MAIDEN, N.C. — Catawba County officials announced Thursday night it will let people protest a Baptist pastor at the justice center in Newton on Sunday.
Protesters are angry at Charles Worley and his sermon that advocated putting gay people in an area surrounded by an electrified fence and let them “die off.”
The sermon was posted on YouTube, which caught the attention of thousands of people.
The group had considered legal action in hopes of holding a rally Sunday at the courthouse.
Catawba County leaders announced Thursday morning they would not allow more than 1,000 people to protest at the Catawba County Justice Center.
Organizers of the rally said they were working with the American Civil Liberties Union and may file for an injunction to allow the rally. The group has not filed for an application for the rally, which they are required to do to hold the rally on county property.
Meanwhile, some of Worley's parishioners are coming to his defense.
"He would give you the shirt off his back. He would do anything he could for you," said neighbor Janie Beard.
"He takes a firm stand on the Bible and what it says about different things -- whether I like it or whatever anybody else likes it," said church member Joe Heffner.
But there are still hundreds of people calling for him to step down, including Laura Tipton. Tipton has organized the rally against Worley. They are hoping it will take place on Sunday.
WSOC
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