Robertson said: "If he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war." The story is here (11th. paragraph): http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/08/24/robertson.chavez/index.html
Here's Robertson's latest: http://www.patrobertson.com/pressreleases/hugochavez.asp Robertson calls his latest press release a clarification. He does write: "Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement. I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him." But that short passage is embedded in a much longer statement that really seems to try to justify what he said, citing Bonhoeffer et al. So I'm not sure that Robertson is apologizing at all. I'm willing to forgive him if he does, but he has to do it unequivocably.
I'm actually quite well aware of that. My post was intended to be a bit tongue in cheek. His claim that he only said "take him out" was in paragraph 8 of the same article.
Yes, he did advocate murder or assassination ... call it what you will. Sad, isn't it? Would Yeshua, the Master Teacher (of Righteousness), have said that? Is the Rev. Pat Robertson a true christian (Christ-like) or a christian imposter? Thanks.
Pro-life indeed....... Christians advocate murder all the time. They're called "death penalty advocates".
Re: Pro-life indeed....... Not all Christians advocate the death penalty. As a matter of fact, the death penalty abolition movement is rooted in Christianity. And, many who belong to other or no religious groups advocate the death penalty.
Re: Re: Pro-life indeed....... But you're not saying that no Christians advocate the death penalty, right? I mean, I can think of a bunch right off the top of my head who do, at least one of whom lives in the White House.
Re: Pro-life indeed....... And they have the very Best of company. See Romans 13:1-7. Funny thing, Robb. You have moral difficulties with the death penalty (hence the abusus linguae "murder") but defend the Irish Republican Army. Chacun a son gout (sorry no diacriticals). Now there may well be reasonable grounds for opposing the death penalty. Personally, I am quite content to live in a state which does NOT have the death penalty. But you war against Scripture by calling it murder--unless inflicted on an inocent person, of course--which possibility might, for some, be a good reason to oppose it. What one cannot do is claim that the use of the sword by the state is scripturally illegitimate. It just isn't. I recognise that those in the "peace church" traditions have argued that therefore Christians should not participate in the magistracy or perhaps even ought not vote. With all due respect this seems idiotic--in the Athenian sense NOT our sense of "stupid"--if one is willing to live with the benefits of the rule of law, but hey. To repeat: Chavez is Commie scum. Robertson is a heretic. Absint omina.
Re: Re: Pro-life indeed....... Indeed, I'm complex. I just can't justify applying a "perfect" punishment in our imperfect legal system. And even if every condemned man were guilty, I would still be uncomfortable with killing them. As touches the IRA, they certainly have murderers in their membership, but they are far from the only group on that island that does and at least they're not state sponsored. I'd be happy to see the killers in the IRA, Provisional IRA and "Real" IRA brought to justice, but the killers in the UDA, UVF, former RUC and other assorted paramilitaries should go to justice with them. I'm happy to condemn murderers as murderers, but I will not condemn Irish Republicans for being Irish Republicans.
Excellent Christianity Today brief on the whole Pat Robertson silliness: Why You Can't Stop Pat Robertson http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/134/33.0.html Matt
