NEW YORK -- The pastor of a controversial Church in Harlem that was recently condemned for hanging a sign outside that stated "Jesus would stone homos" has come out in defence of the billboard, suggesting he was only repeating was is said in the Bible.
James David Manning, who runs the ATLAH Worldwide Missionary on 123rd Street, uploaded a recent video to YouTube (below), offering some rationalisation for his inflammatory message, which read: "Jesus would stone homos... Stoning is the law."
The sign outside the ATLAH Worldwide Missionary in Harlem
In the video (below) Manning said: "I never said that I would stone homos. I never said that I would ask anyone else to stone homos. I never said that. What I did say is what the Bible says, and I gave several verses within the Word of God that demonstrates why I believe that Jesus would stone homos."
"The homosexual activists are flat-out lying about what Jesus would do regarding the detestable, abominable, diseased practice and act of homosexuality. They have been lying and saying that Jesus would simply love," he added.
The film, which runs for nine scripture filled minutes, concludes by Manning reflecting: "I'm not a hater… I'm a preacher of the Word of God."
The vandal defacing the sign with the words "God is gay"
Early on Saturday morning, the sign outside the Church was vandalised, with the perpetrator caught on security camera spraying “God is gay” on the billboard. After seeing his sign defaced, the Pastor blasted gays as "bullies". The incensed pastor said: "Gay people are just outright bullies. I expected them to act in a very violent way."
Last week, Jennifer Louise Lopez, a lesbian campaigner, knocked on the door of the church to demand her stoning. She recently told HuffPost: "I hope that by going up to the door and presenting myself as the human and the product of [Goddess’] creation, churches can begin to understand that us lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are the very same creations that they are."