The Vomit Awards - Pat Robertson

Pat Robertson is a major figure in Christian broadcasting. He is the founder and chairman of the Christian Broadcasing Network. The Christian Broadcasting Network is one of the largest television ministries and is one of the longest running religious television shows.

Pat Robertson invited Jerry Falwell on Robertson's television program after the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. On Robertson's program, Jerry Falwell blamed the attacks on a wide variety of people he did not like, including abortionists, pagans, feminists and gay people. Pat Robertson should have done the responsible thing and challenged Jerry Falwell's terrible comments.

In August of 2005, Pat Robertson said the leader of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez was afraid the United States would assassinate him. Robertson indicated the United States should go ahead and assassinate Hugo Chavez. On Robertson's CBN web site, he states he said the following:

He has destroyed the Venezuelan economy, and he’s going to make that a launching pad for communist infiltration and Muslim extremism all over the continent. I don’t know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we’re trying to assassinate him, I think we really ought to go ahead and do it. It’s a whole lot cheaper than starting a war, and I don’t think any oil shipments will stop.

A man of God calling for the murder of the leader of a country! What gives? What part of, "Thou shalt not kill," does Pat Robertson not understand? As a Christian pastor, he probably has read that passage in the Bible, yet he does not appear to understand it.

Pat Robertson's apologized for his comments. Unfortunately, his apology is problematic. The apology appears to be more of a defense of what he said than a heart-filled apology for saying something grossly inappropriate. About Bonhoeffer, Robertson comments as follows:

On the strength of this reasoning, Bonhoeffer decided to lend his support to those in Germany who had joined together in an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Bonhoeffer was imprisoned and killed by the Nazis, but his example deserves our respect and consideration today.

In his apology, Robertson seems to compare himself to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor who opposed Hitler's Nazi Government. Humility is not one of Pat Robertson's problems. Well Pat Robertson, you are no Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Pat Robertson, you make Jesus vomit. For not opposing Jerry Falwell when he blamed the 9-11 terrorist attacks on specific groups of American citizens and for calling for the murder of the leader of another country, we give you the "You Make Jesus Vomit" award.

People wanting to know more about Pat Robertson can read about him on his official web site PatRobertson.com.

Pat Roberson's apology and the context of what he said can be found on the CBN web site.