Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for November 11, 2005 SCHOOL BOARDS RULE BY DIVINE RIGHT?

Earlier this week, while passing along the story of how the voters had ousted the "intelligent design" school board members, I toyed with the thought of using a headline of "not-so-divine intervention" to describe the actions of the voters...before opting to describe the board members actions as a "not-so-intelligent move".

Well, seems that Pat Robertson (former Presidential candidate and sometimes excentric host of the 700 Club) is predicting "divine intervention" against those voters in his latest bizarre look into his crystal ball...

Televangelist Robertson warns town of God's wrath

By Alan Elsner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson told citizens of a Pennsylvania town that they had rejected God by voting their school board out of office for supporting "intelligent design" and warned them on Thursday not to be surprised if disaster struck.

Robertson, a former Republican presidential candidate and founder of the influential conservative Christian Broadcasting Network and Christian Coalition, has a long record of similar apocalyptic warnings and provocative statements.

Last summer, he hit the headlines by calling for the assassination of leftist Venezuelan Present Hugo Chavez, one of President George W. Bush's most vocal international critics.

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city," Robertson said on his daily television show broadcast from Virginia, "The 700 Club."

"And don't wonder why He hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for His help because he might not be there," he said.

The 700 Club claims a daily audience of around one million. It is also broadcast around the world translated into more than 70 languages.

In voting on Tuesday, all eight Dover, Pennsylvania, school board members up for re-election lost their seats after trying to introduce "intelligent design" to high school science students as an alternative to the theory of evolution.

Adherents of intelligent design argue that certain forms in nature are too complex to have evolved through natural selection and must have been created by a "designer." Opponents say it is the latest attempt by conservatives to introduce religion into the school science curriculum.

The Dover case sparked a trial in federal court that gained nationwide attention after the school board was sued by parents backed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The board ordered schools to read students a short statement in biology classes informing them that the theory of evolution is not established fact and that gaps exist in it.

The statement mentioned intelligent design as an alternate theory and recommended students read a book that explained the theory further. A decision in the case is expected before the end of the year.

In 1998, Robertson warned the city of Orlando, Florida that it risked hurricanes, earthquakes and terrorist bombs after it allowed homosexual organizations to put up rainbow flags in support of sexual diversity.

Robertson says Dover deserves snub from God

By Amy Worden
Inquirer Staff Writer

Broadcaster Pat Robertson has never shied away from delivering controversial statements over the Christian airwaves.

He once predicted Orlando might get hit by a meteor as payback for allowing gay pride flags to fly on its streets.

In August, he called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez after Chávez criticized U.S. policy - a remark he later retracted.

Yesterday, he turned his attention to the embattled community of Dover in York County, suggesting its people might suffer some divine wrath for having just elected school board members who support evolution.

During an episode of The 700 Club, Robertson said the people of Dover should not bother seeking God's help in a disaster because "you just voted God out of your city" on Tuesday. "I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God; you just rejected him from your city."

Six hours later, Robertson issued a response to the news media, saying he was "simply stating that our spiritual actions have consequences... . God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in his eye forever."

Some Dover residents dismissed Robertson's comments as laughable, while others said the religious leader was only adding to the already tense climate.

Dover Township, located 25 miles southwest of Harrisburg, was thrust into the national spotlight last fall after the school board introduced intelligent design into the science curriculum, prompting a federal lawsuit by parents who said it was unconstitutional.

A six-week trial ended last week and a ruling is expected in the suit as early as next month.

On Tuesday, Dover voters rejected eight members of the board who had approved the policy and replaced them with a slate of "pro-evolution" candidates who say intelligent design does not belong in science class.

With the trial and election finally over, residents weary of the debate over intelligent design had hoped the spotlight would turn elsewhere so they could get back to their lives.

Then Robertson let loose.

"Unbelievable," said newly elected board member Judy McIlvaine. "He's such a loose cannon. Perhaps it's an honor that we have attracted the ire of Pat Robertson."

Nathan Walker, the pastor of Harmony Grove Community Church, said he doesn't give the statement much credence.

"He's fanning the fires," said Walker, who supports evolution but has no problem with the introduction of intelligent design.

The two civil liberties groups representing the plaintiffs in the trial - which have been the focus of Robertson's verbal attacks before - relished the opportunity to return the volley.

"It shows he's evolving into a crankier fringe character than we expected," said Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "God has better things to do than worry about the outcome of a school board election."

A lawyer with the American Civil Liberties Union said Robertson's remarks bolster the plaintiffs' case that intelligent design - which holds that the universe is so complex there must have been an intelligent agent behind it - is the same as Bible-based creationism.

"What better evidence do we need that intelligent design is religion?" asked Witold Walczak, legal director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania.

A lawyer with the Christian legal center defending the Dover school board said Robertson's statements reflected the opinion of a religious leader.

"I wouldn't be surprised if he equated intelligent design to religion," said Robert Muise, of the Thomas More Law Center in Michigan. "He's a religious leader who makes statements in a religious context."

Muise said neither Robertson nor any other religious leaders were called by the defense to testify because the case is about science.

"Last time I checked, Pat Robertson didn't have a Ph.D. in science," Muise said. "He didn't testify for us because intelligent design is based on science."

When he heard Robertson's statement, Walczak said he was "sorry we didn't call Pat Robertson as a witness."

Robertson did give a nod to the father of evolutionary theory in the final line of his later comment. "If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin," he said in a statement. "Maybe he can help them."

Robertson on Dover election

Pat Robertson's initial comment on his television show, "The 700 Club":

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: If there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God; you just rejected him from your city. And don't wonder why he hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for his help because he might not be there."

His second statement after questions from the media:

"I was simply stating that our spiritual actions have consequences and it's high time we started recognizing it. God is tolerant and loving, but we can't keep sticking our finger in his eye forever. If they have future problems in Dover, I recommend they call on Charles Darwin... . Maybe he can help them."