The California pastor who earned Internet fame after praising Omar Mateen’s shooting spree which left 49 people dead in an Orlando LGBT nightclub, is getting effectively booted out of the building where his church resides.
Roger Jimenez of the Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento, California, was informed by Harsch Investment Properties that his lease will not be renewed. Since the lease doesn’t expire until March, the church will be able to operate for a few more months, but the property management company has asked Jimenez to consider leaving immediately.
“We have many places of worship and other religious organizations in the properties we manage,” the company said in a press release, adding that they will not tolerate “tenants who advocate hatred and the taking of innocent lives.”
“Just as we respect the right of individuals to speak their views, as distasteful as they may be, we also respect the right of others to protest as a reflection of their values,” the statement said.
“For decades, the owners and staff at Harsch Investment Properties have supported the LGBT community and many other organizations whose missions are to further respect, dignity and the ability for all individuals to live their lives as they wish.”
Sacramento pastor says Orlando nightclub shooter should have killed more gay people https://t.co/HFXkbES4ZK pic.twitter.com/EMGpvVp5uD
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) June 14, 2016
Last week, video surfaced featuring Jimenez telling his congregation that he was thankful for the massacre at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub, which members of the area’s LGBT frequented.
“Are you sad that 50 pedophiles were killed today?” asked Jimenez in the video. “I think Orlando, Florida, is a little safer tonight. The tragedy is that more of them didn’t die. The tragedy is I’m kind of upset he didn’t finish the job.”
#Protesters gearing up outside Verity Baptist Church. Pastor Roger Jimenez praised the #Orlando Massacre @kcranews pic.twitter.com/ajgTD8xTJr
— Dana Griffin (@DanaGriffinNBC) June 16, 2016
When confronted by a local ABC News affiliate, Jimenez refused to apologize for his comments and said he didn’t have any regrets.
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