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Call To Action Objects to Rev. Jerry Falwell's Statements

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 15, 2001 -- At a time when the people of this nation have rallied together to respond to this horrible tragedy, the Rev. Jerry Falwell, and Rev. Pat Robertson, for some unfathomable reason, attack and scapegoat people who had no more part in this criminal act than they did. God was in the people who gave their lives to save others and those who are still giving of themselves to help and comfort the survivors of this horrible attack. This includes people of every sexual orientation and gender, people of every political view, people of every religion and no religion, people of every color, and people of every economic status. Falwell's remarks and Robertson's response is a slur on their integrity and is outrageous for people who purport to be religious leaders.

People of faith need to reexamine the real conditions that gave rise to the violent extremist behavior of the suicide bombers, justified in the name of religion, not inappropriate targets like feminists, gays and lesbians. Abject poverty and repression can lead to such hopelessness that people listen to demagogues who set them on the path of violence. This is an opportunity for Americans, who live better than the majority of people on this planet to examine and listen to the cries of the poor, the dispossessed, and the persecuted. If we do not do this, all the bombs in the world will not make this a safer place for our children and our grandchildren. Our aim must be justice in the name of our God who calls us to one commandment, to love one another.

Call To Action is a national organization of 22,000 laity, religious, priests and bishops with its national office in Chicago. With 40 local chapters, it advocates for reforms in the Catholic Church such as the ordination of women, optional celibacy for priests, more focus on the church's social justice teaching, and consultation with the Catholic people on church decision making. Its comprehensive web site is at www.cta-usa.org.

Contact: Linda Pieczynski, (630) 655-8783

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Call To Action
2135 W. Roscoe
Chicago, IL 60618

tel. 773-404-0004 | fax. 773-404-1610 | e-mail. cta@cta-usa.org