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Robertson's remarks on Chavez shock Texas Baptists

By TARA DOOLEY

Aug. 24, 2005, 12:52AM

Pat Robertson's suggestion that the United States assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez left some Texas Christian leaders speechless Tuesday.

"I was kind of shocked, like a lot of people were shocked," said the Rev. Sonny Foraker, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Pearland.

"I don't know why he said it," he added. "I wouldn't have said it, and I don't support it."

Robertson, who resigned his ordination as a Southern Baptist minister in 1986 before his presidential bid, made the comments Monday on his television show, The 700 Club , on the Christian Broadcast Network.

Leaders of the Baptist General Convention of Texas issued statements calling Robertson's comments inappropriate and detrimental to the church's message.

"Pat Robertson does not advance the Christian faith by announcing on television his own preferences about who around the world he wants killed," said Phil Strickland, director of the convention's Christian Life Commission.

"Those of us who call for Muslims to condemn terrorism by their brethren cannot be silent when one of ours advocates this kind of violence," said convention Executive Director Charles Wade.

Christian theology does not eschew war, said Craig Mitchell, instructor of Christian ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

Indeed, there is a long tradition of just-war theory that allows countries to engage their militaries to punish and prevent acts of aggression, he said.

"Clearly Scripture gives governments authority to go to war, but assassination is another thing all together," Mitchell said. "Assassination is always a criminal act."

The Rev. Gary Moore, senior associate pastor of Second Baptist Church, said that he did not want "to sit in judgment" and of Robertson and that the broadcaster had a right to speak his mind. But Moore did caution that it was important for Christian leaders to be careful of how they use their influence.

"When people look up to you, you have to be careful of what they look up and see."

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Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3322671