Christianity and assassination don't mix

This week, a major religious figure called for the assassination of the president of a sovereign country because he doesn't like his politics.

In the past, this news would have been applied to various Islamic extremists issuing fatwas against U.S presidents past and present.

But this week, it was Pat Robertson, the popular Christian evangelist, saying on this television show that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez should be sent to the hereafter via a Special Forces hit team.

"You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it. It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war, and I don't think any oil shipments will stop."

If this wasn't enough, Robertson then denied he said it, even though video of the show in question clearly shows he did.

"I didn't say 'assassination.' I said our special forces should 'take him out.'" Robertson said on his show Wednesday. "'Take him out' could be a number of things including kidnapping."

Telling whoppers like that could have brought down the proverbial bolt of lightning into the 700 Club studio.

All this comes shortly after he prayed for additional seats to open up on the Supreme Court, clearly wishing for the ill health or death of one of the sitting justices. Excuse us, but aren't ministers supposed to pray for the good health of their Christian brethren?

Perhaps Robertson needs to take some time off as leader of the Christian Coalition so as to distinguish between the teachings of Christ and the extremist political views that now invade his televised pronouncements. He should leave the fatwas to the mullahs.