PatRobertson.com -
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., September 17, 2001 -- On Thursday
of last week, as The 700 Club continued its coverage of
the tragic attack on the World Trade Center by radical extremists,
Pat Robertson not only was reporting the news, but was also asking
his audience to pray for the survivors and their families, as
he had been doing for the previous two days.
In addition, he personally issued a statement that
indicated that the church and all of America should come in repentance
before God so that He would not lift the protective covering that
has graced our land since its founding. Toward the end of the
program, The 700 Club producers had booked Jerry Falwell
for a satellite interview. Rev. FalwellĄŻs initial remarks
were completely in accord with what had been said in preceding
parts of the program, and then, unexpectedly, he uttered a political
statement of blame directed at certain segments of the population
that was severe and harsh in tone, and, frankly, not fully understood
by the three hosts of The 700 Club who were watching Rev.
Falwell on a monitor.
It was this brief interchange with Rev. Falwell
that was picked up by People For The American Way, who for approximately
the past fifteen years have taped every single telecast of The
700 Club and unfortunately take statements out of context
and spin them to the press for their own political ends. Rev.
Falwell has issued a pointed clarification of his statement, and
Dr. Robertson said on Fox NewsĄŻ The Edge that he
considered the remarks "totally inappropriate." He does not wish
to comment further on something that is not personally in keeping
with the spirit of prayer and sorrow that has been evidenced by
the staff of the Christian Broadcasting Network over the past
several days.
