ISTA, Calif. (ABP) — As several religious leaders criticized Pat Robertson’s comments blaming Haiti’s massive Jan. 12 earthquake on a pact supposedly made by its people with the devil, one came out to defend him.
Gary Cass, chairman and CEO of the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, issued a statement saying that while Robertson’s comments made him an “easy target” for criticism, they are essentially theologically sound.
Cass, who before taking his current job in 2007 worked three years as executive director of the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ, an outreach of the late D. James Kennedy’s Coral Ridge Ministries, said the Bible talks of connections between historical realities and spiritual influences when it uses the terms “blessing or cursing.”
Cass said the majority of Americans believe in moral causality. Eastern religious call it “karma,” while Christians call it “God’s providence.” In that regard, he said, Robertson’s comments were “well within the bounds of historic Christian theology.”
Cass suggested one reason Robertson’s message is so unpopular is that it forces people to face the spiritual dimension of their lives.
“As long as everything is going well we live as if we are never going to die,” he said. “Then crisis hits and death slaps us in the face. Rather than humbling ourselves and searching our hearts like the Pilgrims did, we lash out at God and anyone who dares insinuate Him into our lives.”
“A simple reading of the Bible shows how God uses natural disasters to further his purposes,” Cass said. “Earthquakes, floods, famine, locusts, etc. they’re all there, but man hates it. Rather than humbly acknowledging that God’s ways are not our ways, man rails against and accuses God. The last thing they will do is cry out for his mercy in Jesus Christ.”
Mohler criticizes Robertson, but affirms theology
A Southern Baptist scholar faulted Robertson for “over-claiming” the meaning of a single event, but also affirmed his theology.
“Do I believe that God punishes nations?” Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, said on his daily radio program Jan. 13 “You bet, the same way I know that judgment falls upon individuals.”
The problem, Mohler said, is that natural disaster often falls on nations and individuals who seem to deserve it least while sparing others like Germany and the Soviet Union that exhibit a “fist-in-the face kind of sin.”
“Do we know that God sovereignly rules over all things and exercises his justice and judgment over the nations?” Mohler asked. “Yes we do, but we are not in a position as human beings, as believing Christians, to say we know exactly what God is doing in a situation.”
“There is a real matter of theological integrity here,” Mohler said. “How do we answer those who say, ‘Why did God not destroy, then, nation or community or city X, Y or Z for its apparent fist-in-the-face kind of sin — and why on the other hand are there others that seem to suffer inordinately?'”
The answer, Mohler said is the “mystery of God’s judgment.” That mystery is not a question of whether or not God punishes evil, but rather that “We can not always trace his hand.”
“It is human arrogance to over-claim on behalf of God,” Mohler said. “We must be very, very careful.”
“The same hurricane that destroyed all kinds of sinfulness and enclaves of paganism in New Orleans there in the French Quarter also destroyed orphanages and evangelical churches. There’s just no way to make a generalization without grave, grave theological danger.”
Mohler said Robertson “is absolutely correct in speaking about the sinfulness of the people of Haiti.”
Mohler: Haiti ‘a very dark place’
“There is no doubt that Haiti is a very dark place, where voodoo and all kinds of idolatry and all kinds of dark magic, all kinds of enslaving forms of religious belief are very prevalent,” Mohler said. “It is a dark place. It has been a dark place for a long time. The poverty there is not just because the nation started off as a rather impoverished nation, but because of the behavior pattern, beliefs, that have led to a society that has been virtually ungovernable for much of its history and really has embraced so much darkness.”
However, he said, Robertson could have said the same thing about every human in every country. “All of us are sinners,” Mohler said. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
While Mohler accused Robertson of saying “too much” about God’s plan, he also warned against saying “too little,” such as denying that God’s judgment is revealed in the rising and falling and nations.
“Saying too little would be refusing to say or to acknowledge that God is reigning over every single nation and every other people at every single moment,” Mohler said. “Saying too much is to say, ‘I know exactly what God is doing in this and why God did it.’ And that just isn’t given to us.”
