Read this: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8213481/Pastor-catches-COVID-19-dies-just-weeks-saying-God-larger-dreaded-virus.html

"The day after the sermon, Virginia banned gatherings of 10 people or more, but officials had already begun encouraging people to practice social distancing before that point." Three days later, New Deliverance posted cancellations of all services within the church, prior to the next Sunday service and a planned women's conference. You can check their Facebook page. Unsurprisingly, the right-wing Post didn't mention that. Surprisingly, many DUers would rather reference this right-wing rag than perform their own research!

Also..."Senator Tim Kaine(D), also of Virginia, released a statement on Twitter, which read: 'My heart sinks as I learn this morning that Bishop Gerald Glenn, pastor of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church, died yesterday from COVID-19...He was a friend and pillar of Richmond faith community. May all do as much for so many.'"

"The Bishop had delivered a prayer of invocation at (Sen.) Warner's (D-VA) gubernatorial inauguration in Richmond in 2002."

[Jake Stern]

100. Even a Dem supporting pastor can be mind numbingly stupid

Because he pulls the lever for our side somehow makes him immune to criticism?

Like many of these haughty pastors he put faith in the Lord over faith in the experts and he paid a dear price for it.

[AllTooEasy]

106. But how even more stupid is it to trust the NY Post's account of the story

As I stated, he quickly changed his mind afterwards. Guess why the post left that out?

He didn't act perfectly, but he did follow the ban, unlike these other RW assholes preachers.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

142. What facts in the Original Post are you claiming are false?

[degage]

107. He doesn't get a pass on responsibility just because he supports Dems.

If we gave him a pass just because he's a Democrat then we'd be the Republicans.

I don't care who he supported in elections or to which party his was registered. He was a leader of people and he chose to ignore science and common sense. Instead, he went with mythology.

[AllTooEasy]

121. Wrong! He cancelled all in-church services days afterwards.

He wouldn't have done that if "he chose to ignore science and common sense"

Look if you hate organized religion, that's one thing...but don't let your hatred blind you to the post's RW impartiality manifesting itself in the absence of facts, resulting in the mischaracterization of context.

The Post stays silent on or regularly defends RW preachers who are still holding services.

[degage]

126. "...officials had already begun encouraging people to practice social distancing before that point."

So, he followed the law AFTER gatherings were banned. He didn't take the advice of scientists and public health officials when it was given before the ban. When leadership and setting an example really counted. BEFORE the ban, real leadership was what was needed. The leadership to listen to public health officials and follow their advice in order to protect his congregation without it having to be put into an order. He didn't do that. Instead:

In his last known in-person service on March 22, Bishop Gerald O. Glenn got his congregation at Richmond’s New Deliverance Evangelistic Church to stand to prove how many were there despite warnings against gatherings of more than 10 people

Quotes and actions from him sound like every other minister who believes their god will protect them from reality. Who ignore science in favor of mythology.

“I firmly believe that God is larger than this dreaded virus. You can quote me on that,” he said, repeating it a second time to claps, saying that “people are healed” in his church.


As for your difficulty with the source, the facts are the facts. Yes, the NY Post is most suited as the lining for the bottom of bird cages and not for actual news delivery. The facts of his actions and his quotes are undisputed though. They are in the other articles from other media.

I don't have a problem with organized religion. I do have a problem with its organizers.

[spooky3]

129. The governor ordered people not to meet in groups larger than 10 persons on March 17. This pastor

made multiple defiant statements, quoted in various sources -- not just NYPost -- on March 22. The pastor became sick very soon after that, per reports, but I didn't see anything showing that -- before he got sick -- he had a change of heart.

It is not a Democratic value to give a pass to pastors who defy reasonable government guidelines and orders in a crisis, because of their religious beliefs.

[degage]

139. +1000

I notice a distinct sound of crickets now that the truth has been pointed out.

[spooky3]

140. Peaceful, isn't it? Nt

[SoonerPride]

2. Karma is a harsh mistress

and then you die.

