by Amna El Tawil
Priests should spread peace, love, forgiveness, and tolerance, but it seems like the pastor of a mainly immigrant Catholic church has a suggestion for all those who are protesting Trump – to kill themselves. He says that protesters should commit suicide by taking a “flying leap off the nearest building”.
“Show your hate for Trump. Do it for social justice. #JumpAgainstTrump,” read a message posted by Father Philip Pizzo, just hours after he celebrated the Sunday Mass, the New York Post reported. The message included an illustration of a man plummeting from a skyscraper.
After his little suggestion went viral, Pizzo said: “I do not promote suicide. I’ve helped many people over the years, and it does not promote suicide. It was funny.”
(Photo credit: New York Post)
However, most parishioners were outraged.
“Suicide is not funny, plain and simple,” said Carlos Coburn, a congregant who once sought counselling from Pizzo because he was struggling with thoughts about killing himself.
Another parishioner, Alex Leston, said he was appalled by the post. “Father Pizzo normally posts about supporting Trump, but this was just taking it too far.”
The conservative priest, who oversees St. Benedict Joseph Labre Roman Catholic Church in Richmond Hill, previously posted a photo of former President Barack Obama with the words “He’s not my President” and another snapshot of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton titled “Ugly Face”.