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."
VIDEO: Houstonians gather to mourn Orlando victims
"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.
Houston City Hall is sporting the colors of the rainbow tonight in memory of the victims of the Orlando massacre.https://t.co/SRmsrovh5w
— Houston News (@abc13houston) June 13, 2016
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.
PHOTOS: Americans remember Orlando victims
Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson says the hateful comments do not reflect Christian values, and have no place in the 21st century.
Related: Muslim and local leaders meet to discuss Orlando shooting