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LGBTQ people and environmentalism have brought God's wrath on America, says the man who leads weekly Bible studies for Cabinet members.
A minister who conducts weekly Bible studies for Donald Trump's Cabinet and members of Congress has written that COVID-19 is a result of God's wrath, brought on by LGBTQ people and environmentalism, among other factors.
In a recent blog post, titled "Is God Judging America Today," Ralph Drollinger, president of of Capitol Ministries, wrote that the viral outbreak is a manifestation of "the consequential wrath of God."
This is the least harsh form of five types of wrath that Drollinger detailed, the worst being "eternal wrath," which is condemnation to hell. "Consequential wrath," he said, "is best understood through the parallel idea we commonly refer to as sowing and reaping. ... Whenever an individual or corporate group of individuals violate the inviolate precepts of God's Word, he, she, they or the institution will suffer the respective consequences. Most assuredly America is facing this form of God's judgment."
"Forsaking wrath," which is a stronger form of judgment, occurs "when God pulls back and allows a person or group of people to go in the way of their wicked desires." It is characterized by "a proclivity toward lesbianism and homosexuality" and "the religion of environmentalism," he said.
But even though the U.S. is not experiencing "forsaking wrath," according to Drollinger, "Those individuals who are rebuked by God's forsaking wrath are largely responsible for God's consequential wrath on our nation." (Yes, his reasoning is a bit hard to follow.)
Drollinger is also known for anti-Muslim and anti-Catholic rhetoric -- he once called Catholicism "the world's largest false religion," according to The Intercept. At one time he preached that women should not work outside the home, although his Bible studies now include women working in the Cabinet and Congress, and his wife, Danielle, is listed as a cofounder of Capitol Ministries.
Drollinger's weekly Cabinet Bible studies are often attended by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, the Human Rights Campaign notes. The New York Times has called Drollinger a "shadow diplomat" in the Trump administration.
HRC President Alphonso David issued a statement Wednesday condemning the minister's comments, saying, "Drollinger's horrific assertions are ludicrous. Our government's top leaders depend on him for moral advice and give him regular and direct access. His shameful views cannot be ignored.
"Our country is in crisis, and rather than placing the blame to marginalized communities that are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, our leaders and their advisors must focus in, buckle up and flatten the curve. We need leadership that embraces fact and science. A leader whose priority is to improve and save lives. Donald Trump is not that leader."
GLAAD published a response to Drollinger by Good as You blogger Jeremy Hooper. "A man who is in weekly meetings with some of the GOP's leading stars in all levels of our government believes that we need to course correct our world, and that acceptance of homosexuality is a primary reason why," Hooper wrote. "He truly believes that a 'sensation toward homosexuality' is in and of itself a reason to tick off a vengeful God, and the Trump administration is just like, 'cool views; tell me more!'"
Drollinger is no minor, fringe figure, Hooper added, but "someone who actually has the friendly shoulder and the captive ears of people who set policy -- people, like [Mike] Pence and Carson, who are actively serving on the current COVID-19 task force! It may be not the most concerning thing happening in our world right now, but it's not nothing."
