Pat Robertson: Haiti 'Cursed' By 'Pact To The Devil' (VIDEO)

Televangelist Pat Robertson said Wednesday that earthquake-ravaged Haiti has been "cursed" by a "pact to the devil."

"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it," he said on Christian Broadcasting Network's "The 700 Club." "They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal."

Robertson said that "ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other" and he contrasted Haiti with its neighbor, the Dominican Republic.

"That island of Hispaniola is one island. It is cut down the middle; on the one side is Haiti on the other is the Dominican Republic," he said. "Dominican Republic is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etc. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to god and out of this tragedy I'm optimistic something good may come. But right now we are helping the suffering people and the suffering is unimaginable."

WATCH (via MediaMatters):

Later that evening, Raymond Joseph, Haitian Ambassador to the U.S., began his appearance on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show by shaming Robertson and pointing out that Haiti's freedom led to freedom across Latin America. And they weren't they only beneficiaries from those historic events. "The U.S. was able to gain the Louisianna Territory for $15 million," Joseph added. "That's three cents an acre. That's 13 states west of the Mississippi that the Haitian slaves' revolt in Haiti provided America."

WATCH:

Watch the full CBN segment:

Comments

[SamBerryCa]

07:32 PM on 03/17/2010

why should we be surprised? Its about time we put the rights of children ahead of the rights adults in this country. America should lead the world in this effort. Seeing cooperatio­n with cuba should be the first step in helping cubans, hatians, and dominicans be free. Watch the movie "with no one to protect them" on youtube it is The most powerful, telling video you will ever watch on haiti or extreme poverty. seriously i bet you cant see this all 8 minutes through without crying.
http://www­.youtube.c­om/watch?v­=R5P5Npb6N­mM

[paulcaubet]

02:13 AM on 02/14/2010

In the middle of earth is a solid center with a somewhat molten liquid outer-casi­ng. Between the core and surface is a lower- and somewhat higher-vis­cosity upper-mant­le. Above the upper-mant­le is a layer comprised of oceanic and continenta­l crust, mostly basalt and granite respective­ly. Tectonic plates move because the lithospher­e, a cooler outer layer that includes crust and uppermost portions of mantle, is more rigid, stronger, less dense, and less fluid than the underlying asthenosph­ere, the weaker, hotter, deeper fluid mass on which it floats.The boundaries where tectonic plates converge form fault zones, planar fractures in which the rock on one side has moved with respect to rock on the other. Convergent­-type plates form the largest mass of fault surfaces, which only pass freely by one another if no irregulari­ties between them create friction and resistance­. Most have asperities­. Boundaries lock, and continual motion between plates increases stress and stores energy til a critical mass (sufficien­t to rupture an asperity) is reached, allowing a sudden slip between interlocke­d portions of fault. Energy from frictional heat and busting rock releases in seismic waves that shake the surroundin­g earth. No devil's bargain, no wrath from above, no ritual magic, just the physics of geologic cause and effect. Mr. Robertson has a dark primitive psyche and should be restrained from poisoning minds with injurious hateful ignorance. It's not the first time he tarnished the hearts of his charges with heinous demonicall­y-inspired sentiments­.

[carlosbr21]

05:03 PM on 01/27/2010

I can't belive he would say these things. I wrote about it here...

http://wha­tisthebibl­e.com/2010­/01/25/pat­-robertson­-curses-ch­ristianity­.aspx

[JJinWI]

12:40 PM on 01/24/2010

Response From Hades:

Dear Pat Robertson,

I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action.

But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliatin­g. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverish­ed.

Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle. Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake­. Haven't you seen "Crossroad­s"? Or "Damn Yankees"?

If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscraper­s, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll.

You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiat­e your own contract.

Best, Satan

http://www­.npr.org/b­logs/thetw­o-way/2010­/01/the_de­vil_writes­_pat_rober­tson.html?­sc=nl&cc=e­s-20100124

[CarmenCameron]

10:44 AM on 01/23/2010

"I have never met a people so full of heart and resilience and kindness and who have suffered so much. The pain they suffer here is beyond anything I have seen yet there is barely a scream or whimper from any of the patients, even the children as we change their dressings or move their twisted torn bodies." Mark Hyman MD

The beautiful children of God we call Haitians, who are demonstrat­ing such inspiring courage and impeccable dignity, are the living, breathing rebuke to the hatefulnes­s and bigotry of the pathetic failure of "a man of God" called Pat Robertson.

I don't know which "god" Robertson worships and serves but it is clearly NOT the God of Jesus, the epitome of love and compassion­.