[Lock him up.]

13. And it's worse when leading others to die...

... or infect others of others who weren't there at all.

[AllTooEasy]

89. Read post 85 above. He was no Trump supporter.

[Lock him up.]

102. Did he say that or the RW hit-job quote is just LYING??

“I firmly believe that God is larger than this dreaded virus. You can quote me on that,” he said, repeating it a second time to claps, saying that “people are healed” in his church.

Happily announcing he was being “controversial” by being “in violation” of safety protocols — with “way more than 10 people” at the church — he vowed to keep his church open “unless I’m in jail or the hospital.”

Because if that's true (although I'm not sure now...), it's careless.

If it's a lie, well I didn't stop to read the hit-job so apologies.

[AllTooEasy]

114. They are leaving out important details, especially following events

He changed his mind days afterwards, and cancelled all following services in the church. He followed the state's ban, which was announced one day later. If you read the post, you would think that he continued in-church services until his hospital visits. It's no coincidence that the Post did this to a black Dem pastor, but they are still silent on a plethera of White RW pastors who still hold in-church services.

How many times have we seen this from RW media: Mischaracterization of a Dem/Liberals quotes, misuse of context, etc.

As for your referenced quote, every one of my religious Bible-Thumping family members believes that "that God is larger than this dreaded virus"...and each one keep their asses at home. They attend church service via live-stream. Pastor Glenn held the following week's service via livestream. Now do you see why the NY Post can't be trusted?

[joost5]

127. Thank you for the clarification. It helps to have all the facts.

[spooky3]

133. Did he post a link? I don't think those are the facts. By March 29, the pastor was likely too

sick to perform the service; he was in critical condition in the hospital by April 3, per people.com. That, and not a change of mind/heart, has been documented, AFAIK.

https://people.com/health/virginia-pastor-dies-coronavirus-after-holding-packed-church-service/

Gov. Northam's March 17 order was essentially the same as the March 30 order, except that he was more forceful in the second one.

[BComplex]

144. That was fast! I hope he didn't infect his parishioners.

Even if he changed his mind the next day, he was obviously already infected when he held services.

[MarcA]

124. The same info has been reported in dozens of East Coast news sources

both print and electronic. Apparently, the Governor's no more than 10 people
at public gatherings order was given March 17 while the last service was on March 22.

[spooky3]

130. this is true - I have a copy of that Executive Order. Northam didn't make it as forceful as his

March 30 EO, necessitated by some people's not taking the first EO seriously enough. But the Governor's message was crystal clear WELL before March 22 that no large gatherings should be held. And the pastor knew this - that's why he made the ignorant and arrogant statements that he did.

[dailytroubadour]

31. This.

sometimes, often, ignorance is not bliss, and pride doth go before a fall.

[hatrack]

3. Gosh, that's tragic . . .

Last edited Tue Apr 14, 2020, 07:59 AM - Edit history (1)

[Grins]

60. I would have said stupid. Really effing stupid. And arrogant. NM

[Glorfindel]

4. Thoughts and prayers.

I'm sure he'll receive a warm welcome to the afterlife.

[AllTooEasy]

90. Yeah because Hell is where all the Black, Dem-supporting pastors go

Read post 85 above

[lapfog_1]

5. God is calling his ministers of faith home

just before the Apocalypse!

Only they didn't just bodily ascend into heaven as they thought they would.

[japple]

23. Wish he would hurry up and call in Jr. Falwell, Jr. Graham, and fossilized

Pat Robertson. Oh yeah, and Jim Bakker, Joel Osteen and everyone still alive who is on this list:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_evangelists

[docgee]

87. I don't think those guys are ascending.

More like descending.

[japple]

105. Def not climbing Jacob's ladder!

n/t

[sheshe2]

6. Gods Will.

You aren't in jail or the hospital, you are in hell.

