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Pat Robertson links stock market plunge to abortion

Far-right televangelist Pat Robertson linked Monday’s precipitous drop in the stock market to the issue of abortion in the U.S.
Rev. Pat Robertson, center, talks to attendees at a prayer breakfast at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. on Jan. 16, 2010. (Photo by Clem Britt/AP)
Rev. Pat Robertson, center, talks to attendees at a prayer breakfast at the Capitol in Richmond, Va. on Jan. 16, 2010.

Far-right televangelist Pat Robertson linked Monday’s precipitous drop in the stock market to the issue of abortion in the U.S.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened down about 1,000 points Monday, on fears that China’s economy -- the second largest in the world -- is losing steam. The Dow rebounded throughout the trading day before closing down 588 points.

WATCH: Robertson predicts the end of the world

Robertson delivered a diatribe against Planned Parenthood and abortion on TV's “The 700 Club” Monday, telling viewers that God will “hold us accountable.” Planned Parenthood -- known for providing reproductive health services to women -- has been under fire in recent weeks over secretly recorded videos that show executives from the organization discussing the donation of fetal tissue for medical research.

“We will pay dearly as a nation for this thing going on,” Robertson said. “And possibly if we were to stop, stop all of this slaughter, the judgment of God might be lifted from us. But it’s coming, ladies and gentlemen. We just have a little taste of it in terms of the financial system. But it’s going to be shaken to its core in the next few months, years or however long it takes, and it will hurt every one of us. It’s coming down the road. But at least we could repent and try to change.”

Robertson has a long history of making incendiary comments, including a series of statements predicting that judgment day is coming soon.