Christian leader’s remarks draw rage of Jews, Muslims

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (JTA) — The Rev. Pat Robertson has reignited a controversy stemming from anti-Islamic remarks he made on his television program. Robertson called on his “700 Club” show for a unified front against the persecution of Christians in the Middle East and labeled adherents of Islam “insane.” Jewish leaders joined the American Muslim community in roundly condemning Robertson’s October statement as bigotry. Last week, Robertson, who heads the Christian Coalition, shot back at one Jewish leader who called for an immediate apology. “I said on my program, and I say now, for any thinking American to embrace Islam is nothing short of insanity,” wrote Robertson, responding to a letter from Rabbi David Saperstein, director of the Reform movement’s Religious Action Center. “This is not bigotry, it is a fact based on the action of those who hold to Islam all over the world,” Robertson wrote. Robertson said his assessment was based on “the appalling persecution of Christians that is taking place in various parts of the Muslim world.” In his letter to Robertson, Saperstein wrote, “These remarks step over the line of decency. Any vision of an ethical, tolerant, pluralistic America is simply irreconcilable with the ugly anti-Islamic animus of your remarks. “That you engaged in such religious bigotry in the name of combating religious persecution compromises all of us engaged in efforts to rebuff that persecution,” said Saperstein, who has been working with religious leaders to advance legislation aimed at the problem of religious persecution abroad.