BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York State Assembly member David DiPietro is under fire for sharing and promoting on social media videos of an Amherst pastor who used racial tropes, disparaged Muslims, Hindus and Catholics and who made other controversial remarks.
The Republican from East Aurora repeatedly shared videos posted by Pastor Michael A. Cesar of Grace & Truth Church in Amherst. Cesar is a former doctor who lost his medical license in 2010, according to an article first reported by The Buffalo News.
Cesar singled out the Virgin Mary, who Catholics believe is the mother of Jesus Christ and who Muslims also treat with reverence.
“Let me just say this: I hate the Roman Catholic Church, because we that love the Lord, hate evil, and that’s the mother of harlots,” Cesar said in the videos, which were posted to his Facebook page and shared by DiPietro on Facebook.
Cesar also used racial tropes to describe Muslims, The News reported, and said the nearly 3,000 victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were to blame for their own deaths. He declined to comment further, directing a 2 On Your Side reporter to the videos he posted online.
“God couldn’t care less about the twin towers getting hit,” Cesar said. “Not that he didn’t know. He didn’t care.”
Of the victims, Cesar went on to say, “They hadn’t taken life and death seriously? They hadn’t paid attention to what (God) said? It’s on their head, not mine.”
DiPietro last month shared the hour-long video on his own Facebook page, writing, “This is a fantastic Teaching!!!! If you want to know where you are going....HEAVEN or HELL.... What REALLY happens!!!”
DiPietro has given more than $1,800 to Cesar’s church in the last four years, according to campaign finance reports filed with the State Board of Elections. DiPietro called the story “a bunch of crap” and fled the news conference when 2 On Your Side Investigative Reporter Charlie Specht tried to ask him whether he wanted to denounce Cesar’s statements.
DiPietro late Friday released a statement that said, “I have always championed the values of respect, understanding and coexistence among people of all faiths. Our actions speak louder than words, and we stand firmly against any form of intolerance.”
Erie County Republican Chairman Michael Kracker defended DiPietro, saying that his constituents “appreciate the work that he does for them in Albany, they appreciate the work that he does for them here in Erie County and in Wyoming County.”
But Dr. Khalid Qazi, board president of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said the rhetoric is offensive and only divides people in Western New York.
“To denigrate their faith the way the pastor is and then promoting that message by the assemblyman speaks a lot about the personality of these people as to who they are and what their thinking is,” Qazi said.
DiPietro will face voters next month. He defeated moderate Republican Mitch Martin in a primary contest and will face Democrat Darci Cramer in the general election.