[Brother Mythos]

69. Well, "It's God's Will." is what guys like him say all the time.

[AllTooEasy]

93. Read post #85. He changed his mind days afterwards...by the RW NyPost didn't mention that!

[niyad]

7. One less moron sucking up oxygen.

[Grokenstein]

63. BUT ERMAHGERD--CIVILITY!! /sarcasm

This turdsquirtlet actively endangered lives to "pwn teh libs" or whatever his sociopathic motivation might have been.
Nothing whatsoever of value was lost in his passage, and in fact maybe it'll wake a few people up.

[AllTooEasy]

94. One less Black, Dem-supporting pastor who changed his mind days later. Read post #85 above

I can't believe that you bought the RW NY Post's BS account of the story

[Newest Reality]

8. No common sense about that...

And he did have a biblical out for not having group services as per Matthew. So, get ye wisdom, perhaps?

Too late. I am only commenting because I recall his screed about this not long ago.

The implication from his statement is that God is smaller than this virus, apparently. A virus is bigger than God? What? That's not a good example to set for the flock you are supposed to tend to and watch over for their safety, among other things.

Well, may he enjoy the peace that surpasses understanding. The game is over now and the world has ended.

[lindysalsagal]

9. ....and STILL his parishioners won't catch on that NOTHING is GOD'S WILL

IF everything is god's will, then god just punished the idiot for ignoring science.

HA!!!

[Baitball Blogger]

10. This is the third time this has made the rounds on DU.

It's remarkable that other pastors haven't been infected.

[abqtommy]

12. Has it been 3 days yet? snark off

[AnotherMother4Peace]

16. First I've heard of it. He died 4/11/20 & it was announced to his congregation on Easter. nt

[Blue_true]

37. The previous death was the idiot that went to New Orleans to throw beads at bare breasted

women. He too was a loud mouth evangelical who challenged CV to kill him, and it did.

[Grokenstein]

70. I'm losing track of all the fallen challengers.

Bet they were all a lot less defiant in the end.

[Blue_true]

81. There are a lot more of those money-grubbing POSs. None of the big names have

been laid low yet, hopefully karma is saving the best for those assholes.

[mercuryblues]

111. That pastor went there to evangelize.

This is a different one.

[MarcA]

122. Same here. n/t

[Blue_true]

34. Actually, there have been two that did the same thing, this guy in Virginia,

the other guy in North Carolina (he even attended Mardi Gra).

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. God is like, Dude, church services really aren't necessary.

I told you a long time ago that you should pray in private. Have I made my point now?

[Blue_true]

14. Oh well, his plan hit an iceberg.

The only thing that I regret happening is all the other people that idiot killed.

[Crunchy Frog]

15. I guess he won't be holding anymore church services.

[3Hotdogs]

17. I need some money. I was thinking I would make me a pastor, but

Last edited Mon Apr 13, 2020, 11:57 PM - Edit history (1)

maybe I will make me a bishop.

Bishop Big Dog. Doesn't that sound good?

Wait. Better yet. Do evangelical churches have popes?

[erronis]

28. I know some grifters who go the evangelical route. Style themselves as God (or close to.)

[Blue_true]

58. Evangelical churches don't have a Pope.

But they do seem to have a lot of tv preachers that are flat out doing well, in particular the prosperity gospel ones. So go to Best Buy, buy a cheap camera, rent out an old warehouse, hang a lot of crosses, find yourself some over dyed blondes and go to work fleecing shutins and others that are clueless enough to buy snakeoil.

[DemoTex]

18. God speaks, in his best Samuel L. Jackson voice ..

"Now, STAY THE FUCK AT HOME .. MOTHERFUCKERS!"

[Blue_true]

68. I don't think Samuel L would leave it at the. He would likely say "Now, which one of you people

want to be next?" But he would say it in that uniquely Samuel L way.

[Sloumeau]

19. Apparently, heaven needed to increase its quota of stupid people.

[Blue_true]

62. Me thinks he isn't in heaven right now. nt

[the_sly_pig]

20. Stupid gonna stupid ... n/t

[Naio]

21. Well

He was very very wrong and it cost him his life ...Rest In Peace

[Autumn]

22. Yet no healing for him. I wonder why.

That's all I will say.

