Christian leaders denounce white nationalism in wake of violence in Charlottesville

Christian leaders have spoken out in condemnation of white nationalism and the alt-right movement following the violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday.

White nationalists came to Charlottesville on Saturday for a rally called "Unite the Right," in protest against the planned removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Tragedy occurred when one of the protesters drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing one woman and 19 others.

At a press conference, President Donald Trump issued a statement condemning "this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides."

Wheaton College professor and former Executive Director of Lifeway Research Ed Stetzer responded to the president's remarks, saying: "Glad to see the President speak out, particularly since many of these people have been emboldened by his election."

Some were critical that Trump did not use terms like "alt-right," "white supremacists," or "neo-Nazis" to describe the protesters.

"We cannot renounce what we will not name. It's called White Supremacy. And it is from hell. Call it. Condemn it," said Bible teacher Beth Moore.

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and a member of President Trump's Evangelical Advisory Board, also released a statement condemning white nationalism as well as the politicians who use the movement for political gain.

"When hell exhales the outcome is hatred. Both unacceptable and diabolical, racism must be confronted by God fearing people," Rodriguez stated.

Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission posted a tweet describing the alt-right movement as "antiChrist and satanic to the core." He had previously condemned white supremacy as "satanic" in June when the SBC voted to denounce the alt-right movement.

On Sunday, Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, President of the U.S. bishops' conference, and Bishop Frank Dewane of Venice, Florida, who chairs the conference's committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, issued a joint statement condemning racism, white supremacy and neo-Nazism.

"We stand against the evil of racism, white supremacy and neo-nazism," the two prelates stated, as reported by Crux.

"We stand with our sisters and brothers united in the sacrifice of Jesus, by which love's victory over every form of evil is assured," they added.

On Sunday, the White House released a statement that specifically condemned white supremacists, the KKK and neo-Nazis. The new statement came after a series of tweets by Republican leaders such as Senators Oren Hatch and Marco Rubio, urging Trump to call out the said groups.

Republican Sen. Cory Gardner has called on the president to declare the incident as an act of terror.