Jerry Falwell apologized for saying last week that liberals helped cause the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks on the United States because they had removed “God from the public square.”
Falwell was roundly criticized — including a rebuke from the White House — for saying on Pat Robertson’s “700 Club” program that the terrorist attacks were “probably what we deserve” because liberal groups have tried to secularize America. Falwell singled out gays and lesbians, abortionists and liberal advocacy groups. “… All of them who have tried to secularize America — I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen.’”
In a statement issued late Sept. 18, Falwell called his remarks, “insensitive, uncalled for at the time and unnecessary as part of the commentary on this destruction.”
“I apologize that, during a week when everyone appropriately dropped all labels and no one was seen as liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, religious or secular, I singled out for blame single groups of Americans,” he said.
Falwell made the statement after he lost support from his closest allies on the religious right. Robertson called Falwell’s remarks “totally inappropriate,” even though he said he concurred with Falwell’s statement at the time.
In a follow-up statement, Robertson said his remarks were “distorted” and taken out of context. “I again emphasize that there are organizations within the United States which have labored unceasingly to strip religious values from our public square, and in the process, to take away the mantle of divine protection which our nation has enjoyed ever since the days of its founding.”
But the following day, a Robertson spokeswoman said he was confused and “didn’t really realize what” Falwell was saying.
Kenneth Connor, head of the conservative Family Research Council, lumped Falwell with the Pharisees of the Bible who were “attempting to cast out beams in our brothers’ eyes while overlooking the logs in our own.”
“Singling out groups whose conduct offends us is not likely to bring about the national repentance that our country needs,” Connor said. “It is more likely that such actions will simply polarize at a time when we are desperately in need of national unity.”
According to James E. Baucom, moderator of the moderate Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, an invitation for Falwell to speak at a Virginia prayer rally was rescinded after his remarks. Falwell said he was sorry his remarks had distracted from national mourning.
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