Robertson Says God Told Him About Storms

New York Times/May 18, 2006

Virginia Beach, Va. -- In another in a series of notable pronouncements, religious broadcaster Pat Robertson says God told him storms and possibly a tsunami will hit America's coastline this year.

Robertson has made the predictions at least four times in the past two weeks on his news-and-talk television show ''The 700 Club'' on the Christian Broadcasting Network, which he founded. Robertson said the revelations about this year's weather came to him during his annual personal prayer retreat in January.

''If I heard the Lord right about 2006, the coasts of America will be lashed by storms,'' Robertson said May 8. On Wednesday, he added, ''There well may be something as bad as a tsunami in the Pacific Northwest.''

Robertson has come under intense criticism in recent months for suggesting that American agents should assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine retribution for Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip.