Out of Respect

(via Morning Sedition)

Many of you may know that the Rev. Jerry Falwell is in critical condition with his second bout of viral pneumonia in five weeks. Granted, any time you mention Jerry Falwell, one feels compelled to denounce the hateful, violent rhetoric he has engaged in for the past 40 years and point out the money he’s made off the intolerance of others, but that will have to be saved for another time. Out of respect for another human being who is critically ill, we devote the remainder of today’s blog entry to Reverend Falwell, in his own words:

On 9-11:
“I put all the blame legally and morally on the actions of the terrorist, [but 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… 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.’” – 9/13/01, on The 700 Club with Pat Robertson

On homosexuality:
“Militant homosexuals are plotting a dangerously different future for America… Militant homosexuals plan to take over both major political parties. Militant homosexuals plan to force every major American corporation to set official policies giving them favored job status . . . to pass laws forcing churches and Christian schools to hire homosexuals and lesbians even if they flaunt their life style.” – Washington Post, 9/27/84

On separation of church and state:
“The idea that religion and politics don’t mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country.” – NYTimes, 5/25/86

On segregation:
“The true Negro does not want integration. He realizes his potential is far better among his own race. Who then is propagating this terrible thing? First of all, we see the hand of Moscow in the background . . .” – 1958 sermon

Get well soon, Jerry.