So, they have it coming?
They deserve to be persecuted, for the sins of the long dead?

I doubt such views would be expressed about any other group.

Huh? According to my Catholic school education, we all have it coming because of the sins of the long-dead, namely the sins of Adam 'n' Eve. They call it original sin, and every man-jack among us is smeared with it - until we get christened into Catholicism, of course!