Contact: Dane Rose, Faith and Action, 202-546-8329 ext 106, 703-447-1072 cell

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14 /Christian Newswire/ -- Rev. Rob Schenck, founder of Faith and Action, a Washington, DC based Christian ministry on Capitol Hill spoke out today about comments made by co-host Rosie O’Donnell on ABC’s daytime talk show “The View”.  During a discussion about the war on terror the lesbian activist actress said, "Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America."

Schenck said, "Miss O'Donnell's comment was recklessly irresponsible and even dangerous. To equate 'radical Christianity' to mass murder is outrageous. A 'radical Christian' is one who takes his or her faith seriously--a faith that has as one of its primary tenets, 'Blessed are the peacemakers.'"

Referencing a new Baylor University study on religious identities, Schenck pointed out, “O’Donnell’s comments are dripping with contempt and hostility for the vast majority of Americans who consider themselves religious.”

He continued, “Miss O'Donnell's remarks foster suspicion, animosity and prejudice. She owes every American--especially Christian Americans--an immediate apology and a retraction. If she refuses, she will have contributed significantly to the suffering of Christians around the world."

Schenck chastised O’Donnell and the entertainment industry for promoting religious intolerance.  He pointed out that because the entertainment industry has a power like no other medium to affect public opinion and cultural attitudes it has an obligation to act responsibly.  Schenck noted the catastrophic consequences of that occurred in Nazi Germany when the entertainment industry became a propaganda tool that bred hatred of Jews and other forms of religious intolerance.