Protests outside California pastor's church over anti-gay comments

Pastor Robert Jimenez called the Orlando shooting victims as predators, saying they deserved to dieScreenshot/ABC 10 video

Protestors have held a demonstration outside the California church whose pastor preached a sermon seeming to endorse the Orlando nightclub attack.

Around 100 people gathered outside Verity Baptist Church in Sacramento, while security guards were posted outside.

The picket happened on Wednesday evening while a service was going on inside the church.

The protestors were unhappy about comments made by the pastor of the church, Roger Jimenez, during his sermon on Sunday – the day after the massacre in Orlando, which claimed 49 lives.

Jimenez's talk, which had spread around the world on video, before being removed by Youtube, caused outrage with its content.

The pastor said, "People say, like: 'Well, aren't you sad that 50 sodomites died?... Here's the problem with that. It's like the equivalent of asking me — what if you asked me: 'Hey, are you sad that 50 pedophiles were killed today?'"

Jimenez, whose comments have been criticized by Christian leaders from various denominations, went on to make further incendiary comments about gay people. "I wish the government would round them all up," he said, "put them up against a firing wall, put a firing squad in front of them, and blow their brains out."

"These comments, applauding the death of innocent people, are completely contrary to the Bible's teaching and God's heart," the pastors wrote. "His statements do not represent Jesus nor hundreds of Sacramento pastors whose hearts have been broken and are praying for the loved ones so tragically affected by this cowardly act."

Sacramento City Pastors Fellowship released a statement condemning Jimenez's words. It said, "These comments, applauding the death of innocent people, are completely contrary to the Bible's teaching and God's heart," the pastors wrote. "His statements do not represent Jesus nor hundreds of Sacramento pastors whose hearts have been broken and are praying for the loved ones so tragically affected by this cowardly act."