Susanne Atanus, who is vying for the
GOP nomination in the Ninth Congressional District of Illinois, has
blamed natural disasters, dementia and autism on gay marriage.
Atanus made her remarks Monday during a
meeting with the editorial board of the Daily
Herald.
“God is angry,” Atanus said. “We
are provoking him with abortions and same-sex marriage and civil
unions. Same-sex activity is going to increase AIDS. If it's in our
military, it will weaken our military. We need to respect God.”
Illinois GOP officials responded by
asking Atanus to withdraw from the race.
“The offensive statements by Susanne
Atanus have no place in the modern political debate, and she has no
place on the ballot as a Republican,” Jack Dorgan, chairman of the
Illinois Republican Party, said in a written statement issued
Thursday. “Her candidacy is neither supported nor endorsed by the
leaders of our party, and she should withdraw from the race
immediately.”
“Atanus is not in any way affiliated
with any of our efforts in the Chicago GOP,” Adam Robinson,
chairman of the Chicago Republican Party, told the Herald.
“Nor have we ever supported, endorsed, or assisted her in any way
at any time.”
Atanus stood by her remarks on
Thursday: “I am a Christian. I care a lot about the world and I
care a lot about my obedience to serve God the right way. I can't
turn my eye and look the other way when I know that abortions, gay
rights and civil unions are making God very angry.”