Bob Vander Plaats, head of Iowa-based
The Family Leader, has warned that gay marriage and abortion will
lead to God ending his blessing on the United States.
The Family Leader, the state's most
vociferous opponent of marriage equality, received national attention
in 2012 when Rick Santorum accused the group of indirectly asking to
be paid for an endorsement of his presidential campaign.
(Related: Rick
Santorum, gay marriage foe NOM accused of paying for conservative
endorsement.)
“When people say to me: 'How can it
be that in this generation we can have $17 trillion dollars in debt
ready to pass on to the next generation?' Well, when you abort 55
million babies, when you undermine the family and marriage – God's
first institution – and you say it can be anything you want it to
be. When you trample on religious liberty in the Constitution. $17
trillion dollars, like now you're just talking money,” Vander
Plaats told the audience.
“You cannot run away from the heart
of God and expect God to bless the country,” he added.
Iowa is one of the 17 states, plus the
District of Columbia, where gay couples can marry.