AMERICANS UNITED RESPONDS TO STATEMENTS BY FALWELL, ROBERTSON ABOUT TERRORIST ATTACK ON AMERICA
18 Sep 2001
For Immediate Release
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
AMERICANS UNITED RESPONDS TO STATEMENTS BY FALWELL, ROBERTSON ABOUT
TERRORIST ATTACK ON AMERICA
TV Preachers Blame Attack On Federal Courts, Groups That Support
Church-State Separation
Americans United for Separation of Church and State today strongly
criticized two prominent TV preachers’ attempts to blame the recent
terrorist attacks on groups that support church-state separation and civil
liberties.
The Revs. Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson asserted recently that
organizations that support church-state separation and individual freedom
are ultimately to blame for the horrific terrorist attack on the United
States Sept. 11 because they have kicked God out of public life.
Falwell, appearing on Robertson’s “700 Club” Sept. 13, insisted that God has
withdrawn protection from America and that "what we saw on Tuesday, as
terrible as it is, could be miniscule if, in fact, if in fact, God continues
to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably
what we deserve.”
Falwell accused church-state separationist groups of “throwing God out
successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of
the public square, out of the schools.”
He continued, “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.’"
Agreeing, Robertson responded, “Well, I totally concur, and the problem is
we have adopted that agenda at the highest levels of our government. And so
we're responsible as a free society for what the top people do. And, the top
people, of course, is the court system.”
Earlier in the program, Robertson had launched into a tirade similar to
Falwell's, blasting "rampant pornography on the Internet," "rampant
secularism," abortion rights and church-state separation.
Observed Robertson, "We have a court that has essentially stuck its finger
in God's eye and said we're going to legislate you out of the schools. We're
going to take your commandments from off the courthouse steps in various
states. We're not going to let little children read the commandments of God.
We're not going to let the Bible be read, no prayer in our schools. We have
insulted God at the highest levels of our government. And then we say, 'Why
does this happen?'
"Well, why it's happening," Robertson concluded, "is that God Almighty is
lifting his protection from us."
In response, Americans United issued the following statement:
“In the wake of the horrific terrorist attacks in New York City and
Washington, the American people must join together in a spirit of unity,"
said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United executive director. "The
finger-pointing and baseless assertions promoted by Falwell and Robertson
run counter to that spirit and must be categorically rejected.
“Thousands of innocent men, women and children died in these attacks," Lynn
continued. "It was not their fault. It was not the Supreme Court’s fault. It
was not the fault of civil liberties groups, gay people or Pagans. The fault
rests with the terrorists who devised, planned and carried out this vile
deed.
“Over the years, Robertson and Falwell have blamed church-state separation
for just about every imaginable ill," Lynn said. "This time they have gone
too far. I call on all Americans to reject their divisive comments and to
continue to nurture the spirit of unity that we have seen in recent days.”
Lynn also criticized the statements issued by Robertson and Falwell in an
attempt to evade responsibility for their remarks.
"Far from repudiating their extremism, Robertson and Falwell seem intent
primarily on escaping the wave of national revulsion their remarks sparked,"
said Lynn. "They need a dramatic change of heart, not just a slight shift in
rhetoric."
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington,
D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the
importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
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September 18, 2001
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