Jerry Falwell Thinks U.S. Probably Got What It Deserved
Pagans, Abortionists, Feminists, Etc., Get Blame For Terrorist Attack
Commentary By CBSNews.com’s Dick Meyer
WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2001
(CBS) There wasn't much not to
be proud of in America this week.
But Jerry Falwell and Pat
Robertson found a way to offend
us all, in the name of religion. In
his latest Against the Grain
commentary, CBSNews.com's
Dick Meyer examines their take
on our tragedy.
The Rev. Jerry Falwell said the terrorist attacks on the U.S. were "probably what we deserve."
You heard right.
Falwell made his remarks on "The 700 Club," the popular religious
show on the Christian Broadcasting Network hosted by Pat
Robertson. Robertson immediately said, "Jerry, that's my feeling . I think we've just seen the antechamber to
terror
These aren't quotes taken out of context. Falwell and Robertson did
not misspeak. These are their considered beliefs. You can see the
video for yourself at CBN.com, and click on "Thursday Morning 700
Club" in the video section.
Falwell said, "I fear...that this is only the beginning." He said what
happened Tuesday would turn out to be "minuscule...if in fact God
continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give
us probably what we deserve."
Specifically, Falwell pointed to "the
pagans and the abortionists and
the feminists and the gays and the
lesbians...the ACLU, the People
for the American Way" and other
"Christ-haters."
"The ACLU's got to take a lot of the
blame for this," said Falwell
"All of them who have tried to secularize America, I point the finger in
their face and say, "You helped this happen,'" Falwell said.
Robertson's instant response was, "I totally concur. The problem is
that we've adopted that agenda at the highest levels of government."
Falwell stuck to his guns well after the show. He told The New York
Times, "I sincerely believe that the collective efforts of many
secularists during the past generation, resulting in the expulsion
from our schools and from the public square, has left us
vulnerable."
Robertson put his thinking down in writing in an essay distributed
by his cable network.
He wrote, "We have insulted God at the highest level of our
government. Then, we say, "Why does this happen?" It is happening
because God Almighty is lifting His protection from us."
"But I want to say as surely as I am sitting here today, this is only a
foretaste, a little warning, of what is going to happen," Robertson
continued.
It almost seems in poor taste even to respond to these offensive
pronouncements. They are profoundly disrespectful of tragic losses
and they are insulting.
Falwell and Robertson tell us that God "lifted the curtain of
protection" from America. I'm sure Osama bin Laden would agree.
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