DATE: Saturday, November 8, 1997            TAG: 9711080032
SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

                                            LENGTH:   51 lines

NEWS AND NOTES

Promise Keepers training

next week in Chesapeake

Promise Keepers is providing training classes next Saturday in Chesapeake to help build men's ministries in local churches.

The Christian men's organization, best known for its stadium rallies and the massive gathering Oct. 4 in Washington, also has a training program to follow up on those events and to help pastors and Promise Keepers.

Training will be conducted at Greenbrier Baptist Church, 825 Greenbrier Pwy., Chesapeake.

There is no charge. For more information and registration, call training coordinator Joe Felchlin at 436-2503.

American-Islamic group

blasts Pat Robertson

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has asked religious broadcaster Pat Robertson to apologize for recent remarks he made on his ``700 Club'' TV program criticizing Muslims.

According to transcripts of the Oct. 27 show, Robertson said: ``To see Americans become followers of, quote, Islam, is nothing short of insanity. ... Why would people in America want to embrace the religion of the slavers? ... You say, `What's going on in America, when we welcome into our society and give rights to people who are persecuting Christians around the world?' ''

Nihad Awad, executive director of the council, criticized Robertson's remarks as a display of misinformation and bigotry.

``These deeply offensive and inaccurate statements are just the latest examples of anti-Muslim religious bigotry that is becoming all too common in certain circles,'' Awad said. ``Mr. Robertson owes an apology to the American Muslim community and to viewers of the `700 Club' who have been so sadly misinformed by his bigoted remarks.''

Patty Silverman, a Robertson spokeswoman, said Robertson's comments pertained to a Middle East ``radical fundamentalist Islamic group'' that was the focus of a news story about Christian persecution that had aired immediately prior to his remarks.

``He didn't give his feeling about Muslims in general,'' said Silverman, public relations director for the Christian Broadcasting Network, which airs ``The 700 Club.''

``He was merely commenting on the story that was made. Any religious persecution of any kind is wrong and this happens to be a Muslim faction that is persecuting Christians. It is not the entire Muslim population and that is not what he said.''

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