New York, NY, April 24, 2001…The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called the statement blaming Jews for killing Christ by a leading conservative Christian activist appalling, historically false and deeply offensive. Paul Weyrich, head of the Free Congress Foundation, a religious figure of national standing and an experienced political analyst, said in a religious commentary that "Christ was crucified by the Jews."

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

Paul Weyrich’s statement that "Christ was crucified by the Jews" is appalling, historically false and deeply offensive. As a religious figure of national standing, he certainly knows that the accusation holding "the Jews" responsible for the death of Jesus is not true and has served as the basis and rationale for centuries of persecution of Jewish people around the world. He must know that the Catholic Church has emphatically repudiated the teaching of contempt, i.e., that Jews killed Jesus. He surely knows that such destructive myths stated as fact may well reinforce the bigotry of the ignorant and the uninformed, potentially leading to hateful anti-Semitic acts.

Americans are proud of our nation's tradition of religious freedom and pluralism, and honor the role played by faith in promoting fairness, decency and respect among our people. Unfortunately, these constructive values are undermined, rather than supported, by Mr. Weyrich's message.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.