Rev. Ronald Stone, a retired social ethics professor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, was quoted on Hezbollah's satellite TV network as saying 'relations and conversations with Islamic leaders are a lot easier than dealings and dialogue with Jewish leaders,' and that 'we treasure the precious words of Hezbollah and your expression of good will towards the American people.'
The Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, the chief executive at church headquarters in Louisville, Ky., said the Hezbollah visit and comments from delegation members 'do not reflect the official position of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on peace in the Middle East,' and that they should not be interpreted as lessening its 'commitment to continued Jewish-Christian dialogue, Muslim-Christian dialogue, or Jewish-Christian-Muslim dialogue.'
