No he didn't. He called for a spiritual renewal. This applies to everyone, obedient Christians and new pilgrims. Everyone. Not just some sinners. Not just "them". And nowhere did he even hint that the conduct of Americans was to blame for this, or that God was punishing us. He said he doesn't know why God permits suffering. There are a lot of people here at FR who claim to know. And like Mr. Falwell, they not only know that God has intervened to punish us for the conduct of some of us, they actually know WHICH specific sins and sinners the Lord has singled out. It's really quite extraordinary.
Our leaders, who we "Mormons" consider to be modern-day prophets, also spoke of the need for this nation to return to God. But there was NO mention of this being the "hand of God" striking the "evil" country. Nor did anyone mention "evil Islam."
Instead, there was simply talk of condemnation of the acts of EVIL MEN, period. Those who did this are to blame.
In this country we HAVE strayed far from the path of righteousness as a whole, but there are STILL many, many good people, godly people, to be found in our midst.
Remember that when God had decided to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, He "allowed" Abraham to plead that if just a FEW good souls could be found in those cities they would be spared.
The problem was that NONE could be found save Lot and his family, and they were asked to leave.
No, we've gotten far off track to be sure, but there are FAR too many good people in this country to count it out yet. And perhaps one positive from this whole mess is that many will now be inspired to return to God.
It would have been great if Falwell and Robertson could have taken the high road in this regard, but I long ago stopped expecting that of them. They have their scripts, rife with their iron-bound prejudices, and they're not going to budge from them.