The American Spectator

W. G. Wheatley /p> p> THE MORAL AUTHORITY br> Re: W. James Antle III’s Mixed Blessings : /p>

I confess to ambivalence where Reverend Mr. Falwell is concerned.

On the one hand he was a strident voice that told Christians to be proud of their faith and be open in supporting those who furthered our ability to celebrate God’s wonders.

On the other, he was a polarizer of people. He was the whites man’s Al Sharpton, who like Mr. Sharpton, often spoke without regard to truth or facts. He was, like Mr. Sharpton, intolerant of and bigoted against those who held different beliefs. And, like Mr. Sharpton, he made a rich man’s life out of his rantings.

As one who is not a member of the Assembly of God, I always felt that should Mr. Falwell ever have the power to make us, we’d all be members of his sect or we’d be somewhere else. He had no like for diversity, also like Mr. Sharpton.

Having said that Mr. Falwell must have done something right. The atheists published a vitriolic diatribe shortly after his death so he made them mad and that’s a good thing. He also furthered the idea that being religious was not something to hide. He did that so well that even as they are passing laws against Christianity, the socialists are making reference to prayer and praying. Even Ms. Pelosi has said “I am a Catholic grandmother.” I think the drive by media gave her a break by capitalizing “catholic” because she certainly has no Catholic beliefs in common with the Church of Rome.

p>I do believe Mr. Falwell will be remembered as the man who brought pride and political power to Christians. He made the so called “Religious Right” something that stirred fear and loathing in the hearts of the Godless Democrats. That’s is a worthy epitaph for any man of the cloth. br> —