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 Billy Graham says that he "never thought we would have to debate the definition of marriage."
May 3rd, 2012
11:49 AM ET
Billy Graham backs North Carolina amendment to ban gay marriageBy Eric Marrapodi, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN)– The Rev. Billy Graham, the world's best-known evangelist, has endorsed a ballot initiative to constitutionally ban gay marriage in his home state of North Carolina, a rare move for a preacher who has typically avoided political fights. North Carolinians will vote on the state's Marriage Amendment Act before North Carolina voters next Tuesday. Voters will decide whether to amend the state constitution to say that "Marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State." CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories North Carolina already bans same-sex marriages. The amendment would effectively ban civil unions and domestic partnerships, too. Graham is taking out full-page ads in 14 North Carolina newspapers touting his support for the measure. His website he encourages churches to download a poster that bears his image and the message "Vote for Marriage May 8th." “Watching the moral decline of our country causes me great concern," the 93-year-old pastor, who has prayed with every president since Dwight Eisenhower, said in a statement on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website. "I believe the home and marriage is the foundation of our society and must be protected.” The statement continued to say that Graham "never thought we would have to debate the definition of marriage." Graham's newspaper ad will say: "The Bible is clear—God’s definition of marriage is between a man and a woman. I want to urge my fellow North Carolinians to vote for the marriage amendment on Tuesday, May 8. God bless you as you vote.” The bill proposing the amendment says only a simple majority of votes is needed for the amendment to pass. Supporters of the amendment hailed Graham's endorsement. "Reverend Graham understands that we as North Carolinians have a duty to preserve God’s first institution–marriage," said Tami Fitzgerald, Chairwoman of Vote FOR Marriage NC, a group supporting the measure, in a statement. "We cannot be silent as activists work to radically redefine marriage—an institution that has been fundamental to our civilization for thousands of years.” Opponents of the amendment lamented the move. “While we were disappointed to see his endorsement it doesn’t change much,” said Paul Guequierre a spokesman for the Coalition to Protect North Carolina Families. The coalition, which includes pastors from across the theological spectrum, opposes the amendment. “We have respect for (Graham) but we will continue to work with our clergy on this.” “People across the country support LGBT equality,” Guequierre said, adding his group was cautiously optimistic about the vote on Tuesday. While Graham may be an internationally known figure, his influence in North Carolina may be even larger. Charlotte is home to the Billy Graham Parkway. When the Billy Graham Library opened in Charlotte in 2007, Bill Clinton, George H. W. Bush and Jimmy Carter came for the opening ceremony. Graham's son Franklin Graham and daughter Anne Graham Lotz have both voiced support for the amendment and both have taken political stands in the past, in contrast to their father. soundoff (2,998 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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Those who JUDGE DO NOT MATTER, and those who MATTER DO NOT JUDGE!
Billy Graham is a world-class HYPROCRITE.
If he REALLY cared about sinners, he'd be trashing the MUCH GREATER NUMBER of Christians who commit adultery by divorcing and remarrying (according to the Bible).
If he REALLY cared, he be out trying to ban divorce and remarriage, which IS legal. It's all pick-and-choose hypocrisy.
HYPOCRITE not the typo.
He likely would turn away the "least of these" and think he was just being reasonable for protecting his property.
Thank You Thank You Thank You! How many have forgotten that.
We are at war with stupidity, and the enemy is everywhere.
Sadly stupidity is proud of being stupid so they are unable to feel ashamed enough to seek to improve.
Boy are you ever right about that.
I thought the Devil was the one who promoted hate and Jesus was the one who promoted love?
Truth is not hate and qu eers know nothing about love
Hey pervert alert, is that to warn us that you're the pervert? Seems to be so. How do you seem to know that gays don't know about love? Have some issues, do we?
Billy Graham is dogsht! He needs to go meet Jesus real soon.
Someone noted that it was irrational to try to make deals with the Taliban since they are wrapped up in their Holy texts. I guess the same could be said about many Christians.
I can't wait for qu eers to start reproducing naturally.
What does that have to do with love and attraction? Do you think that a person is only attracted to another because of the need to procreate? Sounds like animal breeding.
You actually think that they are artificially created?
Exactly what is your point?
Ya know, I like it when guys like this preach. The more they do so, the more and more people flea from the church and realize how crazy it is. I am truly looking forward to the day when all the abrahamic religions flat out die, only then will humanity be able to thrive and progress ethically.
I cut the hair at my temples, and have cut my beard... I must have sinned.
Being a qu eer is more sin than you need
So you do not shop on Sunday and have never born false witness?
@pervalert and even if you believe that people choose to be gay, which they don't, are you saying your sins are less than their sins? The fact that you are hear judging others makes you a sinner. Go repent!
