Dallas Pastor says Orlando Shooter Was Also a Victim

Dallas (WBAP/KLIF News) – A Dallas pastor says as we remember the 49 people murdered in Orlando over the weekend, we shouldn’t forget the 50th victim. The Reverend Neil Cazares-Thomas with the Cathedral of Hope says the shooter had been persecuted.

“One other life we cannot forget, who’s also a victim,” said Thomas.  “He was a victim of religious hatred.  He was a victim that told him somehow he was not good enough.”

Thomas also blamed what he called “hate speak” for driving Omar Mateen to commit the nation’s worst-ever mass shooting.

“He was a victim of hate speak, that means he was so confused in his own life, around his own identity, that he felt it was easier for him to blame somebody else.”

While he didn’t mention anyone, or any church by name, he said there were other pastors even today using hate speech against Muslims and the LGBT community.

He made the comments at the Dallas Pride Month’s award ceremony.

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