A RABBI has joined an extremist Christian preacher in blaming Hurricane Sandy on gays, calling devastation of New York “divine justice” for the city’s same-sex marriage laws.

According to this report, Rabbi Noson Leiter of Torah Jews for Decency compared the superstorm which swept across the US eastern coast this week to a biblical disaster.

We believe that the great flood at the time of Noah…[was] triggered by the recognition of same-gender marriages.

A RABBI has joined an extremist Christian preacher in blaming Hurricane Sandy on gays, calling devastation of New York “divine justice” for the city’s same-sex marriage laws.

According to this report, Rabbi Noson Leiter of Torah Jews for Decency compared the superstorm which swept across the US eastern coast this week to a biblical disaster.

We believe that the great flood at the time of Noah…[was] triggered by the recognition of same-gender marriages.

He added:

There are messages in this particular storm for us…The Lord will not bring another flood to destroy the entire world, but He could punish particular areas with a flood. If we look at the same gender marriage movement, that certainly is a message for us to learn … If we don’t shape up he [God] will deliver divine justice.

Leiter also claimed the fact that the flood was particularly bad in Lower Manhattan:

Because is it one of the national centres of homosexuality.

A double rainbow that appeared in the area afterwards was a clear sign from God, the lunatic pointed out.

On Monday (29 October), chaplain John McTernan claimed the storm must be God’s judgment on gays and punishing President Barack Obama for coming out in support of marriage equality.

Storm Sandy left at least 64 people dead in the US, cut power from millions of homes and paralysed transport on much of the eastern US seaboard.

Earlier, it killed nearly 70 people in the Caribbean and caused extensive crop destruction in impoverished Haiti.

Meanwhile, it is reported here that the Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament has claimed the country’s notorious Anti-Homosexuality Bill will soon be passed by lawmakers.

Rebecca Kadaga made the statement on Monday, after returning to Uganda following an international summit in Canada.

According to Uganda’s Daily Monitor, she told reporters at Entebbe International Airport that she would stand firm against homosexuality, saying:

They said I should stop the debate on the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, but I assured them there is no way I can block a private members bill.

A group of anti-gay religious leaders were there to meet with her at the airport, along with the bill’s architect, MP David Bahati.

Throughout various stages, Mr Bahati had proposed for his legislation to include the death penalty for certain cases of “aggravated homosexuality”.

However, in February of this year it was reported that the death clause had been dropped from the plans, in favour of life imprisonment.

The bill was first introduced in 2009, but has yet to gain parliamentary approval.

Uganda’s government has stated that it does not support the bill, although it believes lawmakers should be allowed to debate it.

Last week in Canada, Speaker Kadaga was met with criticism by the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird after he blasted Uganda for its appalling gay rights record and widespread homophobic persecution.

In response, Kadaga accused him of being “ignorant” and “arrogant”.

Hat tip: BarrieJohn