Cape pastor in hot water for claiming ‘99% of gays are paedophiles’

A Cape Town church leader has caused a public storm after he claimed that 99% of homosexuals are paedophiles.

Reverend Oscar Bougardt of Calvary H.O.P.E Ministries has been challenged by the chairperson of GaySA radio Hendrik Baird to prove his claims or apologise unreservedly for his remarks, which he says could endanger the lives of members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) community.

Bougardt reportedly made the claim during an interview with News24 while he was on a joint church venture with controversial US-based anti-gay pastor Steven Anderson, who was denied entry into South Africa in September last year following an outcry from human rights groups.

Bougardt told the news website he believes homosexuality is a sin and he would not “twist and turn” the Bible to accommodate anybody.

“Why should we be tolerant of their criminal lifestyle? Ninety-nine percent of paedophiles stem from homosexuality.

“I’m saying so because it is proven that 99% of the paedophiles have a homosexual background. They are blaming their previous lifestyle on what happened. Go and read up on it.”

In an open letter to Bougardt on Monday, Baird said he could not find any credible research to support his claim.

“The police crime statistics say nothing about paedophilia, only reporting sexual violence against children and infants. So I must say it is not proven at all.

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“While I in no shape or form condone any violence or assault aimed at children, I would like to challenge you to put the South African research on the table that proves both your paedophilia argument, as well as your assertion that homosexuals from affluent areas pick up teenagers for sex and get them addicted to drugs, which led to the teens breaking into cars and turning to crime,” Baird said.

This is not the first time Bougardt has found himself in trouble for his views. In 2014 he was stopped from using hate speech after he reached a settlement with the SA Human Rights Commission for his anti-gay statements.

Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba said Anderson and members of his church were not welcome in the country, in accordance with a clause in section 26 of the Home Affairs Act, based on the grounds that he would have used hate speech while speaking in South Africa.

Anderson has also previously criticised Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu for his support for the LGBTI community.