[kairos12]

24. Death fixes stupid.

[HipChick]

25. Karma never forgets an address..

[TeamPooka]

26. God must not have liked him very much to make him look so foolish to his parishoners.

[SheltieLover]

46. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Good one!

[ironflange]

27. I wonder how many of his flock are ill now

[lunasun]

39. My question too how many did he rope in to play this Sunday death game ?

[Chainfire]

29. "I firmly believe that God is larger than this dreaded virus"

Should be chiseled on his tombstone. Perhaps his faith was not strong enough. In any case, he is now in a better place (where he won't be the cause of infecting others)

[erronis]

30. In the end, his protoplasm/chemicals just dissolve with no memory of his sins.

Wish there was some eternal karma for such a dimwit but C, H, O, etc. are going to be his (and my) end.

[Dem2theMax]

32. "Unless I'm in jail or the hospital." He forgot the third option.

[Butterflylady]

65. Give him credit

He got one right. He never said how he was going to leave the hospital. I know we shouldn't laugh, but really how stupid do have to be not to know you're fooling with something way more powerful than anyone knows.

[Dem2theMax]

79. Yes, we can give him credit for one.

Too bad he isn't here to hear it.

And now I'm wondering, did he get it from one of his parishioners? Or did he give it to all of them?
Either way, we can be assured he wasn't the only one who ended up with Coronavirus after having church services.

[Jirel]

33. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

Golf clap for winning the Darwin Award.

[Blue Owl]

35. Verily verily I say unto thee: Womp Womp

n/t

[ffr]

38. Today's Darwin Award goes to Bishop Gerald O. Glenn

Congratulations. It must have been your time I suppose. Members of your flock are probably crapping bricks about now.

[efhmc]

40. Is this the second Virginia pastor? Different name.

https://patch.com/virginia/fredericksburg/va-pastor-musician-dies-coronavirus-he-had-questioned

[NoMoreRepugs]

41. Dude - when u stand in front of a locomotive it never works out well, except for the locomotive.

[Ford_Prefect]

72. Worse than that someone has to clean up the mess you left...Karma, like gravity, will get you.

[SheltieLover]

42. What an arrogant ass!

I'd just posted & deleted the duplicate thread. Apologies to anyone who replied.

How do they get people to believe that only they have a connection with the creative forces, whatever one chooses to call them?

I have to wonder if congregants are now aware of the very real danger of covid or if they will have some other charlatin spewing bs next Sunday?

I know, I kbow, it was Hillary's emails that killed him, right? Idiots!

[AllTooEasy]

97. He changed his mind days afterwards. Read Post #85 above

I can't believe that you bought into the RW, Trump supporting NY Post's account of this story!

[W T F]

43. God has a great sense of humor

[procon]

44. Lesson learned, yeah?

Let's see of his followers got the message to save themselves from other fools, hucksters and charlatans.

[SheltieLover]

49. Nah

They will blame Hillary's emails.

[AllTooEasy]

99. This Dem-supporting pastor changed his mind days afterwards. Read Post #85 above

I can't believe that you bought into the RW, Trump-supporting NY Post's account of this story!

[ashredux]

45. Karma is a bitch.....

[TomVilmer]

47. Faith is one thing, but...

[lunasun]

48. No virus was real from the beginning not just when it hits your family

Their daughter, Mar-Gerie Crawley, told WTVR that her father initially dismissed his symptoms because he has a condition that often leads to fevers and infections.

She is now urging everyone to stay home.

“It becomes very real to you,” she told WTVR after her parents’ diagnoses.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

50. "I am essential," he said of remaining open, adding "I'm a preacher - I talk to God!"

Someone must have dialed the wrong number and he was actually talking to Trump.....

Article from OP say his wife is also infected.

Apparently, the Richmond community really loved the guy from his work in the past, but he may have wiped out a lifetime of good will if a number of his congregation die as well.

See the Richmond Times-Dispatch.....