Cass said some of the religious broadcasters throwing stones at Robertson wouldn’t have jobs if he had not paved the way for both religious broadcasting and political involvement by conservative evangelicals. He also reminded that Robertson’s Operation Blessing humanitarian ministry has provided goods and services valued at $1.7 billion for disaster victims around the world.
According to the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission website, the group exists to “advance religious liberty for Christians by protecting Christians from defamation, discrimination, and bigotry from any and all sources.”
An advisory council includes well-known conservative evangelical leaders including Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition, Matthew Staver of the Liberty Counsel, Don Wildmon of the American Family Association and Rick Scarborough of Vision America.
Robertson responds to criticism
Robertson’s official website posted a statement Jan. 13 clarifying that the broadcaster’s comments were based on a widely discussed story from the Haitian slave rebellion in 1791 in which the rebellion’s leaders allegedly made a pact with the devil in exchange for victory over their French oppressors. That history, the statement claimed, along with the fact that Haiti has experienced enormous difficulty throughout its history, has led numerous religious scholars over the years to describe the country as “cursed.”
“Dr. Robertson never stated that the earthquake was God’s wrath,” CBN spokesman Chris Roslan said in the statement. “If you watch the entire video segment, Dr. Robertson’s compassion for the people of Haiti is clear. He called for prayer for them. His humanitarian arm has been working to help thousands of people in Haiti over the last year, and they are currently launching a major relief and recovery effort to help the victims of this disaster.”
Many other political and religious leaders, however, have condemned the statement roundly since Robertson uttered it Jan. 13. Asked about the comments during his Jan. 14 press briefing, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs responded with disgust.
“It never ceases to amaze that in times of amazing human suffering somebody says something that could be so utterly stupid,” he said. “But it, like clockwork, happens with some regularity.”
– 
By Bob Allen, ABP
Bob Allen is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press. ABP Managing Editor and Washington Bureau Chief Robert MarusThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it contributed to this story.
Hell is waiting for the racist peoples.
To DA MAN IN BOSTON, I totally agree with you. It is high time that we as a black race understand what the Europeans did to us. Our history as a people have been hidden away from us for so long -that we have believed in these so=called menn of God. First of all let me inform us that Christianity began in Africa and is not what modern day Christianity is. Modern-day Christianity began in Rome by Constantine and since then we have been worshipping a false icon called Jesus Christ. There has never been any historical proof about Jesus. Christianoty is a Greco=Roman religion, that was organized. If we read Western Civilizatio the information is there. I have taken the class and had a German professor and he himself does not believe in that teaching. Christianity was used to enslave us as a people so that we would forget the knowledge of our true God, the God of Abraham , Isaac and Jacob. We are Africans and we were told that African is the DARK continent. Christianity makes us believe that heaven is in the sky and that when we die we will walk the streets of gold. The gold in Africa has been gotten by these Europeans who went there and took us captive and brought us to the So-called Americas to work for them. Africa is Eden as some of us know and it is the First World because that’s where life and civilization began. Everything that these Europeans have told us are lies and we are so blinded by religion that we cannot see. We are the first in everthing and they know that because they know our history more that us. It is time to stop giving these so -called men of God your hard earned money and help each other who are in need . There is more to be said but that’s all for now.
Hatians are known to undermine governments and distabilize their soceity. There is a reason Haiti is the poorest nation in this hemisphere. They are a bunch of hateful jealous people. I am afraid we do not allow the Haitians in Dominica to influence is in this Island. I remember a Haitian carnival band during Dominica’s carnival and one could almost feel the devil in that band.
Dominica stay alert and do not allow Hatians to influence us.
Good news: I donated $150. 00 US Dollars towards Haiti today.
MR BIGNNAN.
