[Koppel:] Spring has arrived in Washington. Those are cherry blossoms blooming not far from where we are coming to you live this morning here in Washington, D.C. How important is religion in America? A big majority will be in church tomorrow. The Gallup organization says 64 percent of Americans say they will attend Easter services; only 31 percent say they will not attend. Joining us with some perspective on religion and its impact on people's lives since September 11 are three guests: In Lynchburg, Virginia, is the Reverend Jerry Falwell, chancellor of Liberty University. In New York, James Martin, a Jesuit priest. He's also the associate editor of "America" magazine and author of a new book, "The Search for God at Ground Zero." Also joining us in New York is the Reverend James Forbes. He is the senior minister of New York's interdenominational Riverside Church. Good morning to all of you.
[Rev. Jerry Falwell, Televangelist:] Good morning.
[James Martin, Jesuit Priest, Author:] Good morning.
[Rev. James Forbes, Senior Minister, Riverside Church, Nyc:] Good morning.
[Koppel:] You have seen I don't know if you were listening to our previews segment, but you've seen those horrible pictures coming out of the Middle East. And I'm just wondering if any of you has some words of wisdom or comfort to offer Israelis and Palestinians, as to how they are supposed to turn the other cheek? Reverend Falwell?
[Falwell:] Well, obviously, we are admonished, all believers are, to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. On that, I think we all agree. Prayer is our most important contribution. But at the present moment, as I listened to Secretary Eagleburger, there's no question America is just about powerless right now to demand anything from the Israelis or the Arabs. It is a terrible picture. I've traveled there 31 times with two groups, up to 1,500 persons. I would not dare take a tour group there right now. And I think that unless something happens very radically and very quickly, Israel and most of that part of the Middle East is in for a bloodbath.
[Koppel:] Reverend James Forbes, I'd like to ask you also for a bit of wisdom here. But it has more to do with, how do you forgive those terrorists behind the September 11 attacks?
[Forbes:] The truth is, a prophet once said, "Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, said the Lord." This means we at least have to decide that the use of violence against us should suggest also we have to decide, can violence solve that problem? Clearly, nations have to have defense. But it is clear now that we will not solve the problem, with respect to terrorism, or the problems in the Middle East primarily by military means. That means that all religious groups need to dig deep into their traditions to find answers to the question, if not violence, then what leads us in the direction of restoration of peace amongst the nations?
[Koppel:] Father James Martin, we read in the Bible about a loving God. How could a loving God let so many innocent people die as they did September 11?
[Martin:] Well, that's very difficult question. That's the question of evil in the world. And I think the more important question is, what is the believer's response to a situation like September 11? I worked down at Ground Zero for a few weeks afterwards, and what I saw was not only the presence of evil, as evidenced by the destruction of the World Trade Center, but also the presence of good and the presence of God's grace, which brought together so many people in works of charity.
[Koppel:] Has 911 made us more spiritual?
[Falwell:] I think it has, at least it has brought us together. When I saw Democrats, Republicans in the Congress praying together, singing God Bless America hours after the tragedy, it was something I had not seen since World War II. I'm probably the senior of this group of three here, and I remember World War II quite well. Sadly, crises and tragedies do tend to draw us to God, to one another. Six months later, are more people attending church now than ever? I'm not sure that's true. But tomorrow, 2 billion B like boy 2 billion persons around the world will gather somewhere to celebrate the death, burial and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. And that, the first Easter since 911, I think will be a significant time wherever we are, as we ask the Lord, the risen Christ, the only hope for peace in the world, to intervene.
[Koppel:] Gentlemen, I'm going to read to you an excerpt from James Martin's book. He describes this simple religious service at Ground Zero. This was the first Sunday after the terror attacks. And he writes, "A small group of people gathers around the table, all visibly tired, all covered sweat, all blanketed in ash. We moved quickly through the mass. These are busy people. The gospel reading today from Luke is heartbreakingly appropriate: The shepherd who rescues his lost sheep and the woman who searches for her lost coin. We speak of searching, rescuing, hoping and loving." James Martin, it really it feels to me, just reading your words there, that you saw the Bible come to life.
[Martin:] That's true. I saw not only the Bible come to life in some of those gospel readings, which were, as I said in America Magazine, almost painfully appropriate, but the gospel come to life in terms of, as Reverend Falwell was saying, the mystery of the resurrection in a place of great suffering. I used to tell people, if you doubt the mystery of evil in the world, come to the World Trade Center. But also, if you doubt the power of good and the power of God's grace, come to the World Trade Center and see how God's grace is working itself out in the works of charity from the firefighters, the police officers and the rescue workers.
[Koppel:] Father Martin, we are going to take a quick break, but we'll be back with all of you in just a moment. How has September 11 transformed spirituality in America? Our panel of clergymen will take your questions, and we'll have a news update when CNN's SATURDAY EDITION returns.