On Robertson; let's find a Bishop (or higher) of any denomination willing to refute him!

[DaveinJapan]

Here's the challenge...some have said they "can't" find a Christian leader willing to go out and refute and repudiate the words of the loathsome Pat Robertson about Haiti and their "deal with the devil".

I agree, it can't be done.

But I'm willing to try.

Can we put together a campaign to contact ALL the major leaders of ALL the Christian denominations in America and ask all of them if they'd be willing to go on national television to address the crisis, with a caveat that they also address what this Christian "leader" has said?

I think it wouldn't be too hard to find contact info. I'd be MORE than willing to work out a way for any of them to appear on national TV, if we can find them.

So, can it be done?

[elocs]

1. You were right in the first place--it can't be done.

Robertson doesn't care what others say and Christianity does not have one voice that speaks with authority for all.

[DaveinJapan]

4. How about some voices speaking out against heresy?

I thought they didn't like that sort of thing.

[eShirl]

9. one church's heresy is another church's dogma

[eShirl]

2. "You! Fetch me a bishop!"

-King Henry (Peter O'Toole), The Lion In Winter

[KittyWampus]

3. Liberal Christians see ACTION as their means of practicing Faith. What part of that don't you get?

Furthermore, and more importantly, the corporate media doesn't give liberal christians a bullhorn.

The same people you want to bird-dog are ALREADY BUSY HELPING PEOPLE.

Leave them alone. They aren't puppets to make anti-Christian bigots feel good about their antipathy towards those who engage in a spiritual tradition.

Why don't you google for how many churches, temples mosques have Missions to help people in places like Haiti?

[DaveinJapan]

5. Wow...that's a mouthful.

So, nobody should speak out against a Christian leader saying such vile things in the name of Christianity?

Nice excuse.

I don't buy it, though.

And that part about "the corporate media" is a load of crap...I'm CERTAIN that if anyone with the title of "Bishop" wanted to speak out, they'd be handed a mike right quick.

Your whole post doesn't ring true.

[DaveinJapan]

7. double post...sorry.

[DaveinJapan]

8. As to your edit...

"Why don't you google for how many churches, temples mosques have Missions to help people in places like Haiti?"

Why should I?

What does that have to do with the topic at hand?

[spoony]

12. +1

Their ACTIONS contrary to Robertson's hateful words are better than any WORDS they could shoot back. They walk the walk.

[spoony]

6. You've made your point

Are you done using a tragedy to make it, now?

[DaveinJapan]

10. Okay...what????

How is it that I'm "using a tragedy", simply because I'm disgusted by this guy and his comments ON said tragedy?

What the hell is wrong with what I'm saying? I WANT people to start shutting down fucks like Robertson, and Limbaugh, and other vile beings who use these tragedies for their own sick, financial gain purposes!

What's wrong with me calling to Christians, or right wingers, or whoever to finally STOP circling the wagons and actually DO something about it!?

How does that make me the bad guy?

[elocs]

16. Not a bad guy, but you really don't understand that Christianity is not one large, same think

monolith. There is no one person or group that speaks for all. There is no one absolute line as to what is heresy and what is not. What you are asking is really pointless.

[DaveinJapan]

17. So a bunch of Christian leaders speaking out would be out of the question?

I disagree.

If something is wrong, it's wrong.

If they agree with it, that's a different story.

If most of them think this sort of shit is wrong, they should SAY SO. Loudly and vehemently.

Starting, frankly, with the Pope (leader of the largest Christian denomination).

If they don't, they're just circling the wagons yet again. And fuck yes, I will feel free to say so!

[damonm]

11. Howzabout this?

http://blog.sojo.net/2010/01/14/haiti-and-anti-evangelist-pat-robertsons-gospel-of-disgrace/

Haiti and Anti-Evangelist Pat Robertson’s ‘Gospel’ of Disgrace
by Jarrod McKenna 01-14-2010
Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have nothing on the greatest evangelist of atheism today, Pat Robertson. The Red Cross has reported up to 3 million of God’s children have been killed; injured or left homeless in Haiti after a devastating natural disaster hit one of the world’s poorest nations. Lament and compassion are the dominate response from most people around the world. We cry out with the Psalmist, “How long O Lord”, and let these tear soaked prayers fuel our compassionate response to the suffering of these sisters and brothers.

