National Council of Churches' Bob Edgar Responds to Jerry Falwell Comments on ‘60 Minutes'

October 6, 2002

NEW YORK – Dr. Bob Edgar, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, has issued the following statement in response to tonight's remarks about the Muslim faith by evangelist Jerry Falwell on the CBS television program, 60 Minutes:

"Jerry Falwell speaks from the perspective of a radical right-wing group in the United States, one that is aligned with conservative politicians and fundamentalist theologians. His views are not those of the majority of Christians in this country or in the rest of the world. His statements about Islam and Mohammad are not only factually untrue, but are dangerous to the national security of every nation where Christians and Muslims are seeking a peaceful relationship. His remarks create ideal conditions for breeding terrorism among those who have no way of knowing that he does not represent the majority of Christians or Americans.

"His inflammatory words put at increased risk the lives of thousands of Christian missionaries and humanitarian workers, and their Christian partners abroad who are engaged in heroic efforts to be peacemakers and bridge-builders in difficult and dangerous circumstances. We condemn Mr. Falwell's hate speech. It is unChristlike, it is shockingly uninformed, and because it is tied to his fund-raising efforts among politically conservative constituents it is financially cynical and opportunistic."

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. New York, New York