Homophobe Margaret Court won’t close her church because it’s protected from coronavirus by the ‘blood of Jesus’
Margaret Court during the Celebration of Inspirational Women as part of women’s semifinal day during day eleven of the 2017 Australian Open. (Vince Caligiuri/Getty)
Despite the coronavirus pandemic and ban on non-essential mass gatherings in Australia, homophobe and tennis champion Margaret Court has announced that her church will continue to hold services because the “blood of Jesus” will protect her from COVID-19.
Court has previously called homosexuality an “abominable sexual practice”, likened gay people to Hitler, claimed lesbian tennis players “recruit” younger athletes, and suggested transgender children are “of the devil”. She was named Homophobe of the Year in 2018 by GLORIAs for her dedication to homophobia.
She opened her own pentecostal church, the Victory Life Centre in Perth, Australia, in 1995.
Many religious spaces around the world have suspended worship services, and the virus has even stopped anti-LGBT+ churches from performing conversion therapy.
But the Victory Life Centre will not be following suit.
In an announcement this weekend, the church said: “We are in agreement that this COVID-19 will not come near our dwelling or our church family. We are praying daily for you, knowing that we are all protected by the blood of Jesus.
“For your convenience, hand sanitiser is available at all of our sites.
“Our desire is for you to be informed and know that our heart is to protect and ensure the safety of all so we can continue to worship together, all our services will operate as per normal.”
The statement then quoted Psalm 91:9-10: “Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.”
news has been weird this week but nothing has sent me more than margaret court’s church saying they won’t get coronavirus because they’re protected by the blood of jesus
— caitlin ? (@caitylatter) March 13, 2020
Margaret Court is 77 years old.
At 77 years old, Margaret Court is well within the age group that is most at risk for coronavirus and is no stranger to international travel for church activities.
Last year, the homophobic tennis champion inexplicably became the honorary consul of the African republic of Burundi, where LGBT+ people have been tortured and queer children are expelled from school.
A spokesperson for Survivors and Victims of the Burundi Dictatorship said: “It is very concerning that a famous Australian lady would host and support a regime which kills people, discriminates against LGBTI people, and uses rape as a weapon.”
