Robertson says Dover deserves snub from God

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."