There is no such thing as "gay". Gay is a word stolen by qu eers to make their dirty lifestyle appear less disgusting.
"There is no such thing as "gay". Gay is a word stolen by qu eers to make their dirty lifestyle appear less disgusting."
The experts around the world disagree with you. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the National Association of SocialWorkers, together representing more than 480,000 mental health professionals, have all taken the position that homosexuality is not a mental disorder and thus is not something that needs to or can be “cured.
Did Billy Graham ride a private jet or a donkey to North Carolina?
Billy graham lives in nc so I guess he drove. I don't speak for him, but I think he is right. Sin is sin
What if you are wrong about what is sin? Think about all the damage you caused.
If the pastor is wrong, the damage done will be for an earthly. BUT, if the pastor is right, the consequences are eternal. I'm not taking any chances. With eternaty at stake, I'm following Jesus.
Hey Billy...If you believe in God...Didn't God create gay people as well? Are you trying to step on God's toes? I don't think it would like that too much.
According to the Bible God created people who could only populate the Earth by engaging in incest?
Sin is a learned not born situation
I can tell you with all assurance, God did not created gay people; they created themselves!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFkeKKszXTw
Ha!! Very nice!
Pretty interesting stuff!
Do you think he actually knows this is about civil unions, etc. and not gay marriage? Pathetic.
It doesn't matter a qu eer is a criminal and enti tled to no recognition under any situation.
I think "pervert" is taking out his frustration about being stuck living in his mom's basement out on the rest of us.
Gay marrages are evil and are from HELL!
"It doesn't matter a qu eer is a criminal and enti tled to no recognition under any situation."
Lying is a sin moron. By the way it's why the laws in this country changed and now discrimination against sexual orientation is against the law. DUH! Keep showing your prejudice isn't based on any real facts.
There certainly are a lot of people who believe they have the innate right to limit the innate rights of others.
Prayer changes things .
Really? I just prayed that you would go away. I guess it didn't work. So, doesn't that mean you are wrong?
Is believing in myths, healthy?
Name one thing it has ever changed.
One thing prayer has changed = slavery.
Hitchens... the Bible was used for centuries to justify slavery.
Prayer doesn’t not; you are such a LIAR. You have NO proof it changes anything! A great example of prayer proven not to work is the Christians in jail because prayer didn't work and their children died. For example: Susan Grady, who relied on prayer to heal her son. Nine-year-old Aaron Grady died and Susan Grady was arrested.
An article in the Journal of Pediatrics examined the deaths of 172 children from families who relied upon faith healing from 1975 to 1995. They concluded that four out of five ill children, who died under the care of faith healers or being left to prayer only, would most likely have survived if they had received medical care.
The statistical studies from the nineteenth century and the three CCU studies on prayer are quite consistent with the fact that humanity is wasting a huge amount of time on a procedure that simply doesn’t work. Nonetheless, faith in prayer is so pervasive and deeply rooted, you can be sure believers will continue to devise future studies in a desperate effort to confirm their beliefs!
Freedom of speech and Religion. Good job Billy Graham for not bowing down to no one but OUR GOD.
AMEN!!! Hey, I'm looking to buy somebody's daughter as suggested by god in the bible.. Do you know of anyone looking to sell?
I fail to see how you are free if you are bowing to an imaginary being.... it's sounds more to me you are trapped in insanity grasping for straws to justify your bigotry.
Absolutely a violation of Freedom of Religion.
God's Church has married two men and Billy wants that against man's Law?
That's not Freedom of Religion, That's one religion tyrannizing other religions to abide by the limits they put on God's power. God is more powerful than they and gives us all love and marriage and happiness if we turn away from those who wish evil.
Political correctness will be the DEATH of this beautiful nation.
It is sad to see so so little Faith by Christians in God's love for all He created.
Jesus taught love, not so much somee modern Christians like Billy who put their own blasphemous limits on God's love and power and throw labels at people and smight them for their loves. Therein lies America's moral decline; Christian men and women imposing their own rules and limits to God's love. Pray for Billy's forgiveness as I do.
I am SO sorry to hear this news. I was raised in the Penticostal Church and though I am Gay... Have been PROUD to support Brother Graham through the years because he has been one of the FEW that Preach and Teach Equally. Thoughts and Prayers Rev. Graham.
Wow, self-loathing much? Billy Graham and people like him think of gay people as no better than animals. They'd rid the world of all of you, given the chance.
Christian conservatives forget that it's God's job, to judge people.
so do qu eers
God doesn't judge, he loves,, everybody
Sftommy you are off your rocker if you think God won't judge.