wfn.org | NCC's Edgar Rejects Falwell's "60 Minutes" Comments on Islam

["Carol Fouke" <carolf@ncccusa.org>]

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.
October 6, 2002, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Statement by Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of
Churches, responding to evangelist Jerry Falwell's remarks about Islam and
Muhammad on the CBS program '60 Minutes' on Sunday night, October 6:

"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 un-Christlike and shockingly
uninformed."

_____
The National Council of Churches encompasses 36 Protestant, Orthodox and
African-American denominations in the United States, with 50 million
adherants.  For more information on the NCC, see http://www.ncccusa.org.

To interview Bob Edgar, call him at 917-821-0852, or Vicki Manning at
212-870-2025, or Carol Fouke/Dee Glover at 212-870-2227.