A DUP councillor has said that the current global pandemic has been caused by Northern Ireland legalising gay marriage and abortion.
Demoratic Unionist Party member John Carson, who is a councillor based in Ballymena, County Antrim, has previously voiced his anger at Northern Ireland having legalised equal marriage and abortion services, with his party campaigning against both.
On Tuesday evening, 31 March, he took to Facebook to say that that God has brought coronavirus to Earth in order to punish the people of Northern Ireland.
He said:
"With all the focus being on Coronavirus it has went [sic relatively unnoticed that from today abortion is available on demand up to 24 weeks.
"I said when abortion was legalised that our nation would be judged by GOD because of its departure from his word and the legalisation of the murder of the unborn child as well as same sex marriage.
"I was laughed at and mocked by some but as I said at the time they laughed at [Noah] until the rain started.
John Carson says he stands by the post. Facebook @ John Carson"You reap what you sow and out nation is now reaping the judgement of [God] because of an immoral and corrupt government.
"It is time to repent and turn again to the [God] of our Fathers."
On the day Mr Carson wrote the comment, Northern Ireland's new abortion laws had come into effect.
These new laws included the legalisation of terminations in all circumstances during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, however after that period and up to 24 weeks, terminations are allowed only in the event of there being a risk to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or girl,which is not abortion on demand as Mr Carson claimed.
Mr Carson was approached by Radio Ulster's Nolan Show, where he told the assistant editor that he stands by the post but will not appear on the show to have "Stephen Nolan or any other reporobate make a fool of me".
DUP Ballymena Councillor John Carson told Nolan Show assistant editor @dt_ni
“Coronavirus is a judgement from God, and that is opinion. “
Won’t be appearing on the show to
“have Stephen Nolan or any other reprobate make a fool of me”— Stephen Nolan (@StephenNolan) April 2, 2020
The DUP have said his opinions do not reflect that of the party.
Almost one million cases of Covid-19 have been reported across the globe, with over 48,000 deaths attributed to the novel virus according to Johns Hopkins University.
