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"Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson has warned the city Orlando
that it risks hurricanes, earthquakes and terrorist bombs by allowing gay
organizations to put up rainbow flags in support of sexual diversity"
(Thomas B. Edsall, The Washington Post, June 10, 1998).
"'The Apostle Paul made it abundantly clear in the Book of Romans
that the acceptance of homosexuality is the last step in the decline of
Gentile civilization,' Robertson told viewers of 'The 700 Club' Monday
after a news report on 'gay days' at Walt Disney World and the Orlando
debate on the decision to display the flags on street-lamp poles"
(Thomas B. Edsall, The Washington Post, June 10, 1998).
"I would warn Orlando that you're right in the way of some serious
hurricanes and I don't think I'd be waving those flags in God's face if
I were you,' Robertson said. 'This is not a message of hate; this is a
message of redemption. But a condition like this will bring about the destruction
of your nation. It'll bring about terrorist bombs; it'll bring earthquakes,
tornadoes and possibly a meteor" (Thomas B. Edsall, The Washington
Post, June 10, 1998).
Jim DeSimone, communications director for Orlando Mayor Glenda Hood,
said "city policy calls for granting approval of requests to display
flags to groups that pay the costs, do not advertise products and are open
to the public. The gay roups met these requirements, he said, and the city
council approved the request by a 6 to 1 vote" (Thomas B. Edsall,
The Washington Post, June 10, 1998).
Patty Silverman, a Christian Broadcasting Network spokeswoman, confirmed
the accuracy of the transcript (of Robertson's text and) supplied a page
from one of Robertson's books, 'Answers to 200 of Life's Most Probing Questions,'
in which he wrote: 'The Bible says that because of certain abominations
such as homosexuality, a land shall vomit out its inhabitants ... From
a biblical standpoint, the rise of homosexuality is a sign that a society
is in the last stages of decay" (Thomas B. Edsall, The Washington
Post, June 10, 1998).
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