God Gave 'What We Deserve,' Evangelists Say

Washington Post Service/September 15, 2001
By John F. Harris

Washington -- The 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 bore partial responsibility for the terrorist attacks Tuesday because their actions had 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 Mr. Falwell, appearing Thursday on the Christian Broadcasting Network's "700 Club," with Mr. Robertson as host.

"Jerry, that's my feeling," Mr. 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."

Mr. Falwell said the American Civil Liberties Union had "to take a lot of blame for this," again winning Mr. Robertson's agreement: "Well, yes."

Then Mr. 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 denounced the comments as running directly counter to President George W. Bush's call for national unity. Ralph Neas, the liberal group's president, called the remarks " irresponsible." A White House official called the remarks "inappropriate" and added, "The president does not share those views."