Above, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a clergyman who died for his resistance to the Nazis.
By Lisa Haddock
NJ Faith Forum Editor
After igniting a firestorm of controversy, "700 Club" host Pat Robertson apologized for his remarks about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, CNN reported. On Monday's (Aug. 22) broadcast of the "700 Club" Robertson said: "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability."
On Wednesday's (Aug. 24) "700 Club," Robertson tried to spin his comments. "I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should 'take him out.' And 'take him out' can be a number of things, including kidnapping; there are a number of ways to take out a dictator from power besides killing him. I was misinterpreted by the AP [Associated Press], but that happens all the time," the broadcaster said.
But later on Wednesday, Robertson owned up to his words. "Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement," he said. "I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him."
On his Web site, Robertson clarified his comments. He asserted that it is morally right to assassinate -- under the right circumstances. Robertson pointed to the example German theologian and Lutheran pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who took part in a plot to kill Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer, who was executed by the Nazis, is revered as a martyr and hero by many Christians.
Read the CNN story.
Read Robertson's Robertson's clarification.
Read U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum article about Bonhoeffer.
Read Wikipedia article.
Read Summation of Bonhoeffer’s ethics and philosophy.
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1 comment:
Thanks for seeing through the muck and sorting out Robertson's statements. He doesn't seem to know what he is saying.
Humbleness and meekness is something we need to hear more about, not arrogance and revenge and Jesus' command to love our enemies.
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