Link: https://www.richmond.com/news/local/bishop-gerald-o-glenn-an-extraordinary-spiritual-and-community-leader-dies-from-illness-related-to/article_30beb449-c64e-52f8-8661-007df2754b43.html


RIP.......

[barbtries]

80. i love it when people tell me they talk to gawd.

i tell them to look me up when they get a response I see, hear and feel.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

98. What's even worse to me is....

when they say they know what their god wants and does not want.....for me!!

As if they have a direct, personal VIP line.......

[barbtries]

108. yeah. that annoys the crap out of me

but when they get that beatific look" on their face and try to sell me on gawd by telling me how they talk to "him" I feel more amused than anything else.

[MaryMagdaline]

51. Don't they understand the lessons of Passover

Stay TF home

[uponit7771]

52. Now these people are going to spread it throughout everywhere VA needs to track & trace these people

[jmg257]

53. Aww that's to bad. He left out c) or in the ground.

[TNNurse]

54. Wonder how many people he took with him in the suicide pact.

[jmowreader]

55. The LORD smited Bishop Glenn on a Matthew 6.5 violation

[SunSeeker]

112. My mom always cited that to me.

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.  But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

She did not attend church. She had her little alter/candle setup in her bedroom where she prayed in private.

[ooky]

56. I hate to see people die, even stupid people. I hope his death serves as an example to others of

what not to do and positively save many more from a needless death.

[AllTooEasy]

101. This "stupid" Dem-supporting pastor changed his mind days afterwards. Read Post #85 above

I can't believe that you bought into the RW, Trump-supporting NY Post's account of this story!

[ooky]

128. Huh?

How do you know where I read it? Reports of his death are common news. I can understand if you don't like how the link portrayed the story but don't jump down my throat for that.

So, are you saying that he didn't say what he said? That's what I was saying was stupid. Am I wrong about how I am understanding that too?

According to your own post and information the services weren't cancelled until Virginia banned the gatherings for greater than 10 people. Like I said, I hated to see the guy die. I thought my post was pretty benign, all considered. It IS stupid to suggest continuing having church services while people are giving each other a potentially deadly virus.

[spooky3]

132. Here are quotes in another source (People.com):

"...Glenn also slammed the government for “making moral decisions for church members.”

“I know I’m on some controversial territory,” Glenn continued adding, “I don’t care about your opinion. I’m not trying to appease anybody.”

Glenn also explained he is “essential,” in attempt to justify why he continued to promote such a large gathering of people.

On April 3, Glenn’s daughter Mar-Gerie Crawley explained on Facebook Live that the pastor was hospitalized in “pretty critical condition.”..."

https://people.com/health/virginia-pastor-dies-coronavirus-after-holding-packed-church-service/

Governor Northam asked Virginians to stop meeting in groups of 10+ on March 17. Pastor Glenn held the services on March 22 and made those comments after March 17. I haven't seen any source discussing a "change of mind." Instead, subsequent services probably were canceled because by March 29, Glenn was likely too sick to conduct them.

Dems do not get a pass on doing things that we would be very critical of Republicans for doing.

[ooky]

134. I know. The virus doesn't discriminate between Republicans or Democrats. Everybody

needs to stand down. Again, to me the bottom line is people need to stay home from church gatherings right now. It is irresponsible, and stupid, to suggest anything else. If I lose anyone in my family because they caught it from one of these selfish morons insisting on "going to church" then it's my grief, not theirs, and I guess some people's agendas just blind them to this harsh reality.

[spooky3]

136. ITA. I cannot imagine how many people may have caught this from that

gathering and passed it to their families and anyone else they may have come in contact with that day.

