Controversial charismatic Pat Robertson has put his foot in his mouth with yet another post-disaster remark – this time regarding quake-hit Haiti.
While hosting “The 700 Club” on the Christian Broadcasting Network Wednesday, Robertson said the 7.0-magnitude quake that struck Haiti a day earlier was the consequence of the curse that had befallen the country’s people after its founding fathers made a “pact to the Devil” in exchange for Haiti’s independence from France.
“Ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor,” Robertson said.
He noted how Haiti shares the Island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic and how the latter is “prosperous, healthy, full of resorts” while Haiti is “in desperate poverty”.
“Same island,” he emphasised.
Robertson based his comment on a well-known folk tale among Haitians that not all citizens believe.
Robertson’s latest remark – coming as television screens are filled with images of bloody survivors and dead bodies stacked on streets – hit a sensitive nerve with secular commentators as well as conservative evangelical leaders.
Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas called Robertson arrogant during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday.
“It is absolute arrogance to try to interpret any of God's actions as a judgment against this person or that person,” the Southern Baptist minister said. “ Our duty as Christians is to try to help these people, pray for these people and to help them."
Similarly, Dr R Albert Mohler Jr, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, responded to Robertson’s “embarrassing” remarks by highlighting the theological arrogance matched to ignorance”.
In a commentary posted Thursday, Mohler acknowledged that Haiti has a well-known history of the occult, voodoo, and sorcery. He also said he agrees that God does and will judge the nations and has sovereign power over everything.
Controversial charismatic Pat Robertson has put his foot in his mouth with yet another post-disaster remark – this time regarding quake-hit Haiti.
While hosting “The 700 Club” on the Christian Broadcasting Network Wednesday, Robertson said the 7.0-magnitude quake that struck Haiti a day earlier was the consequence of the curse that had befallen the country’s people after its founding fathers made a “pact to the Devil” in exchange for Haiti’s independence from France.
“Ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor,” Robertson said.
He noted how Haiti shares the Island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic and how the latter is “prosperous, healthy, full of resorts” while Haiti is “in desperate poverty”.
“Same island,” he emphasised.
Robertson based his comment on a well-known folk tale among Haitians that not all citizens believe.
Robertson’s latest remark – coming as television screens are filled with images of bloody survivors and dead bodies stacked on streets – hit a sensitive nerve with secular commentators as well as conservative evangelical leaders.
Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas called Robertson arrogant during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” Thursday.
“It is absolute arrogance to try to interpret any of God's actions as a judgment against this person or that person,” the Southern Baptist minister said. “ Our duty as Christians is to try to help these people, pray for these people and to help them."
Liz Sanders
January 19, 2010
I agree with you completely.
Clarence Chriss
January 19, 2010
This is what you get from the right. The ones who have it all and care less about the poor or middle class. He should step down with his foolishness and have someone with compassion (not just for the rich or the GOP) take the lead. What a disgusting so call Christian. I have a friend who stated one time, "you will be surprise who is in heaven and who is not." Not to be the judge, there is only one judge, I've got a feeling we may not see the greedy, low life individual there. It is not surpise to this Christian that Robinson acts this way. He is not for the poor or the middle class. He only looks to them for contributions. SHAME, SHAME SHAME!!!!