 |
|
|
|
 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 »
« Previous entryMy Take: Dear God: How to pray on National Day of Prayer?
|
  About this blog
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.  |
|
|
|
...rolls my eyes...enough already! Who cares???? As a Christian, all you can do is say that God loves you no matter what...then leave it alone!
Really? So you really don't care that some people are still treated like second class citizens by this country's government or that religious and political leaders breed hatred towards some minorities in this country and throughout the world? It's very easy to look the other way and do nothing about it. Question is, are you enough of a decent human being to actually do something about your hate-filled religious leaders?
How are they treated like second class citizens? because the law says they cant be married what happen to civil unions?
metb, your side will continue to lose until Christians are spat upon in the streets and everyone is taught that your cult is nothing but a scam.
DeeCee...I don't have any religious leaders! I don't go to church and I sure don't believe in organized religion! Maybe if you calm and read my post correctly, I wouldn't have to defend myself. And yes, I am a wonderful and decent human being and so is every gay couple that wants to get married. What I meant was, who cares if two people that love each other want to get married? Shouldn't gay couples enjoy the same rights as straight couples? Now take your Xanax and calm down.
Well you may be right about the battle but we are right about the fact that it is a sin , We are instructed to love the sinner but hate the sin. That be
ing said i wish you all the luck in the world with your life and hope it all works out.
DeeCee...don't you ever believe that there is something "more" out in the universe that is bigger than us little people? That loves us unconditionally? Even if it isn't Christianity or Islam, wouldn't you want to live in a world were there was someone or something that loved all of us no matter what?
Yes you are right smbo4d, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink....
"How are they treated like second class citizens?"
"because the law says they cant be married"
there ya go. answered your own question
I don't quite care for mean people. Gay marriage may be a sin, but it's none of my business how two people feel about each other.
"Well you may be right about the battle but we are right about the fact that it is a sin"
You seem to have a real issue with confusing fact with opinion
Oh Sam, your may get the laws changed is what i meant but unless you repent from the sin , or sins you will not be able to get in to heaven.... so the Bible says..
So if it don't matter to you if you go or not why all this arguing?
Someone should come up with a religion which requires that all Christian ministers and priests be put to death by stoning. . (kinda the way the Judeo-Christian bible instructs followers to kill certain people.)
Dude stop trolling. Everyone knows you're a Christian trying to make Atheists, Agnostics, and Gays look bad. If you aren't, then you're really working against your cause.
It would be just like the rest of the religions. Killing to make your point.
F** off lowlife. I'm glad your cult is dying off. Good riddance to all of you ignoramuses.
DeeCee needs serious help...how can you bring about peace and love when all you spew is hatred and viciousness?
Your life is meaningless to you....that must suck.
Just another example for not believing anything anyone affiliated with religion should be taken seriously!
but you should CERTAINLY TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY - the consequences of not doing so are ETERNAL
//but you should CERTAINLY TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY – the consequences of not doing so are ETERNAL//
Which god?
"but you should CERTAINLY TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY – the consequences of not doing so are ETERNAL"
another opinion heard from
Does this closed minded bible-beating hypocrite hold an iota of relevance in 2012? With all the millions he stole from his "followers", you'd think he fix those nasty horse teeth of his. Just disappear, will you? You've done so much harm during your lifetime that it's time to depart.
What a loving comment. I'm betting you're a Democrat.
Sashatree...I promise you by the time you're 93 if you are lucky enough to still be lickin the biscuit your teeth won't be lookin so good either. Be careful who you choose for enemies....you may wind up with a snowballs chance.
YOU MOST CERTAINLY WILL FIND OUT THE HARM HE DID IN ETERNITY
Reagan80, I hope this Christian minister suffer a long painful death. You on the other hand can shove your bible all the way up your a**. F*** off lowlife.
Sorry......you missed. 54 year old LIFE LONG REPUBLICAN !!! PRO CHOICE. PRO GAY RIGHTS. ANTI GUN. SOCIALLY LIBERAL. FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE. So much for labels, eh? I don't fit into your (or anyone else's) convenient little box. Why? BECAUSE I HAVE A BRAIN AND I'M NOT A SHEEP!
@ John..... I don't believe in heaven or hell. When you die, you die.
John, your book of ignorant fair tales has its proper place in the local landfill. I burned mine a long time ago.
Of all the things you might choose to accuse BG of...being a hypocrite is something he is not. I can't think of anyone who has held to their message and remained out of the peep shows over this guy.
Thank-you Dr. Graham! God was right when he created marriage between a man and a woman. I was saved because
you came to Fairlea, WV and preached a week long crusade back in 1967. I was eleven years old when I gave my
heart to Christ. This is my most treasured memory. Because of your ministry...............I was saved! Although, I have
rededicated my life to Christ again, I will never forget the first time Christ called me to come forward and give my life
to him. Again.......................................................THANK YOU!
I feel sorry for you, please don't breed
Newsflash - GOD DIDN'T CREATE MARRIAGE! The bible is a collection of stories that were first recorded HUNDREDS of years after some guy called Jesus supposedly walked the earth....and has been re-written COUNTLESS times by people from different countries who edited it to serve their political aspirations and to control people. Taking the bible literally is simply.....STUPID. It is NOT written by god......it's folklore written by a bunch of politically minded folks to control the masses like sheep. Baaaaaaaaaaa
What were you saved from?
