Sioux City pastor “damned” to hell by city civil rights commissioner

A controversy over a newly appointed member of the Sioux City, Iowa human rights commission has developed over revelations that he damned a local pastor to hell after the debate over retaining judges who voted to approve so-called gay marriage in the state.

The Rev. Cary Gordon, pastor of Cornerstone World Outreach, has asked the city council to remove the newly appointed commissioner Scott Raasch who wrote on Rev. Gordon’s Facebook page in December 2010: “You are haters and bigots and you will get what’s coming to you sooner or later. I hope you rot in hell.” 

Wrote Raasch, “I know Christ and don’t need a snake oil salesman like you to tell me about him. I guess that’s the difference between us because I think there are many people that deserve to burn in hell … including you and your entire family. The sooner the better for our community!”

Raasch, who is gay, said he was angry about Rev. Gordon's role in urging voters to remove three Iowa Supreme Court judges, citing their ruling that legalized gay marriage in the state.

"This was three years ago and all of a sudden Pastor Gordon makes a point of it now?" Councilwoman Rhonda Capron said. "He just doesn't want Scott on the commission." Councilman Tom Padgett agreed,

Mayor Bob Scott told the Sioux City Journal he wants to discuss the matter with his fellow council members.