Yet our heart-break has turned to anger as another ‘teleevangelist’ offers ridiculous easy antidotes that are devoid of compassion (let alone sanity) and filled with self-righteous pretence. It’s sometimes hard as an Australian to understand these aspects that populate the landscape of Christianity in the United States. This first hit me while I was studying in the US in 2001 and the horror that unfolded on the 11th of September that year. As people grieved, this horror was compounded with the words of Jerry Falwell who blamed the terrorist attacks on the queer community, feminists and any number of other groups he found it useful to scapegoat. While some of my American friends were shocked but not surprised, I couldn’t get over how bizarre this was coming from someone who claims Jesus of Nazareth at the centre of their faith!! And now Pat Robertson has continued this tradition of Christians doing altar-calls for atheism by blaming the earthquake on the victims of it. (!?!?!) Robertson said Haitians had “made a pact with the Devil” to gain freedom from the French. Does he apply the same logic to the United States gaining independence from Britain?

No. We can’t expect logic nor any sense of history. Pat Robertson (who also called for the assassination of Hugo Chavez), would probably have had no problem with the CIA-backed coup that overthrew the democratically elected Aristide in Haiti, a Catholic Priest whose liberation theology drove him to work for improving the condition of the poor in a nation where people literally eat mud cakes to gain some nutrition.
(snip)
Maybe Pat Robertson’s comments are another example of ‘the primitive brain’ dressed-up in Christian-drag that Brian McLaren has recently blogged about. Still, I can understand why many people would hear Pat Robertson’s comments and think in comparison atheism is an attractive option. Jim Wallis would be quick to remind us that the answer to ‘bad faith’ is not ‘no faith’ but ‘better faith.’ Let hope the church’s critique of Pat Robertson’s televangelism will be the practice of the good news of Christ-like compassion for the victims of Haiti.

[AspenRose]

13. She's not a bishop, but Elizabeth Hasselbeck just did so on national TV

Does that count?

[DaveinJapan]

15. It's a decent start, I'll say that much.

And from an unusual source to say the least.

What about the Christian leaders though...THEY'RE the important ones, they're the ones who need to speak out on this.

Jesus, there are MILLIONS of people who actually listen and believe what is said...and they'll continue to buy it unless people they actually TRUST tell them it's a load of shit.

[AspenRose]

18. Have you gone to the individual web sites of various denominations?

If you REALLY want to know what the "christian leaders" are saying (and doing) and not trying to make some sort of point, look there.

I suspect if Rick Warren denounced Robertson and it got in the media, all sorts of hell would break loose here, although that would be the sort of thing you're looking for. Some things won't be enough for some people, which is why this "demand" is a joke. (He hasn't said anything, by the way. But Jim Wallis has.)

Kitty Wampus is exactly correct, by the way. There's a reason why the religion page of the newspaper is in the back.

[cbdo2007]

14. This is like saying someone should refute Kat Williams.

The only people who take Pat Robertson seriously are idiots who worship him and believe everything he says and people like here on DU who get really really mad about everything he says not realizing that he's just an entertainer and scam artist.

[AspenRose]

19. Exactly

As if he has some sort of power or sway over normal christians :rofl:

[monmouth]

20. Haiti is largely Catholic..Perhaps the Pope could shut him up...LOL...n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

21. The Archbishop of York did it this morning, on BBC Radio

Called him "absolutely wrong", "totally wrong", and told him to go back and read his bible.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_8458000/8458611.stm

Robertson is brought up about 4:40 into the excerpt. Whether or not you agree with Sentamu's reply to "where was God?", he's perfectly clear about Robertson.

[yellowwood]

22. No

Not worth it.