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O'Reilly Discusses the Moral Implications of Celebrating Bin Laden's Death

May 4, 2011 By 6 Comments
Father Edward Beck

Father Edward Beck

Father Edward Beck, ABC News' religious contributor, sat down with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly to discuss the moral implications of celebrating Osama bin Laden's death.

"I am uncomfortable with the killing of Osama bin Laden being celebrated like a Superbowl win," Father Beck had remarked.  He thought that going to church, like Rudy Giuliani did, was a more appropriate way to behave.

"I disagree with you 180 degrees," O'Reilly said, citing victory celebrations after World War II.

Beck felt that celebrating bin Laden's death was no different from the terrorists celebrating American deaths on September 11. "What about Jesus from the cross saying 'Father forgive them for they know not what they do?'" Beck asked, relying on Christian scripture. "Love your enemies."

According to O'Reilly, celebrating bin Laden's death was "rendering onto Caesar."

When O'Reilly dismissed Beck as not understanding what evil is, Beck pointed out that his father was a New York City firefighter, and that he personally worked at the triage center and counseled people who had lost loved ones.

Beck concluded that only God can judge who is evil and O'Reilly concluded that he could judge who is evil.

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Deborah is the owner and administrator of the site, starting it in February 2009. She received her business education at the University of Texas and operates a number of websites and small businesses. She hosts the God Discussion show and handles the site's technical work and editing.

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  • malen

    Father Beck is 100% correct. O'Reilly not only used a Scripture out of context, but perverted it for his own use. Father Beck 1, O'Reilly -1

    • http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

      I, too, am in Beck's camp. For people who do not profess to be Christians, it is a different story, but O'Reilly makes a big deal of his being Christian.

      Deborah

      • http://www.goddiscussion.com Dakota O'Leary

        O'Reilly–PINHEAD.
        Father Priest Guy–PATRIOT.

  • Kelley

    “Scripture is pretty mixed on the subject of killing someone like Osama bin Laden. At the same time scripture is pretty clear about celebrating anyone’s death."

    “Proverbs 24:17 says, ‘Do not rejoice when your enemies fall, and do not let your… heart be glad when they stumble.’ Jesus said we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us."

    “It is understandable that we would feel relief that someone like bin Laden will no longer be able to lead people to harm others, but celebrating is another thing.”

  • Cromulent

    Fr. Beck is right. Some consistency is called for.

    When Fr. Beck shuffles off this mortal coil I will celebrate on my front porch.

  • Roldan

    The Priest should read Romans 13. The government has a right execute justice. If you do evil then be warned the bible says. And when you hijack airplanes and fly them into to buildings and kill thousands of people your kinda of evil Padre. Why can't America celebrate? Don't we have a right to a soul or pulse? The whole world should celebrate for that matter when the face of terrorism is killed. It may not be God's will that we kill each other but as Ecclesiastics says theirs a time for everything. And that includes a time to kill.