[localroger]

57. Wow, his karma literally did run over his dogma /nt

[Thomas Hurt]

59. Tested God and lost...tsk, tsk, tsk.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

67. "I fought the god and the god won." . . . nt

[Ferrets are Cool]

61. I hope his death serves a purpose, but it probably wont...

they aren't that stinkin smart.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

64. Poetic justice. Neither he or his god could heal him. Hard to heal stupid. . . . nt

[AllTooEasy]

103. This "stupid" Dem-supporting pastor changed his mind days afterwards. Read Post #85 above

I can't believe that you bought into the RW, Trump-supporting NY Post's account of this story! How stupid do you feel?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

113. Don't invent stuff. I didn't read article. I Read what was posted. Take it with OP with your accusas

Go smear the OP. Come, do it.

The pastor was stupid at the time when he did it to put his parishioners at risk like that stupid church in South Korea, which blew into megaspreaders long before the pastor's services. He had fair warning. It was big news.

Deathbed conversions to see the light on infectious diseases is not a cure.

I still haven't read the article, so don't accuse me of "buying" to RW shit.

[Goodheart]

66. Evidence that dumbasses come in all shapes and colors.

[johnthewoodworker]

71. Science and nature will overcome religion and stupidity every time.

[Mr. Ected]

73. Reminds me of the guy on the roof of his home after a flood

He gets approached by a guy in a canoe, then a rescue boat and then a helicopter. To each he says, "no thanks, God will save me", and eventually he drowns. When he reaches the Pearly Gates he asks "Why didn't you save me, God?" To which God says "What are you talking about? I tried to save you 3 times!!!"

What a senseless challenge to have made with himself.

[Orrex]

74. I regret only that I didn't get to tell him to go fuck himself before the end

I have little patience and no respect for grand, self-destructive statements of god-flavored posturing, least of all when they actively harm or threaten others.

Nor do I have any interest in notions of "karma," because if it existed, then teenage Donald Trump would have fallen into a wood-chipper.

Good riddance to this fool who caused his own death while trying to kill others, and good riddance to any stupid fucking assholes who destroy themselves through public displays of religious idiocy.

[AllTooEasy]

104. This "foolish" Dem-supporting pastor changed his mind days afterwards. Read Post #85 above

I can't believe that you bought into the RW, Trump-supporting NY Post's account of this story! How foolish do you feel?

[Orrex]

135. Not foolish at all. Why do you ask?

How self-righteous and condescending do you feel?

My job is considered essential, and through my job I have interacted with half a dozen preachers over the past two weeks, all of whom fully intend to continue holding services until they are physically forced to stop. That is stupidity of the highest order, and I'm not impressed or swayed by your self-righteous fucking condescension.

So this guy died for doing exactly what was already known to be stupid when he did it, and others are doing just the same even now.


Why don't you ask those stupid fucking assholes how foolish they feel, instead of demonstrating how sanctimonious you are?

[Traildogbob]

75. Is he listening?

Think of ALL the praying that was going on all day yesterday, a day honoring God’s son that returned to help all his followers, the poor, the sick, the elders, the forgotten people, all that praying and what was his answer? Tornados ravaging the middle of the Bible Belt. Most people’s only safe haven from the virus. Damn you gays!

[Ilsa]

76. "Again, it is written, 'You shall not test the Lord, your God."--- Matthew 4:7

Those quoted words would be in red in an older King James Version of the Bible. These pastors are selective in their scripture.

Rachel Maddow finished up her Friday show with snaps of church marquees that said things like, "This church will be empty on Easter morning, just like Jesus' tomb."

[paleotn]

77. No, Rev., he's not.

[barbtries]

78. there's a theory

that what you believe will happen when you die is what happens. he must be overjoyed right now if true. Sad for his family and his congregation though.

[NurseJackie]

82. What a pity.

[LisaL]

83. And the rest of the congregation?

Are they still going to be packing that church?

[pshediack]

84. Got hit by...

As my good Catholic mother (RIP) would say,

"He got hit by the hand of the Lord!"

[LiberalLovinLug]

86. ...

[Miguelito Loveless]

88. The penalty for willful stupidty can be harsh and merciless

[nwduke]

91. Sadly, how many naive religious zealot cultists did this dope infect.

and how many people did these idiots go out into the community and infect!

[BlancheSplanchnik]

92. ....