Go to hell with your $150.00 i don’t think Hatians ppl need your money this is not from the heart I wish to pay you back one day on you dead bed
above this all controversies, we have only one goal.. to help Haitians community.. please help by donating any necessities to the victims of earthquake in haiti.. any help counts.. please check this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fPjDcDGuGk&hd=1
or visit. http://www.hopeforhaiti.org ..
we need your cooperation.. please spread this word.. thanks
Its people like PAT AND HIS SUPPORTERS who are responsible for the situation in Haiti,and those of you who say he is not wrong i ask you DO ANY OF YOU KNOW THE HISTORY OF HAITI? DO ANY OF YOU KNOW WHY HAITI SEES SO MUCH MISERY? NO YOU DONT,SO LET ME PUT IT SHORT,PATS PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE,BUT THEY WONT TAKE BLAME NOW SAND YOU FOOLS JUST FOLLOW ALONG.
The concept of “Devil” is the biggest excuse for moral weakness created by religious practitioners. Surely without the existence of supreme evil, there is no need for a Christian God, priests to disinfect our souls after enjoying the fruits of the earth, or a Heaven that juxtaposes the good earth that Christians promise to the meek. Kathleen, in the philosophy of dualism, everything has an opposite; since we cannot prove that God does not exist why bother about the opposite?
Kathleen O’Leary, you sound like the typical white, racist religious right white trash. Keep your comments and support for Pat Robertson to yourself and find some other racist right-wing site to issue your idiotic comments because we here are mostly proud black people whom people like yourselves can no longer fool or control.
I feel sorry for idiots like BFEYE and andy…they are just poor ignorant house slaves who somehow cannot come to the realization that we are in the year 2010, NOT 1810.
DE DARKNESS OF HAITI
With all the talk comming out about haiti and the nonsense Devil minded people saying , the only darkness haiti is in, is what the super powers put haiti in .When Haiti free it self from the opressive regimes in 1799, that was a big blow to the Colonizers. They never expect Haiti to free it self so soon, slavery was still their main industry, and could not allow that BLACK country to be free .They wanted to make an example of Haiti and also to discourage other blacks to rise up against this act of the DEVIL””SLAVERY””. Again the USA had just bought NEW ORLEANS from the french for next to nothing, and they did not want the blacks there to follow suit. so they ALL the SUPER powers at the time , GANG UP against HAITI, and keep Haiti in the dark economically.The HISTORY is there to prove that.
Now any body that belive in pat rob us sons and the devil doctrins that he pushes are simple zombies.GOD is GOOD ALL the TIME,it’s a thine line between GOD and the DEVIL we know that.
Now these guys are using God’s name to preach the DEVIL”s philosophy, they can do so because they have money, your money they make you send them. And they don’t want to send money for Haiti like the the rest of the world, so they come up with thier Bull $$#@$$ and want us to belive that.
These are the BLACK HEART MEN, and FIRE gonna BURN THEM.
The DEVIL works through these guys cause they have the power in the system, and they hate Black people. Just look in their BIBLE and you will see, every thing black is bad , and white is good, that what they wanted us to belive,with their calculated educational system, but through knowledge we gather we know that is not ture.Education is a systematic tool, KNOWLEDGE is what” GOD” the most HIGH gives.The sobering thing is that, we all must DIE when our time come, and only the THE MOST HIGH knows when, not these devil messangers, there turn have to come,they have to suffer and burn even worst than the hatians. THERE GOD IS NOT OUR GOD, we know that. so take that.
Robertson stated what needed to be said….The problem with the world is that we don’t believe there is a Devil or evil…Prayer is need for the people of Haiti and for the whole world to see the signs of the times….We all need to look at our lives and change what needs to be changed…love God with your whole heart and your neighbor the same….If we do that the world will destroy Evil and our Nations will be Blessed…
Like i said in a pervious post, if Pat Robertson had made these statements prior to the earthquake most of you would be in agreement.
You people shouldn’t make your bleeding heart cloud your judgement and your ability to put things in perspective.
What happened in Haiti this week will go down in history as one of the most devastating disasters of this century, and the scary thing is that it could happen anywhere. One could argue that we have been spared thus far because we are, in general, God fearing people.
So, my point: listen, and process what Mr Robertson and Mr Cass is saying. Your reaction should be to ask God for forgiveness and continue to fear him.
