Pastor defends controversial sermon after Orlando mass shooting

SACRAMENTO, CA -- A California pastor is defending his controversial message in the hours after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Critics say Pastor Roger Jimenez's anti-gay rhetoric has no place in America today. After 49 people were killed inside a gay Orlando nightclub, Jimenez said "the tragedy is more [LGBT] didn't die."

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A large crowd gathered in Hermann Park Sunday evening to honor the victims of the Orlando shooting.

"As far as the Bible is concerned, the sin that they performed is worthy of death," Jimenez explains. "So all I'm saying is if someone did something worthy of death, and they end up dying, I'm not gonna mourn that."

Jimenez started the Verity Baptist Church five years ago in his living room, and no draws over 200 followers to the West Sacramento church.

His congregants say they support him, and that he is not inciting violence against LGBT people.

The pastor's message has since been pulled by YouTube, which said the video is hate speech for praising the death of 49 people inside the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, an establishment which caters to gays and lesbians.

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Mourners observe a moment of silence during a vigil for victims of a fatal shooting at an Orlando nightclub, Sunday, June 12, 2016, in Atlanta.

David Goldman/AP Photo

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says the hateful comments do not reflect Christian values, and have no place in the 21st century.

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