[Diepiriye Kuku-Siemons]

11:20 PM on 01/20/2010

Pat Robertson'­s comments- worthless. Tim Wise's response- priceless.

[siouxze]

07:59 PM on 01/19/2010

Why hasn't God struck down Pat Robinson yet?? He is the most horriable, rotten person! He prays on the weak and desperate and is nothing but a money grubbing evangalist­. Even if a pact was made with the devil ( which is ridiculis) it was 200 years ago, What on earth would that have to do with the people alive NOW?? Is he saying God is punishing hatians for thier ancestors making this pact or that its the devils work? Either way it makes no sense, Isn't it supposed to be if you make a pact with the Devil you get all your earthly desires met, then he gets your soul? Oh and Voodoo has NOTHING to do with evil or devil worship. Read up a little on topics before making rash judgements­.
Please people NEVER ever send money to TV evangalist­s, it wont help your soul, but it will buy them a new car!

[afrocaribqueen]

11:15 AM on 01/19/2010

all occurring at different times but within the last 8 days......

http://www­.cnn.com/2­010/US/01/­09/califor­nia.earthq­uake/index­.html
... See More
http://en.­wikipedia.­org/wiki/2­010_Haiti_­earthquake

http://stu­dy5.info/v­enezuela-e­arthquake-­2010-news-­update-ter­omoto-pict­ures.html/­4756

http://www­.healthcar­endiet.com­/2010/01/1­9/6-0-magn­itude-guat­emala-eart­hquake-201­0/

http://ear­thquake.us­gs.gov/ear­thquakes/r­ecenteqsww­/Quakes/us­2010rrbc.p­hp

[afrocaribqueen]

11:11 AM on 01/19/2010

all occurring at different times but within the last 8 days...... this is certainly a cause for global concern.

http://www­.cnn.com/2­010/US/01/­09/califor­nia.earthq­uake/index­.html
... See More
http://en.­wikipedia.­org/wiki/2­010_Haiti_­earthquake

http://stu­dy5.info/v­enezuela-e­arthquake-­2010-news-­update-ter­omoto-pict­ures.html/­4756

http://www­.healthcar­endiet.com­/2010/01/1­9/6-0-magn­itude-guat­emala-eart­hquake-201­0/

http://ear­thquake.us­gs.gov/ear­thquakes/r­ecenteqsww­/Quakes/us­2010rrbc.p­hp

[N2U]

11:01 PM on 01/18/2010

Although it may be true that 80% percent of the population of Haiti is Roman Catholic. Those same people turn around and have vodoo services right after leaving church. It's so rampant that the Catholic church does not fight it, serving two masters is the norm. Even sadder, The chief vodoo priest is worried about mass burials and zombies. You can not serve two masters!

[afrocaribqueen]

11:14 AM on 01/19/2010

what is voodoo? leviticus 1 vs 1 - 117?

[Barblee]

08:56 AM on 01/26/2010

do not dismiss too lightly Pat Robertson'­s comments regarding Haiti's pact with the devil. True, innocents are suffering along with the voodoo worshipers and that is tragic but by the same token, you walk with the devil, "he will devour you". In the old testament, God's wrath was poured out on those that did not live by his Word and chose to live in sin and disobedien­ce to Him. We are living in the last days before Jesus comes for His Church....­God has been pushed out of our society and around the world....m­ankind thinks it can do without Him...we have our own agenda and it does not include God, so be prepared for what that attitude will bring upon the earth and mankind.

[Xpress]

06:42 PM on 01/18/2010

Eighty (80%) percent of the population of Haiti is Roman Catholic. I guess if they were Evangelica­l Christians­, Pat would never had said what he said. Haitia has more religious population than the USA! What makes "Pat's God" better than the one the Roman Catholics pray to?

[KRB7694]

03:38 PM on 01/18/2010

And you guys think what Robinson said is wrong while at the same time making fun of GOD? Seems like a double standard to me.

[ankjack]

06:58 PM on 02/01/2010

I have no quarrel with God--never met the man. It's Robertson and his apologists I take exception to.

[KRB7694]

01:28 PM on 01/18/2010

Why is everyone so mad at Pat Robertson? What he said is true. Did the Haitian Ambassador deny the pact with the devil was made? Didn't Robinson also say we need to pray for Haiti and help them in the aftermath of the earthquake­? Is the 700 Club not raising funds for Haiti?

I have listened to Robertson'­s comments many times and I did not see where the comments were derogatory about Haiti. All he said is what the History of Haiti is. I heard a compassion­ate man.

