Pat Robertson is in the news again! He said on The 700 Club on Monday that the ongoing stock market crisis is punishment for the federal government’s support of Planned Parenthood.
Longtime Robertson watchers, of course, know that he often concludes that God has caused a given group of people’s suffering because of some other thing that usually has nothing to do with the group that is suffering. For instance:
- In 1985 he said that a hurricane that killed eight people in the Northeast had been diverted away from Virginia after Robertson and his staff prayed for it to miss them. (Robertson’s headquarters is in Virginia Beach.)
- In 1998, Robertson said that fires in Florida could be the result of Disney World’s efforts to appeal to gay tourists, adding future consequences could include “terrorist bombs,” hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, and “possibly a meteor.”
- In 2001, Jerry Falwell appeared on Robertson’s show and blamed the 9/11 terrorist attacks on feminists, gays, lesbians, the ACLU, “pagans,” and “abortionists.” Responded Robertson: “I totally concur.”
- In 2006, Robertson said that Ariel Sharon’s stroke was retribution for giving land to Palestinians.
- In 2010, Robertson said that the devastating Haiti earthquake was a consequence of a pact with the devil that Haitians had sworn at the time they revolted against the French.
- In 2012, Robertson said that deadly Midwestern storms were the consequence of people not praying enough.
Pat Robertson’s God has a hard time letting go of grudges.
Also, here’s an exerpt from Robertson’s Wikipedia page.
Screen shot/Wikipedia
I defy you to find a better sentence than that one.
