Jerry Falwell

There have been many times that I've been amazed at the amount of hate that spews from the mouth of this man. His words are as ridiculous as the claims he makes, like his stance on the sexuality of Tinky Winky. However, his comments on the tragic events of September 11th, were completely infuriating. With all the pain that I felt in my heart, hearing his comments were like a kick in the gut.

At first, I wanted to do something, like call their prayers lines and tell them what I thought of their leader, and how unchristian I thought they were, but who can give the definition of what Christianity (or any other religion) except the personal view of the individual. The anger I felt over his comments consumed me that afternoon, as I was trying to find out who I could talk to, and thinking about the spreading of hate, I realized I was spreading my anger as well. Instead, I thought I'd be a little passive (and humorous) in my reaction, and allow his own words be his downfall.

With so much hate and need of control that spews from religious extremists, whether from Taliban or the now defunct Moral Majority they definitely are in need of a good ol' flushing!!

Below are two Washington Post articles about his statement and his retraction of his statement:

By John F. Harris
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, September 14, 2001; Page C03

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."

Excuse me if I am a little low on Christian forgiveness nowadays, but the Rev. Jerry Falwell's apology for the intolerant obscenities he uttered doesn't have that ring of truth one expects from a man of the cloth.

The conservative evangelist said his remarks placing blame for last week's terrorist attacks on abortionists, feminists and homosexuals "seemed harsh and ill-timed." That is the understatement of the month. Falwell's statements were made during a discussion with religious broadcaster Pat Robertson on his "The 700 Club" television show last Thursday.

The two have provoked a coast-to-coast storm of outrage with their remarks, which Falwell claims were taken out of context. Robertson, who was busily agreeing with him during the interview, is now repudiating Falwell's comments. For his part, Falwell posted a statement on his Web site saying he was making a nuanced theological point that was misunderstood by the "secular media."

Falwell: I agree totally with you that the Lord has protected us so wonderfully these 225 years. . . . I fear . . . this is only the beginning. And with biological warfare available to these monsters . . . what we saw on Tuesday, as terrible as it is, could be minuscule if . . . God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve.

Falwell: And, I know that I'll hear from them for this. But, throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools -- the abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists and the feminists and the gays and 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."

By their reckoning, I am one of the people responsible for the savage onslaught against our nation. I am a feminist. I believe in abortion rights, just as I believe in the right of gay men and lesbians to live their lives in peace.

Robertson and Falwell are well known to the groups they defile. Robertson made headlines in 1992 by accusing feminists of wanting to kill their children and practice witchcraft.

Both of these merchants of God have generated millions upon millions in donations to their political ministries. Falwell is probably best known as the founder of the Moral Majority, which went belly up in 1989 after the Rev. Jim Bakker gave commercial evangelism a bad name. At the time, Falwell said the Moral Majority had achieved its mission of pushing religious conservatives into politics, but he also acknowledged that business was slacking off: Donations had plunged from $11 million in 1984 to about $3.5 million in 1988.

Falwell, who is headquartered in Lynchburg, Va., said he was moving out of politics and back into the pulpit and television. For a while, he fell off the national radar screen, which for a guy who basked in celebrity must have hurt.

But now he's back with a vengeance, scapegoat loyal Americans and deploying God as an excuse. Perhaps now, Robertson and Falwell will be seen by all Americans for what they are: not pillars of morality or comforters in faith, but cynical, intolerant money-grubbers who use God to milk the vulnerable and to spread hate.

Contrast Falwell and Robertson to feminist leaders such as Eleanor Smeal, president of the Feminist Majority, who this week issued an eloquent appeal to the world to use this occasion to rid itself of the Taliban militia and restore basic rights to the women and girls of Afghanistan, who have suffered greatly under its rule. "We must make sure that the lives of women and girls are saved and that the restoration of the rights of women and girls is not marginalized as a side issue," she said.

Smeal called for continued humanitarian aid for Afghan females in Afghanistan and Pakistan. And she made the point that the Afghan people are not our enemy.

Student activists, civil rights groups and religious leaders from Boston to San Francisco are joining the growing chorus against massive retaliation that would kill innocent people.

We are confronting a situation of enormous complexity. We need cool heads, not the fulminations of an Elmer Gantry.

The deadly mix of religion and politics has led to bloodshed throughout history. A supreme deity has been called on to bless unspeakable acts of carnage, as was most certainly the case with the Sept. 11 hijackers. Falwell and Robertson are using God for their own intolerant purposes, just as the Taliban is. They've revealed themselves for what they really are, and with any luck the nation will send them into the obscurity they so richly merit.

We don't need Falwell's vengeful God right now. We need divine guidance to find a way to punish the terrorists that will ultimately result in peace.