NY pol shares video of pastor claiming ‘God couldn’t care less’ about 9/11 because victims weren’t ‘saved’: ‘Abhorrent’
An upstate pastor running a Bible study live-streamed by a state assemblyman callously claimed God “couldn’t care less” about nearly 2,800 New Yorkers killed at the World Trade Center on 9/11 — and that the victims were to blame for their own deaths because they were unrepentant.
The heinous remarks from Michael Cesar, of the Grace and Truth Church in suburban Buffalo, were broadcast by state Assemblyman David DiPietro (R-East Aurora) on the pol’s Facebook page. DiPietro often hosts the Bible study.
“God couldn’t care less about the Twin Towers getting hit,” Cesar said in the Sept. 16 video, shot just five days after the 23rd anniversary of the massacre.
“What was God’s thought on Sept. 11? He knew what was going to happen. You know what his thought was? Every one of those people should have gotten saved,” said Cesar, using “saved” to refer to born-again Christians.
In the 76-minute video, the fiery proselytizer claimed those killed during the terror attacks are responsible for their deaths because they had plenty of time to “get saved,” yet chose not to.
“It’s serious stuff folks. If thou sinnest thou shalt surely die,” said Cesar.
DiPietro is a member of Cesar’s church, along with his wife. Over the years he has shared dozens of the pastor’s vile videos, The Buffalo News first reported.
On Sept. 17, DiPietro shared the video again, calling it “a fantastic Teaching!!!! If you want to know where you are going….HEAVEN or HELL…. What REALLY happens!!!”
Families of 9/11 victims were appalled.
“He doesn’t know what anyone’s faith was, what religion they were or how they chose to practice their religion,” Terry Strada, whose 41-year-old husband Tom was killed in the North Tower, told The Post.
“To come out with such an abhorrent line of thinking is a slap in the face to all of the victims’ family members that are still struggling to this day with the loss and the pain and suffering.”
Retired FDNY Lt. James McCaffrey, whose firefighter brother-in-law Orio Palmer died in the South Tower, exploded at Cesar for mocking the first responders who gave their lives trying to rescue those trapped in the towers — and at DiPietro for supporting such hate.
“They knew they were going to their death, they did it anyway, the selfless sacrifice, and this guy is disparaging that,” McCaffrey fumed.
“Shame on the assemblyman and anyone else who agrees with what [Cesar] is spewing,” he said.
Cesar, a former anesthesiologist, was accused of medical negligence and did not dispute the allegations as part of a consent decree in 2008, according to state records. In 2010, he agreed he not to activate his registration or reapply for a state medical license, records show.
Cesar has bashed other religions in a number of videos DiPietro has shared, including mocking Muslims and Hindus with racist tropes and slurs, according to The Buffalo News.
In an April 22 clip which DiPietro also shared, the pastor ridiculed Catholics, explaining the Bible didn’t tell people to “eat wafers” or “get in a phone booth with a pervert.”
“I hate the Roman Catholic Church,” he said. “Because we that love the Lord hate evil. And that’s the mother of harlots.”
DiPietro, who has been in the state Assembly since 2013 and will face Democratic candidate Darci Cramer in November’s election, has directed at least $2,285 in campaign funding to the Grace and Truth Church since Jan. 2020, according to state records.
The Assemblyman attempted to distance himself from Cesar Saturday night, insisting that he disagreed with the pastor’s “controversial remarks.”
DiPietro noted his own Catholic faith as well as his work in the legislature to honor the victims of Sept. 11 and supporting those affected by the devastating attack.
“Let me be very clear that I don’t agree with Mr. Cesar’s rhetoric regarding these issues,” he said.
Strada, who is the national chair of the organization 9/11 Families United, said DiPietro’s constituents should think twice about their representative “posting these abhorrent lines of thinking on his Facebook page and supporting a man that could be so callous and heartless.”
“There should be great concerns with this man’s judgment,” she said.
Cesar did not return a call seeking comment.
DiPietro insisted in a statement on his Facebook page Friday that he has “always championed the values of respect, understanding and coexistence among people of all faiths.”
Strada, who chairs 9/11 Families United, said DiPietro’s constituents should think twice about their representative “posting these abhorrent lines of thinking on his Facebook page and supporting a man that could be so callous and heartless.”
“There should be great concerns with this man’s judgment,” she said.
Cesar did not return a call seeking comment.
