NCC Board
Repudiates Falwell's "60 Minutes" Comments on Islam
Press release from the National Council of Churches, dated 10/07/02
[10-9-02]
New York City - October 7, 2002 - The Executive Board of the (U.S.)
National Council of Churches this afternoon (Oct. 7) voted unanimously
to "condemn and repudiate" the Rev. Jerry Falwell's statements
yesterday on CBS-TV's "60 Minutes" about Islam and the Prophet
Muhammed, saying his statements endangered the lives of Christians
around the world.
Falwell's "hateful and destructive" statements - among
others, that "Muhammed was a terrorist" - "are NOT those
of the majority of Christians in this country nor in the rest of the
world," said the leaders of U.S. Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican
denominations. "His statements about Islam and the Prophet Muhammed
are not only factually untrue and offensive, but are dangerous to the
national security of every nation where Christians and Muslims are
seeking a peaceful relationship."
The Executive Board of the NCC, which comprises 36 denominations with
50 million adherents, noting that "Falwell implied in his comments
that he and his constituency control President Bush's policies toward
Israel and Palestine," called on President Bush to repudiate and
condemn Falwell's remarks.
The full text of the resolution follows:
THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
Resolution Refuting and Condemning the Statements Concerning Islam
and the Prophet Muhammed Made by Rev. Jerry Falwell on "60
Minutes" Sunday, October 06, 2002
Adopted Unanimously by the National Council of Churches Executive
Board Meeting October 7, 2002, in New York City
WHEREAS Jerry Falwell stated in a "60 Minutes" (CBS)
interview, October 6, 2002 " I think Muhammed was a terrorist. I
read enough. by both Muslims and nonpublic, [to decide] that he was a
violent man, a man of war"; and,
WHEREAS Jerry Falwell implied in his comments that he and his
constituency control President Bush's policies towards Israel and
Palestine; and
WHEREAS his views are not those of the majority of Christians in this
country nor in the rest of the world; and,
WHEREAS his statements about Islam and the Prophet Muhammed are not
only factually untrue and offensive, but are dangerous to the national
security of every nation where Christians and Muslims are seeking a
peaceful relationship; and,
WHEREAS his remarks create ideal conditions for breeding terrorism
among those who may not understand that he does not represent the
majority of Christians or Americans; and,
WHEREAS his inflammatory words put at increased risk the lives of
thousands of Christian missionaries and humanitarian aid workers, as
well as their Christian partners abroad who are engaged in heroic
efforts to be peacemakers and bridge-builders in difficult and dangerous
circumstances; and,
WHEREAS we believe Jerry Falwell's words to be not Christian and
shockingly uninformed.
WE, the Executive Board of the National Council of the Churches of
Christ in the USA, representing 36 churches and over 50 million U. S.
Christians, affirm to our brothers and sisters in Islam that we condemn
and repudiate Jerry Falwell's hateful and destructive statements
delivered on CBS's "60 Minutes," October 6, 2002, and we call
upon President George W. Bush to repudiate and condemn Falwell's
remarks.
Contacts:
NCC Communication Department - 212-870-2252/2227/2048 or (mobile)
917-690-6075
NCC General Secretary Bob Edgar - 212-870-2025 or (mobile)
917-821-0852
