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Subscribe to RSSUpdated Wednesday at 10:25 a.m. ET: Here is the full statement from Franklin Graham apologizing for remarks he made questioning the faith of President Barack Obama:
I regret any comments I have ever made which may have cast any doubt on the personal faith of our president, Mr. Obama. The president has said he is a Christian and I accept that (and have said so publicly on many occasions). I apologize to him and to any I have offended for not better articulating my reason for not supporting him in this election—for his faith has nothing to do with my consideration of him as a candidate.
The Rev. Franklin Graham joins Morning Joe to discuss if the president is or is not a Christian.
In fact, Article VI of our Constitution strictly prohibits any religious test for public office. I believe we should consider a candidate’s values and competence above anything else when considering whom to support for public office. I even reject the idea that we should only vote for a candidate of our own particular faith, for oftentimes that is not an available option.
My objection to President Obama is built on his policy positions on a number of important moral issues, and not on his religion or faith. For example, I believe his positions on abortion and on traditional marriage are in direct conflict with God’s standards as set forth in Scripture. I have determined I cannot and will not vote for him or any candidate in either party whose policy positions on such critical issues violate biblical truths and standards.
My views here are not biased according to political party or religion. For example, I would support a pro-life Democrat over a pro-choice Republican at any level. I would support a Mormon or a Jew who supported the defense of marriage defined as being between a man and a woman over a Southern Baptist or Presbyterian who did not.
In this election season and challenging economic time I am praying for our country and for those who lead it—for we are commanded in Scripture to do so. I am also praying that our nation will return to the God of our fathers and will look to His Son, Jesus Christ as the only real answer to life’s problems and hurts.
Previous story: The Rev. Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham, on Tuesday apologized to President Barack Obama for questioning his Christian faith, Religion News Service reported.
"I regret any comments I have ever made which may have cast any doubt on the personal faith of our president, Mr. Obama," Graham said in a statement, according to Religion News Service.
"I apologize to him and to any I have offended for not better articulating my reason for not supporting him in this election -- for his faith has nothing to do with my consideration of him as a candidate."
Graham, a prominent evangelical leader in his own right and CEO of the international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, had taken heat from black religious leaders and others for saying he did not know whether Obama is a Christian.
On a panel on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” show on Feb. 21, Graham was asked if he believes Obama is a Christian.
“I think you have to ask President Obama,” Graham responded.
“You have to ask him. I cannot answer that question for anybody. All I know is that I’m a sinner, and that God has forgiven me of my sins because I’ve put my faith in … Jesus Christ," Graham said.
He added that because Obama's father was a Muslim, "under Islamic law, the Muslim world sees Barack Obama as a Muslim." And he said that he was confident that Republican Rick Santorum is a Christian.
The NAACP accused Graham of trying to “use faith as a political weapon.”
“Rev. Graham also seemed to imply that the president may be a Muslim, despite the fact that the president has repeatedly expressed his faith and belief in Jesus Christ,” the NAACP said. “By his statements, Rev. Graham seems to be aligning himself with those who use faith as a weapon of political division. These kinds of comments could have enormous negative effects for America and are especially harmful to the Christian witness."
You can read the full Religion News Service story here. And our previous story on Graham's comments on Obama is here.
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Leave a Comment:
@!$%# you, Graham. Your theocratic fascistic ideology is out of the bag.
It is a tragedy that franklin graham did not inherit his father's good sense.
Nor should it have anything to do with any candidate. I don't think Mr. Santorum understands this basic principle.
graham is a bigot and a racist.
MiamiOz is a racist and a bigot.
Plightman, you are suspended for a day for violating rule # 1 of the Code of Honor.
@Sally: You go, Girl!
Politics and religion don't mix and Franklin Graham would do well to follow his father's advice as would all the other evangelicals who somehow believe the America should be governed by Christian tenets even though people of other faiths and aethiests comprise a significant percentage of our population. The separation of church and state is one of the fundamental principles set forth by our founding fathers and that means both freedom of religion as well as freedom from religion.
The Elder Mr. Graham respected other people even if they didn't have the same point of view or the same beliefs. Franklin does not. More's the pity. He will never be as good as his dad.
I wouldn't want anything to do with the god that this idiot worships,the white-supremecist in-bred jack-ass.............'just sayin'...........
You got all that from a comment he made? Wow you really got issues don't you!
Ras Ije
I agree.
Anyone can CLAIM to be a Christian but, if you listen to what actually comes out of their mouths and what they actually do - then it becomes obvious that many of them - including the highly-placed - are nothing but deceivers and liars and view Christianity as nothing more than the family business and a means to acquiring a lot of money.
Franklin Graham speaks out of both sides of his mouth.
He's an a$$wipe who should keep his crooked nose out of politics.