I’m sure a lot of you atheists and anti-Christian people will have objections, but this is my opinion. And it is my DIVINE right to have an opinion.
These right-wing religious leaders are the modern day oppressors. They are direct descendants of the evil heartless oppressors that enslaved and tortured Black Americans and destroyed the Indigenous people. They are hiding behind christianity and using it as a tool to continue their unrelenting assault on the black race.
PAT robertson DIDNT say anything WRONG.
Pat I would love to see the look on your Spirit when lights go out. GOD IS LOVING. Real Simple. Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!!!! His Spirit will tell us what is right and wrong…in our own lives. Not your words Mr. Pat. PLEASE REPENT I AM WORRIED ABOUT YOU. You have resourses to pay your peneance in a special way. DO IT and quit all this talk. I will pray for you.
the word of god say s there will be earthquakes in divers place read matthew cheapter 24 in the bible.
I wish I could presently find the verse, but I believe it was Jesus who said that we are NOT to judge anyone else because the things we judge them for are the same things we think and do ourselves!!!! The gospel is very, very simple: Believe on The Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!!!! His Spirit will tell us what is right and wrong…in our own lives. I detest the modern day churches who do not teach this very simple truth. It seems to be all about the money, instead of compassion and reaching out in love, to one another. There is also a wonderful area in the book of Matthew where there will be many who approach Jesus on that day and will say that they have done many wonderful works, in His Name, and the Lord will say: “I never knew you.” It is about visiting the sick, those in prison, with real love and compassion. We can never know a person’s heart. Only God does!! We can never know what caused an individual ta act the way they do, hence the reason for leaving all judgement up to God. we are to act in love. How many times do we do this…really!!!!!!!!
Pat Robertson lost it on this. America has more unbelievers, due to population size than Haiti. What does that say about us!! I know of people who supposedly made pacts with Satan, here in America!! Again, what does that say about us!!!! There are all kinds, everywhere, and we should leave the judgement to God, alone.
OF COURSE HE SHOULD BE CONDEMNED AND STRUNG UP SOMEWHERE, I HOPE YOU ARE A FB FAN YOU IDIOT. NOTHING WORSE THAN THE ONES HOLIER THAN THY. MY SAYING YOU THUMP YOUR BIBLE YOUR WAY AND I WILL THUMB MINE MY WAY.
@big-Banan
The devil that you feel in the Haitian band is the fear inside you towards Hatians, nothing more. The Haitians are no more devilish and no more hateful than you, me or anyone else. The simple reason why the Haitian ppl has been so poor throughout their history is because after they kicked out the French, they the french got all of Europe to lock Haiti out of the rest of the world (embargo) for fear that other colonies could follow suit, so of course poverty followed. That is the history of where Haiti’s poverty began. “They keep you hungry and when you gonna get some food ya brotha gonna 2 be ya enemy.” You’ve donated $150 US with so little luv for these brothas and sistas, but I’m sure it does warm ya heart and clear ya conscience.
@someHow
For want of a better word I tend to believe you’re very naive to believe any part of that story. There are so many ppl here telling you that Haiti is 80% catholic yet you out there writing that the place is overrun by voodoo. When Haitians tell you that the devil walks the street of Haiti, is simply ppl that were mistakenly buried alive, only to be dug out later. It’s a simple potion mate, made from an ocean fish that once it touches the skin it slows ya heartbeat down to where you appear to be dead but you’re not, family members bury them only to have the voodoo man dig them out at night and have them walking around like zombies.
I’m curious tho, how do you suggest they clean up their act? go down on their knees and ask the devil very nicely to release them off the pack that they signed 200yrs ago. Stop being so cynical of your Haitians brothas and sistas mate, voodoo is simply an African religion that is not very devilish or mystical as you think, the Haitians partake more of it because they’re more pure Africans than any other caribbean islanders.
Well it’s the very same bible used to enslave black people for 400 yrs, and it is the same bible that says that when God cursed one of the sons of Noah, he was from the black race so blacks are cursed. Also, that bible says you have to submit to your Masters, that’s why most of the nations with the turn your cheek mentality are oppressed.