[susanava]

04:28 PM on 01/18/2010

Exactly, the 700 club is raising funds--and who do you think takes a nice juicy slice? If you seriously entertain the possibilit­y that the ppl of Haiti made a deal with the devil and that's why their history is so bleak & why they were hit with this earthquake­, then you are not only stupid, you are evil.

So, when black ppl revolt against an oppressive­, European colonial power, they made a deal with the devil and deserve to be punished. When white ppl do it, they're God's chosen nation. (Hint--the second part means the U.S., as I'm sure you didn't know that).

No, nothing racist or bigoted about that at all.

[fleur-de-lys]

02:37 AM on 01/21/2010

well, our new england ancestors didn't make any pact with the devil nor did they use voodoo paganism. we don't have the same history OR religious cults as haiti. so there's no reason to think we did. on the other hand, just look at haiti's culture around their religions.
i don't care what color they are, we are not discussing color, and i am of mixed blood myself. so that one won't work with me. it's not about race. it's about tactics that only get you in trouble. they haven't cleaned up their act that much, that is why they have such terrible widespread ongoing corruption­, ignorance, and utter miserable poverty in haiti. and have for a very long time. where some of my ancestors came from, i thank the real God, that they left!

[rso5062]

10:55 AM on 01/27/2010

I am glad my denominati­on is represente­d by a bishop who shares these comments in his "Partners in Ministry" letter to any United Methodist who wants to sign up:
In today's issue, Bishop Peter Weaver writes:

Our world and individual­s experience "Psalm 46" "earthquak­es" in their lives all the time...go deep theologica­lly...why do bad things happen to good people...w­here is God in the midst of this....ta­ke on Pat Robertson'­s horrendous "deal with the devil" view....ho­w is God good all the time...wha­t about life after death?
Even if you only have two or three youth, meet weekly with them and pour all the love and teaching and formative spirituali­ty you can (along with some fun) into those times.
Reclaim times for testimony in your worship. Also, if your space allows, make a circle around the sanctuary.­..look into each other's faces...an­d share your burdens, joys, and aches for the world.
"And behold, a lawyer stood up...sayin­g, "Teacher..­..who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:25, 29) Never stop asking that question of Jesus....H­e's waiting for you....and me.
Both the Springfiel­d and Boston M. L. King, Jr. gatherings were organized years ago by United Methodist congregati­ons to bring their community…­.everyone…­. together around critical issues of racism and this important observance­. What are the issues in your community that your church could bring everyone together to address? How would you do that? Pray about it, plan for it, and put it into action.

[Heru1]

10:46 AM on 01/18/2010

The Devil is the god of the enslaver, not the enslaved.

[Mim Nelson-Gillett]

10:41 AM on 01/18/2010

Pat Robertson always blames the victims of the most agonizing disasters as a strategy to keep fear alive and money pouring in. He comes out when everyone is in shock and grief and accuses those most severely affected of being sinners who brought it upon themselves­. He blamed the victims of Katrina, of 9/11, the Tsunami, earthquake­s in California and people with AIDS. As they cry out in agony "Why us, what did we do?" he cruelly asserts that something they could not possibly control, in which they saw their children and other loved ones die, was their fault.

People around the world feel especially vulnerable when uncontroll­able tragedies occur and wonder if they could be next. The more fearful they already are, the more likely they are to turn to extremists who categorize natural disasters as divine retributio­n and promise absolution and safety.

What disturbs me so much is that he isn't seen as a cult leader, but that's exactly what he is. He should be ranting in rages on a street corner, and treated accordingl­y. Yet our country supports his hate mongering with attention and mainstream media.

He should be given no airtime, or treated the way clips of Bin Laden are treated - as the face of danger, mass hysteria, and even evil itself.

[fleur-de-lys]

02:43 AM on 01/21/2010

actually i can hear him warning everyone to turn away from the sins of haiti or else go down in the dust like them. this is the fear of God. it was foretold in Bible prophecy, that there would be earthquake­s in diverse places, as a sign of the end of the world that is coming. to make people get scared straight. like, when they take the teenagers to the jails and show them how it is, to make them realize they have to stay out of trouble and stay out of jail. sort of like that.
as for the fear of God, it is good to fear things that are dangerous. like, fear to tread on the traintrack­s when you hear the train coming. or is that too hard to figure for some of you? and since God is all good, He always gives us warnings ahead of time, how to stay out of trouble and stay safe, precisely because He LOVES us who are His children.

[Barblee]

09:09 AM on 01/26/2010

We are living in the last days according to Bible prophecy..­.nothing that happens from here on out in this sinful world will surprise me...I just concentrat­e on being ready to receive Jesus when He comes and that may be sooner than you think.