11 year olds are known for making such responsible decisions.
Mary: Marriage pre-dates the bible
We must not forgot who is satnah jayasuriya ?. But currently his form is not stand up to his previous records. I think this is not only regarding his form, reaction time, bat speed, etc. Sana is strong in heart, but he has to identify his current situation. I think sana should leave for 1 1/2 months. Go for basics, then come back and play 2 or 3 matches, I know he will find his touch again. Then he must play a brilliant, mind blowing two or three innings. Then he should retired. (0)
Hey Billy: No one is debating you over what the BIBLE may define marriage as. The debate is over what the LAW defines marriage as. Last I checked, the bible is not the book of law governing the United States.
Thank you!!!
Absolutely right, junior. But, you missed the point. He's not endorsing an amendment to the Bible.
It is and it over rules the laws of America
SAD TO SAY BUT UNFORTUNATLY YOU ARE CORRECT AND THATS EXACTLY WHY WE ARE IN THE SHAPE WE ARE IN
Some people think that it is still the 1950's...
...what a waste of resources...all that money going to a bigoted cause (oppressing a group of people), when in 10 years gay marriage will be legal everywhere in the US...
...take that money about to be used/wasted for a bigoted cause and feed and clothe some people...
I am tiered of these kkkristians telling us how to live!
It is not the Christians that tell us how to live..The BIBLE does...and we should all live by the words of GOD
Faithful: There are many christian denominations. Which one represents "the word of god"?
And, Faithful. if christians are telling us to live by the "word of god", they are indeed telling us how to live.
The bill to ban gay marriage in North Carolina will more than likely pass because every simular bill has passed when it is put before the citizens of a state (even in California). POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
You aren't supposed to vote on civil rights. Blacks can marry interracially not because people voted for it but because the courts said so.
Slaves were not freed due to votes.
Grow up
It might pass, but it won't stand. It is unconst.itutional. No way to argue against that.
Gay Marriage has never been a prob;en anywhere, in any country, in any state... only is a problem contained within the tiny bigoted minds of Hate-filled Christians who have nothing better to do than meddle in other americans pursuit of happiness ... you , my dear are a KKKristian KKKunt .... and we all hope you have a mass of people infringe on a right you currently enjoy, for no other purpose than that person wishing you having it denied to you ...
Someone should come up with a religion giving followers permission to stone to death all Christian ministers and priests. . .kinda the way the Judeo-Christian bible instructs followers to kill certain people.
It's called Satanism.
JM, you're an idiot.
You are the one who wants to stone people to death.
I support Billy Graham's right to his own belief. He's a preacher; it's Biblical.
The whole point of the Bible is God's love for mankind and his desire for us to seek Him. Sin simply means missing the perfect mark of God's holiness as everyone who has ever lived does.
The statement continued to say that Graham "never thought we would have to debate the definition of marriage."
That's just the point, YOU don't have to debate it. Let people define it for themselves and don't impose your definition on everyon else.
Our Father, who art in heaven. Hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Happy National Day of Prayer!
“I am treated as evil by people who claim that they are being oppressed because they are not allowed to force me to practice what they do.”
– D. Dale Gulledge
I can't believe people follow this guy. P.T. Barnum was right.
I can't wait until this guy is out of this picture, permanently. The world will be better off without him.
And his followers too
If god really existed he can come down and tell us........come on, we're waiting. guess is busy appearing on toasts and corn flakes. We live in a world of fools!!!!!!
The foolisness is that people seem to think that God or a "supreme being" and religion are the same. Religion is as man made as the space shuttle. Religion has nothing to do with God.
Oh Yea...gay marriage will cause the world to implode ! All procreation will cease !!! . Faith requires suspension of reason and you can not argue with an unreasonable person. It is a no win position
Very well said.
Oh this is just too perfect. The great Schism part II is in full swing. Even the great Billy Graham is soiled. Young people are leaving Christianity in droves, and the old holdouts are dying. Christianity is crumbling before our eyes.
But not fast enough.
It will never die completely. At least not until extra terrestrials land. The weak require an out. Religion gives it to them....for a fee of course.
Which de.finition of marriage is biblical? Certainly not one man and one woman. Clearly, the bible's def.inition of marriage is one man and as many women as he can get from their fathers.
Besides which, there is no such thing as "traditional marriage"....there are many traditions, and traditions change and grow as society does. If that weren't true, only the wealthy and t.itled would worry about getting married, and we'd sell off our daughters as soon as they've had their first period to someone who could give us money or prestige.
I like you!
Lol... all the gay, atheist and gay athiests posting a bunch of hate. Figures... since CNN is slowly becoming the, 'Gay Atheist Channel'.
"Lol... all the gay, atheist and gay athiests posting a bunch of hate."
Wow are you blinded by the prejudice of Christians aren't you because you agree with them. The hate that is being shown by Christians trying to block gay civil rights is a far greater hate.
And that would, of course, be your offical 12 yo opinion?
LOL, troll harder kid.
Lol... 'gay civil rights'.
You have the right to look fabulous!
I am not gay, and not atheist. Just don't believe in religion.
I guess that's why you're checking out this website, Martha!!!
People who do not support equal rights for all law-abiding Americans are anti-American.