Falwell blames gays and lesbians for terrorist attacks

[Richard Moreau]

While on TV, Falwell links gays to attacksTom Musbach, Gay.com /
PlanetOut.com Network
Friday, September 14, 2001 / 04:03 PM


Today's Headlines
*    While on TV, Falwell links gays to attacks
*    'Day of Prayer' observed around the globe
*    Attacks cause gay Web site outage
*    Arab Americans brace for more violence
PROMOTION
 

On the eve of a national day of prayer and remembrance, Rev. Jerry Falwell
declared that gays and lesbians bear partial responsibility for Tuesday's
terrorist attacks, but later he apologized for blaming anyone other than the
terrorists. 

On Thursday's broadcast of the Christian television program "The 700 Club,"
Falwell, in a discussion with host Pat Robertson about the terrorist attacks
in the United States, said:

"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.'"

During another part of the show, Falwell asserted that, because of the
groups named above, God allowed "the enemies of America to give us probably
what we deserve." Robertson agreed.

Both Falwell and Robertson are influential figures in the religious right.

Reactions to the remarks were swift and plentiful. A White House official
told the Washington Post that Falwell's comments were "inappropriate" and
said, "The president does not share those views."

"I am saddened that on this day devoted to prayer and remembrance and
healing, Jerry Falwell has once again uttered untrue and hurtful words that
inflame people and which divide, rather than bring us together," said Rev.
Troy Perry, moderator of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches. 

President Bush declared Friday a day of prayer and remembrance for the
victims of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Lorri Jean responded
to Falwell with this statement: "The terrible tragedy that has befallen our
nation, and indeed the entire global community, is the sad byproduct of
fanaticism. It has its roots in the same fanaticism that enables people like
Jerry Falwell to preach hate against those who do not think, live, or love
in the exact same way he does."

She added that the week's tragedies "did not occur because someone made God
mad, as Mr. Falwell asserts. They occurred because of hate, pure and simple.
It is time to move beyond a place of hate and to a place of healing. We hope
that Mr. Falwell will apologize to the U.S. and world communities."

A spokeswoman for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said the
organization "will not dignify the Falwell-Robertson remarks with a
comment." 

Late Thursday, the television evangelist called CNN to apologize, saying, "I
would never blame any human being except the terrorists, and if I left that
impression with gays or lesbians or anyone else, I apologize."

Falwell also issued a statement on his Web site Friday that said his "long
theological discussion" with Robertson was taken out of context and "reduced
to sound bites." 




_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com

----
You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the
list named "UCPride" for gays and lesbians in University City.
To unsubscribe, see <http://list.purple.com>.