God Gave U.S. What We Deserve -- Jerry Falwell
15 Sep 2001
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God Gave U.S. 'What We Deserve,' Falwell Says
By John F. Harris
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."
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