Well well.

[WestCoastYellowDog]

95. Sickening comments. Black. Lives. Matter.

This pastor gave Governor Warner’s invocation and Senator Kaine gave his condolences.

https://www.thenewscommenter.com/news/prominent-evangelical-leader-bishop-gerald-o-glenn-dies-from-coronavirus-in-virginia/1299376

[Bernardo de La Paz]

131. Sickening pastor. Unlike a police shooting there is nothing to do except what should have been done

... in the first place: physical distancing.

He undoubtedly infected lots of parishioners directly, or through congregation. Are you trying to tell us he is the only black person who will fall ill? The lives of everyone infected matter, not the colour of their skin.

I don't wish this disease on anyone, not Boris Johnson, not Sophie Gregoire, wife of Prime Minister Trudeau, Donald Trump or Cory Booker.

But the pastor got the disease and he died. I didn't wish either event on him.

Now that he is dead, it is poetic justice. Not justice, poetic justice.

[WestCoastYellowDog]

137. I doubt you said the same thing when Boris Johnson was infected

Or Chris Cuomo, Tom Hanks, etc.

A black family and their predominantly black congregation are grieving. To my understanding, and I could be wrong, I don’t think this service violated Governor Northam’s order at the time. But regardless, when black people pass away, people celebrate if they’ve even done the slightest thing wrong.

Did Trayvon Martin ever smoke weed, did Michael Brown steal some cigarettes, was Eric Garner selling cigarettes because that is now worth the death penalty (no burden of proof needed either - we’re just a racist country.)

[Bernardo de La Paz]

141. Enjoy your stay here. Your fourth post and you accuse a member of lying. . . . nt

[WestCoastYellowDog]

145. I never accused you of lying ... reread my unedited post

However, I will not cheer a black man’s death just to get your approval.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

146. And now you are insinuating, on your 8th post that I am cheering his death. Disruptor go away, pleas

[WestCoastYellowDog]

148. You called his death "poetic justice"

We’re all entitled to our own opinions, but at least own what you said.

[subana]

96. he must be happy now that he's WITH God!

he vowed to keep his church open “unless I’m in jail or the hospital.”

I guess he never imagined that there's a 3rd choice, death!!

[RockRaven]

109. GrumpyCat would like this story...

[0rganism]

110. "...God is larger than this dreaded virus" -- and what if the virus is God's sword?

perhaps God has decided to smite the microbe doubters with His terrible Old-Testament-style wrath

these religious leaders are putting their entire congregations in the path of destruction, might as well hold a Bible-study group inside a tornado

[panfluteman]

115. God Could Still Have Been Bigger Than This Virus

That didn't mean that he couldn't get infected by it and subsequently lose his life. After all, it seems like he was in the high risk age bracket.

[Evolve Dammit]

116. What a maroon.

[padah513]

117. When are these people going to learn that a building cannot save you!

He vowed to keep his church open “unless I’m in jail or the hospital.” Well, there you have it. It certainly wasn't a matter of faith if he thought there was a chance he'd wind up in the hospital. When I see stories like this I can't help think that maybe it had more to do with passing the collection plate than anything else. He should have gone digital and remembered Matthew 18:20, and now just how many of his parishioners have to suffer because of his stupidity/ego?

[BunnyMcGee]

118. Sorry, but, YAY

A while back, I would have felt some remorse. Not anymore.

[Initech]

119. *pretends to be shocked*

[Hekate]

120. I'm so very sorry....

Condolences to those who loved him. That is all.

[warmfeet]

123. Karma can be very, very brutal.

Hope it doesn't catch us all.

[MarianJack]

125. A Darwin Award for the nimrod pastor!

RESIST

[ConnorMarc]

138. Sad to see that a Black Minister

Allowed himself to be caught up in this Trump-supporting hysteria.

[Aristus]

143. God IS bigger than the virus.

But you ain't!

[highmindedhavi]

147. God told the Levites to separate the people with Leprosy

how do pastors not know this?