Reverend Franklin Graham Denounces Same-Sex Marriage, Secularism from the Montgomery Capitol Steps
Today, anti-LGBT evangelist Reverend Franklin Graham drew a large crowd to the Montgomery Capitol steps for the Alabama stop on his Decision America Tour 2016. Graham, who plans to hold a prayer rally in each of the 50 states, encouraged Christians to vote against same-sex marriage, abortion rights, and the separation of church and state.
Graham, who for a boycott of Girl Scout cookies over its stance on LGBT issues, has become increasingly extreme in recent years. Expanding his vitriol from the LGBT community to Muslim Americans, Graham has been banned from the National Day of Prayer for his comments about Islam, which he has as 鈥渆vil鈥� and a 鈥渞eligion of war鈥�.
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Using the biblical story of Nehemiah as a parable, Graham began by calling on his audience to confess the sins of the nation.
鈥淲hen I think of the sins of this country, well, where do you begin to list them? Abortion, the murder of children in a mother's womb. Millions. Same sex marriage, the flaunting and celebrating of this sin.鈥�
Drawing on his childhood memories of the Cold War, Graham argued that 鈥渆nemies鈥� are engaged in warfare for the spiritual salvation of the United States.
鈥淎s the [Berlin] wall came down, secularism began to creep into Washington. It crept into our universities, into our state capitols, it got into our city government. There鈥檚 no difference between secularism and communism. They鈥檙e both godless. Both are godless. And godless secularism is now taking control of our governments.鈥�
Graham acknowledged the irony of railing against secularism from the steps of the state鈥檚 capitol building, dismissing criticism of his call to vote for biblical principles as 鈥減olitically correct鈥�.
鈥淵ou say, but Franklin, how about separation of church and state? What about it? Let me tell you that鈥檚 just a lie that the enemy uses to try to keep your mouth shut.鈥�
Graham promised to fight that 鈥渆nemy鈥� by becoming increasingly intolerant.
鈥淭here will be progressives who鈥檒l say 鈥淥hhh you're so intolerant鈥�. Yeah, well, so what? Let me tell you something I鈥檓 gonna get more intolerant.鈥�
Graham charged his audience to do the same, encouraging them to take on leftist tactics by becoming 鈥渃ommunity organizers鈥� and 鈥渁ctivists鈥� for God. Attendees were then directed to send a text to the organization and sign onto a pledge promising to vote for candidates who 鈥渦phold biblical principles鈥� and to 鈥減rayerfully consider running for office.鈥�
鈥淥ur schools, our public schools, are in trouble across this country,鈥� Graham warned the gathered crowd.
鈥淲e need Christian men and women vying for school boards鈥�. They decide the curriculum, the books! And I go to school districts and people, Christians, will tell me the books that their children are having to read which are pornographic. Now I鈥檒l tell you it's wicked. But if we had Christian men and women controlling the school boards of America, think of the impact that that would have on the education system of this nation for the next 20 years. It鈥檇 be huge.鈥�
