An upstate pastor who led a live-streamed Bible study by a state Assembly member callously asserted that God “didn’t care” about the nearly 2,800 New Yorkers killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11 – and that the victims were responsible for their own. died because they were unrepentant.
The abhorrent remarks by Michael Cesar, of Grace and Truth Church in suburban Buffalo, were posted by state Rep. David DiPietro (R-East Aurora) on the pol’s Facebook page. DiPietro often leads the Bible study.
“God doesn’t care if the Twin Towers are hit,” Cesar said in the Sept. 16 video, filmed just five days after the 23rd anniversary of the massacre.
“What was God’s mind on September 11? He knew what was going to happen. Do you know what his thoughts were? Every one of these people should have been saved,” Cesar said, using the term “saved” to refer to born-again Christians.
In the 76-minute video, the fiery proselytizer claims that those killed in terrorist attacks are responsible for their deaths because they had plenty of time to “save themselves” but chose not to.
“This is serious stuff, folks. If you sin, you will surely die, said Caesar.
DiPietro is a member of Caesar’s Church, along with his wife. Over the years, he shared dozens of vile videos of the pastor, The Buffalo News first reported.
On September 17, DiPietro shared the video again, calling it “fantastic teaching!!!! If you want to know where you are going… HEAVEN or HELL…. What is REALLY going on!!! »
The families of the 9/11 victims were dismayed.
“He doesn’t know what people’s faith was, what religion they were or how they chose to practice their religion,” Terry Strada, whose husband Tom, 41, was killed in the North Tower, told the Post.
“Adopting such a heinous line of thinking is a slap in the face to all family members of the victims who are still struggling with loss, pain and suffering today. »
Retired FDNY Lt. James McCaffrey, whose firefighter brother-in-law Orio Palmer died in the South Tower, exploded at Cesar for mocking the first responders who gave their lives trying to save those trapped in the towers – and to DiPietro for supporting such hatred. .
“They knew they were going to die, they did it anyway, making a selfless sacrifice, and this guy is denigrating that,” McCaffrey fumed.
“Shame on the MP and everyone who agrees with this [Cesar] spit,” he said.
Cesar, a former anesthesiologist, was accused of medical negligence and did not contest the allegations as part of a consent decree in 2008, state records show. In 2010, he agreed not to activate his registration or reapply for a state medical license, records show.
Cesar has criticized other religions in a number of videos shared by DiPietro, including mocking Muslims and Hindus with racist tropes and slurs, according to The Buffalo News.
In an April 22 clip that DiPietro also shared, the pastor ridiculed Catholics, explaining that the Bible doesn’t tell people to “eat wafers” or “get into a phone booth with a pervert.”
“I hate the Roman Catholic Church,” he said. “Because we who love the Lord hate evil. And she is the mother of prostitutes.
DiPietro, who has served in the state Assembly since 2013 and will face Democratic candidate Darci Cramer in the November election, has dedicated at least $2,285 in campaign funding to Grace and Truth Church since January 2020, according to state archives.
DiPietro insisted in a statement on his Facebook page Friday that he has “always upheld the values of respect, understanding and coexistence among people of all faiths.”
Strada, who chairs 9/11 Families United, said DiPietro’s voters should think twice before their representative “posts these abhorrent lines of thinking on his Facebook page and supports a man who could be so callous and heartless.” .
“This man’s judgment should cause great concern,” she said.
Cesar did not respond to a call seeking comment.