I take it by your language and comments that you are not Christian. I am right aren't I?
i would like people to show me how president obama has been kicking the islamic religion around like he has been doing lately with the catholic religion.
Maybe bin Laden and al-Awlaki and those on the receiving end of Tomahawk Cruise Missiles in Afghanistan and of predator drone strikes in Pakistan and Somalia could tell you a little about how President Obama has been kicking the Islamic religion around.
And I take issue with your statement about the Catholic church. Obama had an issue with the US Bishops which he handled by offering a reasonable compromise that most Catholics agreed with. How is that kicking around the catholic religion??
That's the trouble with our country: Our president should not have to waste his time dealing with religion at all.
It takes time and energy (and money) away from the real issues.
Franklin Graham made two statements that were perfectly accurate. He said that he can't know the heart of any man and that under Islam, Obama is considered a Muslim. Neither of these statements are untrue. Mr Graham was asked his opinion and he gave it. He's allowed his opinion and I for one value his words above that of the majority of people on this planet. This country is in grave danger if at the end of the day we end up attacking great men like Billy and Franklin Graham. God Bless the Grahams.
Why then I guess I'll have to stop giving money to all those missionaries in Africa and Asia because the conversions they're making aren't real.
Plightman-- Even Graham admitted he had no right to question that Obama is a Christian--the way he worded the original statement was intended to plant doubt in the ears of his listeners-- the truth is that he knows good and well that Obama is Christian-- but used the issue to attack him because he disagrees with him on other issues.
dslsca-
I never understood the concept of missionaries and their need to convert everyone.
People in Africa, our own Native Americans, et al had perfectly good religious belief systems of their own.
I know that the bible says to go convert everybody but I think that is pretty arrogant, myself.
next time, maybe franklin graham should think before talking out of his ass and avoid having to apologize later; who is graham deciding who is or who is not a particular religion? he obviously needs a filter
I take it you have never had to apologize. Oh well you must be the perfect one, maybe you should be the face of Christianity.
Dunno if monnie should be the face of christianity, but it couldn't possibly have a worse face than Franklin Graham.
Billy Graham seriously believed in the Christian god. I always thought he was the only truly sincere evangelist. Franklin is just like all the rest; the only thing he believes in is making piles of money.
Graham, that was not enough. You should commit suicide in repent.
This is stupid. There is no reason why he should be apologizing, just like Obama had no reason to apologize for the burning of the Korans...and then OUR soldiers were killed over it. Lets get out of this war, let's change the political and social direction of this country.
lemur, have you ever apoligized for any of your words or deeds? If so, for what?
I think conservatives and people of faith have lost this country. It's sad to say but I believe that there is nothing we can do to stop the demise of this country. All conservatives and people of Christian faith should leave office, should take their wealth and we should leave. We need to find a new land to live our lives the way we know they should be lived. Alaska (we could force it out of the Union) is mostly uninhabited, western Canada is empty for the most part. We need to leave the liberal, atheists to run the country into the ground. Who's John Galt right? It's coming.
Who is John Galt? He's the main character in a terribly turgid novel that valorizes greed over the common good.
And you DO realize there is (gasp!) socialized medicine in Canada don't you?
And you DO realize that (gasp!) Alaska sends each of its residents a check yearly for their share of the sale of northshore oil rather than paying it to the Halliburtons and BPs of this world don't you?
Once we take over Alaska, we'll cut off the energy supply to the United States. Our new nation will be called The Constitutional Alaska. And as for Canada, we'll just take over some Northern Territories and develop the wilderness and claim a new nation. Upon leaving, Liberals will have the nation to do with as they wish. How you live and what you do is no longer a concern for us.
As Alaska is past its peak oil production, and doesn't supply a large percentage of US energy, I think we'll do OK.
Could you please convince these people to leave office and this country now? As a liberal, I would really appreciate it. And you're going to "just take over" some of the northern territories? That's sounds about right for people like yourself. I wonder what those currently residing or owning sections of these northern territories will think about that.
See, that's the kind of utterly ridiculous statements the far right is making these days. I'm a senior citizen lady now, but I would still fight to the death for you and those like you to believe and think exactly what you want to even if I think you are wrong. That's the difference between you and people like me. I celebrate your right to have your beliefs, but it seems you want to "force" people like me to believe and behave like you in your "live their lives the way we know they should be lived" remark.
I was brought up in a Southern Baptist Church. As I grew older, I lost more and more of my faith because I couldn't believe that Jesus would leave unchecked people who perverted his word like these evangelical preachers and their followers have done and continue to do - and now we have other Christian "faiths" doing the same thing - Santorum. Sadly for me, because I miss my faith, I now believe that my former religion is not based in reality. People like Graham and you only enforce that.
As long as they take the bible-thumpers with them, I'll be happy to help them pack up.
Yeah, all you people who want to form your own theocracy: don't let the door hit you on the way out.
