IP: God Gave U.S. 'What We Deserve,' Falwell

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 16:05:38 -0400
> From: "Robert J. Berger" <rberger () ultradevices com>
>
> God Gave U.S. 'What We Deserve,' Falwell
> By John F. Harris
> Washington Post Staff Writer
> Friday, September 14, 2001; Page C03
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28620-2001Sep14.html
>
> Television evangelists Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, two of the most
> prominent voices of the religious right, said liberal civil liberties groups,
> feminists, homosexuals and abortion rights supporters bear partial
> responsibility for Tuesday's terrorist attacks because their actions have
> turned God's anger against America.
>
> "God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to
> give us probably what we deserve," said Falwell, appearing yesterday on
> the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club," hosted by Robertson.
>
> "Jerry, that's my feeling," Robertson responded. "I think we've just seen
> the antechamber to terror. We haven't even begun to see what they can
> do to the major population."
>
> Falwell said the American Civil Liberties Union has "got to take a lot of
> blame for this," again winning Robertson's agreement: "Well, yes."
>
> Then Falwell broadened his blast to include the federal courts and others
> who he said were "throwing God out of the public square." He added:
> "The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will
> not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we
> make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and
> the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to
> make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American
> Way -- all of them who have tried to secularize America -- I point the
> finger in their face and say, 'You helped this happen.' "
>
> People for the American Way transcribed the broadcast and denounced
> the comments as running directly counter to President Bush's call for
> national unity. Ralph G. Neas, the liberal group's president, called the
> remarks "absolutely inappropriate and irresponsible."
>
> Robertson and others on the religious right gave critical backing to Bush
> last year when he was battling for the GOP presidential nomination. A
> White House official called the remarks "inappropriate" and added, "The
> president does not share those views."
>
> Falwell was unrepentant, saying in an interview that he was "making a
> theological statement, not a legal statement."
>
> "I put all the blame legally and morally on the actions of the terrorist," he
> said. But he said America's "secular and anti-Christian environment left
> us open to our Lord's [decision] not to protect. When a nation deserts
> God and expels God from the culture . . . the result is not good."
>
> Robertson was not available for comment, a spokeswoman said. But she
> released a statement echoing the remarks he made on his show. An
> ACLU spokeswoman said the group "will not dignify the
> Falwell-Robertson remarks with a comment."
>
>             © 2001 The Washington Post Company
> --
> Robert J. Berger
> UltraDevices, Inc.
> 257 Castro Street, Suite 223 Mt. View CA. 94041
> Email: rberger () ultradevices com http://www.ultradevices.com
> Voice: 408-882-4755 Fax: 408-490-2868



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