Hurricane Katrina: God's Punishment for a 'Wicked' City?
Wednesday August 31, 2005
A reader writes: Is it true that Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans on a day that was to observe "Southern Decadence Day" with 100,000 homosexuals gathering to commit unspeakable acts in public?
In a word, no. Despite the fact that some fundamentalist Christians appear eager to characterize the disaster as "God's judgment" on the "wicked" city of New Orleans, and despite their attempt to link its timing to a gay celebration held there annually, the claims are patently absurd:
Poll: Do you think Hurricane Katrina could be God's way of punishing New Orleans for sin? 1) Yes 2) No 3) Not sure
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Gays Blamed for Hurricane Katrina - Coverage by Gay Life Guide Ramon Johnson
Hurricane Katrina Stirs Up Controversy - Response from Christianity Guide Mary Fairchild
In a word, no. Despite the fact that some fundamentalist Christians appear eager to characterize the disaster as "God's judgment" on the "wicked" city of New Orleans, and despite their attempt to link its timing to a gay celebration held there annually, the claims are patently absurd:
- The hurricane struck on Monday, August 29. This year's Southern Decadence, sometimes called the "Gay Mardi Gras," was scheduled to open today, Wednesday the 31st, and continue through Sunday. The storm obviously did not strike on "the day" of the celebration. Many, perhaps most, of the revelers had not even arrived yet.
- Southern Decadence is a 35-year-old tradition in New Orleans. Why did God choose to wait till 2005 to "punish" the city for it?
- Why is the French Quarter, the district where the event (now canceled) was to be held, one of the least devastated parts of the city so far?
- If this tragedy occurred because God is angry at New Orleans, what was the point of the awful devastation and loss of life wrought in Mississippi and Alabama?
Poll: Do you think Hurricane Katrina could be God's way of punishing New Orleans for sin? 1) Yes 2) No 3) Not sure
More About:
Comments
Katrina was not God’s punishment for sin. The Bible says the whole earth trevails for the coming of the Lord. The earth is trevailing. And, as sin increases in areas, it opens the door to destruction as nature revolts. There are laws at work. The asian Tsunami was not God’s punishment for sin. The wickedness and perversion in the area (child trafficking and child prostition, among other things)became so rampant that nature revolts.