This self righteous sob meant what he said and there is no "taking" it back now, how many days has it been since he was on the Morning Joe program? If his apology was sincere it wouldn't have taken him this long, he felt either forced or some degree of pressure to make some sort of retraction. As far as I'm concerned he can stuff it! He's part of the group that works on fear, I guess we know who he's throwing his support behind and that speaks for itself.
I don't see how you can get that out of what he said during the interview. I watched the exact same interview and he never answered either way about Obama's true faith. If you resent him for his faith and his opinion, then base your opposition to his opinion upon his importance as a faith leader, how do you solve that conflict? Ask me about my preacher. Ask me if he's a Christian. I'll answer that he acts like a Christian but I don't know his heart. You are the one with hate in your heart. Maybe you should ask yourself why you hate so much. And what's caused that hate for people of faith.
That's got to be a hair piece.
Who would pay for a hair piece that ugly?
This guy is a bought and paid for mouth piece of the "religious right", his father was a man,,this guy is a PUKE at best.
The GOP's check must have bounced.
Doesn't sound like much of an apology to me. A true Christian would avoid making such a judgment call (no pun intended) altogether, just out of humility. Our best deeds are like menstrual rags in the eyes of God, let's not question other people's Christianity, but thank God for putting up with each of us each day.
dillio: while I agree with the sentiment of your post, the "rags" comment is sexist as can be.
How is that sexist?
I think it's pretty descriptive.
LOL
another fruitcake heard from. I cannot believe that the elder Graham would support this type of rhetoric and attack on the President. Makes it that much easier to avoid Santorum, the Tea Baggers and the rest of their ilk.
Ninety-nine percent of the peoples' religion is determined by where they were born in the world. Doesn't it bother you that most people spend more time and energy picking out their next car than they do their religion?
Religion is the biggest joke mankind ever played on itself.
Atheists say, "God can't exists because that's not scientific." A scientist says, "Anything is possible, until proven not possible." The position of a scientist is to open ones mind and to test hypothesis based upon research method. If atheists are such creatures of science, why do they reject the premise of their own belief set?
and people who know grammar don't say "God can't exists"!
KSF
I guess I am the 1% because my parents don't believe in religion and my step father is an atheist. He is the most angry and bitter man I know. He makes it almost impossible for me to see my mom. It is so sad the way atheist think they got it all figured out and just have to let everyone there is no God. Why? Do they just have to be right?
Scientists also say there's global warming. Do you believe them on that, plight?
So, havin fun yet-
Because your father angry and bitter and happens to be an atheist, you criticize all atheists?
It seems to me that Christians are the ones who "think they got it all figured out".
Do THEY just have to be right?
Too late for your apology, Franklin Graham. The damage is already done. The damage to what was left of your standing as a person of honor who might be worth considering as a legitimate follower of Christ. Too bad.
He is still lying. President Obama's father was never Muslim. His Grandfather was briefly Muslim, and abandoned Islam when he was beaten for some reason. Barack Sr. was actually an Atheist. And Barack's grandmother (Sr's mother) was a Christian. Franklin is just feeling the heat because his donations are down after attacking the President to support that son of satan, Santorum. He *just* might also be feeling a little off because he broke one (or more) of the 10 commandments - Thou shalt not bear false witness.
debnran, you drank a double dose of the stupidity kool-aid, didn't you?
I take it you have never researched Obama's family, have you? Try it sometime, you just might be enlightened. The information came from his father's family, and it's not hard to find. As for Santorum, he is too evangelical for a Catholic. Most of what he spouts off are not Catholic beliefs, but Fundamentalist. I think he's doing it because he thinks he has to out religion the religious right and that that will give him the votes. He certainly wasn't like that when he was in Pennsylvania.
This guy is not but a pimple on his old mans arse!
I guess you'd know!
When the president declares that the United States is not a Christian nation and bows to Muslim leaders, I think that it is reasonable to have some doubt of his sincerity when he touts his Christianity. He speaks his mind, and that freedom applies to everyone else. Tip-toeing around the subject doesn't change the facts. Just because he apologizes to Muslims for everything that we do doesn't mean that he is owed the same.
He wants to be everything a, Christian, Muslim, Liberal, Moderate, and anything else that will get him a vote. We know that he can not be all things. So what is he?
bill19: I guess he apologized to bin Laden and al-Awlaki? I guess every time a drone attack kills people in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Somalia he's apologizing to Muslims?
You do have to realize that Obama is not just President to Christians in America. He's also President to Muslims in America, and every other religious group that is in the US. He cannot only kowtow to the religious right. You do realize that SOME Christians do believe that other religions do have the right to exist and co-exist with Christianity, and that SOME people believe that the best way to do that is to treat other religions with RESPECT and DIGNITY, something I think you don't know very much about.
The United States is NOT a "Christian Nation."