How horrible for those “dark” Haitians to overthrow their enslaving oppressors. HORRIBLE, Slavery is fun! What a moron.
‘A very dark place eh’ did he mean dark as in ‘full of black people’ or evil dark? Well it certainly cannot be the latter, because the last time I checked Haiti had a population of a little over 9 million while the USA where this racist bum lives has a population of over 260 million. There are more than 9 million athiests, devil worshippers, sodomites (homosexuality may I remind you is legal in many states), thieves, murders, kidnappers, drugdealers, childmolesters….. should I go on? in the USA. A ‘very dark place’ indeed.
This demonstrate that now we must put the superstition of white extreme right religious views where it belongs in the bottom of the sea. Natural disaters occur everywhere in the world. the difference is that the rich natios which have looted the world weath are better able to withstand than poorer nations. So my people, we must never stop beleiving in the loving Creator and Father, but enough of this western god nonsense. Our Creator accepts all our worship.Pat Hucinsonson god did that but not the Creator of heaven and earth. The Creator of heaven and earth was there protecting those who could.
modern church is a money making establishment, you’d think one of those big churches would donate sunday’s collections to the relief… have looked at all the religous channels and haven’t seen anything bout it
Pat should shut his mouth no one needs his racist, selfrightous comments for the ears of his follows. Yuck what a disgusting bunch…. him and fox news
And we are suprised by the latest pew research poll that people are leaving the tradition church in droves.
No, people in this country and around the world are actually thinking about how insane organized religion has become. To quote Jesus, woe to them who call evil good and good evil.
A few examples.
Jesus said it is easier for a rich man to get into heaven- yet most rich people, republicans are “christian”
In the bible Jesus never says anything about homosexuals, yet the church makes it a major issue.
The church talks about the evils of rock and rap music, but never about the evils of country music which is filled with much more adultery and drinking.
And my favorite INSANE evangelical church line. The church teaches that God is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. Yet if you choose not to follow the unconditional love of Jesus ( a condition in itself, lol) then this all loving God burns you hell for eternity.
Nice to see people are waking up and leaving this insanity behind. The church used to also teach that the world was flat you know too.
donovan
Hatians are known to undermine governments and distabilize their soceity. There is a reason Haiti is the poorest nation in this hemisphere. They are a bunch of hateful jealous people. I am afraid we do not allow the Haitians in Dominica to influence is in this Island. I remember a Haitian carnival band during Dominica’s carnival and one could almost feel the devil in that band.
Dominica stay alert and do not allow Hatians to influence us.
Good news: I donated $150. 00 US Dollars towards Haiti today.
Not what goes into a mans’ mouth but what comes out of it can defile a man because a man speaks from the content of his heart and by the statment this “Pat Robertson” made we can clearly see his level of caring for the Haitian people who are suffering right now. it makes me wonder is this man really a follower of our saviour Jesus christ / yahswa.
I know that haiti has it’s faults like every where else but “Pat Robertson” sould speak about all the satanism that has always been going on in london,washington & rome and their evil plan for the world before he opens his wicked mouth and makes a statement like that in a time like that!!!
He without Sin cast the first Stone. ……. I guess we all have to put the stone down then
DELROY when it was new orleans they made these statements yes,,, do u know new orleans was like a modern day sodom,,, with gays roaming heads high,,,, going about there business broad day,,,, but that’s beside the point,,,,,,, i aint supporting any race discriminating our black race,,, i love our hatian bros n sis’,,,,,,, but it may be an act of god,,,, WHY? if u look at the news haiti is no longer under control of the haitian president HHHEEELLLLOOO MR BARACK OBAMA is in charge SO I HOPE SKERRO GET D MEMO,,,, NOT CHAVEZ(they not helping i doh hear bout dem yet) n e way i going off topic dere lol
YES THATS A CHANCE FOR HAITI’S CLIMATE TO CHANGE,,,, THEY MAY NOT HAVE A NEW GOV’T BUT THE POLITICAL CLIMATE IS GONNA CHANGE,,,, IF THE U.S CAN DEAL WITH IRAQ THEN WHO IS HAITI,,, AND WE ALL KNOW THE U.S.A DON’T NOTHING FOR FREE,,, lol i love the american system,,,, MR OBAMA BEING A NEGRO AINT GONNA LET HAITI DOWN,,, WE CAN ALL SEE THAT AS OPPOSED TO HOW BUSH DID N.O IN KATRINA,,,, the u.s is gonna reform the haitians policies,,,, n this will be the first time Haiti gonna see some major changes,,,, YOW LETS BE SMART HERE,,,, MR . CHAVEZ IS ON A SHOPPING SPREE BUYING EVERY LIL CARIBBEAN ISLE,,, THIS GIVE THE U.S.A a PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO DIG INTO THE STORE AND OUT BUY MR. CHAVEZ,,,,,, HAITI IS GONNA GET SOME MUCH NEEDED ATTENTION FROM THE U.S ,,, THEN SEE HOW WE GONNA BE BEGGING THEM TO SHOW MORE INTEREST IN CARICOM SINCE WE HAD BEEN SO RELUCTANT,,,,, I GET THE FEELING THE U.S.A IS GONNA DO WONDERS IN HAITI N THEY GONNA THE ENVY OF THE CARIBBEAN,,,,, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE,,, THAT IS WHY THIS COULD BE AN ACT OF GOD,,,, HAITI CAN BE TRANSFORMED TOTALLY CAUSE RIGHT NOW THERE IS BASICALLY NO SYSTEM OF GOV’T,,,, THEY ARE AT GROUND ZERO,,,, IT IS BETTER TO START AT THE BOTTOM UP,,, THEN AT THE MIDDLE,,,,,
is every nautral disistar or man made disistar god way of punishing us if a man walks into a building and kill 100 people is it god punishing us
I wonder if they made that same statement when Katrina destroyed New Orleans? America is no better than Haiti just because it is economically prosperous.
DNW
I am sure that there are obedient christians who also lost their lives and properties. When the flood came, the obedient ones (8) were saved.In sodom and Gommorrah the obedient ones (3) were saved.Hope you get my point , that this was just a coincidence. It warns us that we should be always ready because we never know when will be our last day.By the way, if Robertson is correct, There would be greater disasters in America.
I agree 100% with ‘lightbulb’. If we are to believe those religious zealots, the likes of Pat Robertson, we should be inclined to believe that America and the Zionist/apartheid regime in Israel should be staring at their own ‘Karma’ ’round the corner, Since these two nations are involved in the wholesome slaughter and oppression of innocent women and children with their weapons of mass destruction and war mongering mentality. This is not preaching hate. this is merely stating the facts based on what the Israelis are doing to the Palestinian people and America’s current crusade against muslim nations.
Lightbulb, I take a dim view of your HATE FOR AMERICA. Are you so full of HATE that you can’t see any good in America! Obviously you are BURNT OUT and need to be replaced.
saw some statistics on CNN last night that 80% of haitians are catholics and only 5% consider voodoo as their main religion. so it would seem that the prevalence of voodoo in haiti is being exaggerated
In that case San Francisco and Las Vegas will be wiped out soon! Modern Christianity has corrupted the teachings of the Prophet Christ for power and personal gain, utilizing the psychology of fear and superstition tocontrol the masses. In a blatant disregard for the facts, Robertson and his hate groups have ignored the fact that Haitians are very religious people.
For some reason I tend to believe that some truth resides in this story..all speculations aside we all know that the place is overun with voodoo.For whatsoever reason the country is bound to extreme poverty.I have had stories from Hatians (stuff I heard from their mouths) That the devil himself walks the streets of Haiti.No matter how far fetched it may sound ,somehow I believe.They need to clean up that pact they made and move on.
Mohler said Robertson “is absolutely correct in speaking about the sinfulness of the people of Haiti.”
Wow coming from an American, a country who enslaved the Africans, exterminated the Native Americans, and till this day continue wreak havoc against the world or anyone who stands opposed to its Manifest Destiny.