<http://www.afa.net/activism/aa090502.asp>
AFA Action Alert!
O'Reilly flogs Christians as 'religious fanatics'
Popular talk show host comes out in favor of homosexual rights
American Family Association said today it was disappointed in popular talk show host Bill O'Reilly for his comments on September 3 labeling Bible-believing Christians "fanatics."
"Mr. O'Reilly makes a living using a hard-nosed, take-no-prisoners approach in his interviews, and that's why people love his show. But he crossed the line on his show Tuesday night," said AFA Chairman Donald E. Wildmon. "There's no need to be insulting to the millions of Americans who believe the Bible and have an honest and sincere love for Jesus Christ. Why such an intelligent man would stoop to such personal attacks is beyond us."
On his September 3 installment of <http://www.foxnews.com/oreilly>The O'Reilly Factor, the fiery host bludgeoned guest <http://www.sbministries.org>Stephen Bennett for his Christian beliefs about homosexuality. Bennett is himself an ex-gay who has founded a ministry to homosexuals. (To read transcript of program, <http://www.cultureandfamily.org/report/2002-09-04/m_transcript.shtml>CLICK HERE)
"We live in a secular society, you're a religious fanatic, with all due respect," he told Bennett. When his guest objected to the characterization, O'Reilly repeated, "You're a religious fanatic."
O'Reilly's views about homosexuality - and especially about Christians who believe what the Bible says about that lifestyle - became an issue after he granted an interview to The Advocate, a magazine which targets the "gay" community. In that interview O'Reilly called Bible-believing Christians "Holy Rollers" and "fanatics" who want homosexuals to go to hell. He also said he was in favor of the full range of "gay" rights demanded by the homosexual community.
"If Mr. O'Reilly wants to claim to be a Christian while rejecting orthodox Christian beliefs and the Bible, that's his business," Wildmon said. "But he's making a big mistake by being insulting to Christians who are faithful to Christ. We hope people will let him know how they feel."
See and hear Mr. O'Reilly's comments: <http://uspolitics.about.com/library/graphics/oreillyvid/fanatic.mpg>O'Reilly calls Bennett "religious fanatic" <http://uspolitics.about.com/library/graphics/oreillyvid/soddom.mpg>O'Reilly on Sodom and Gomorrah <http://uspolitics.about.com/library/graphics/oreillyvid/speakforgod.mpg>O'Reilly says Bennett doesn't speak for God
Also read: <http://www.afa.net/homosexual_agenda/principles.asp>Principles which guide AFA's opposition to the homosexual agenda <http://www.afa.net/homosexual_agenda/resources.asp>Additional AFA resources on homosexuality
ACTION NEEDED
1. Contact Bill O'Reilly to let him know that Bible-believing Christians are not "religious fanatics." His email address is: <mailto:oreilly at foxnews.com>oreilly at foxnews.com.
2. Pray for Bill O'Reilly to understand God's Word on homosexuality. Mr. O'Reilly has a tremendous influence on America's culture. Pray his influence will be one of Biblical truth, rather than secular opinion.