Franklin Graham once again questions Obama's Christianity, while praising Santorum as "a man of faith"

Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham, was asked by MSNBC's "Morning Joe" what he thought about the candidates and their faith.  Politico reports:

Graham, the CEO and president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, also declined to say on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” whether he thought Mitt Romney was a Christian. He weighed in at length on the candidates and their faith:

  • ON OBAMA: “You have to ask him. I cannot answer that question for anybody. All I know is I’m a sinner, and God has forgiven me of my sins… You have to ask every person. He has said he’s a Christian, so I just have to assume that he is.”

Pressed as to whether Obama had “accepted Jesus Christ,” Graham said, “I don’t know,” recounting a conversation with the president over how Obama came to accept Christianity.

“I just don’t get it, Reverend,” said panelist Mike Barnicle. “Why can’t you just say, ‘yeah, I believe he’s a Christian?’”

According to Graham, Obama had said he only started going to church because community groups in Chicago insisted he do so in order to work them.

“If he says he’s a Christian, I can accept that. All I know is what Jesus Christ has done in my heart and how he changed my life,” said Graham.

Yet Graham has a completely different opinion of Rick Santorum's Christianity.  Salon adds:

By contrast, Graham didn't waiver on whether he thinks Santorum is a Christian, despite his earlier remarks that only the person knows whether they're a Christian or not:

"His values are so clear on moral issues. No question about it. I just appreciate the moral stances he takes on things. He comes from a Catholic faith… I think he’s a man of faith."

Graham also weighed in on Romney and Gingrich. He believes Gingrich is Christian ("At least, he told me he is"), and gave a bit more complicated answer on Romney's Mormonism:

"Most Christians would not recognize Mormons as part of the Christian faith…they believe in Jesus Christ. They have a lot of other things they believe in too, that we don’t accept, theologically." But he added, "I like him…he would be a good president… He’s a sharp guy."

While Graham seemed to waiver on Mitt Romney's Christianity, his opinion of Romney's faith was still better than his opinion of the President.   Noting that "this is my business" Graham said that he looks at whether a person goes to church regularly or "only when the cameras are on them."  This dichotomy was noted and criticized soundly.

“Franklin Graham has a lot to learn from his father,” tweeted Chuck Todd after the segment.

Dakota O'Leary

Dakota O'Leary is a freethinker, and often sassy, scholar of theology and literature. She got her Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Theology from the State University of New York College at Buffalo, and her Master of Arts degree in Theology and Literature from Antioch University-Midwest. She is a contributing writer focusing on eschatology, biblical prophecy, and general religious news. Dakota is a co-host of the God Discussion radio show, offering insight to the news stories of the week. We like to call her "our in-house Biblical prophecy expert" as her articles on eschatology have received over 200,000 views on God Discussion.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

  • http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

    I don't recall any sitting president being criticized about his "Christian faith" as much as Obama. These folks act as though the president is supposed to be the "right kind of" spiritual leader of the country.

    Deborah

  • Velma Mitchell

    I have always loved and respected Billy Graham. But Franklin Graham? Not so much. The man's comments are despicable!

  • Larry Linn

    Per the Constitution of the United States of America:
    Article Six: The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
    The Second Amendment states: ““Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”.

  • Sheri

    "I like your Christ; I don't much like your Christians; they are so unlike your Christ."
    ~Ghandi

  • thomas mc

    Santorum is the Antichrist, and Graham is the False Prophet.

  • Sheldon

    I wonder… is this criticism, perhaps, seen as a necessity since there seems to be a clear shift towards Christian political protectionism in light of the perceived evils of Islam? Then again, could this be bigotry disguised as religious criticism? This makes me wonder then, if Obama were obviously devout, would there be similar criticism?

  • COinMS

    There's no mystery here. Graham (and by extension, most fundamgelicals) dont believe Pres. Obama is Christian and will never believe it because

    1. He's a Democrat
    2. He's half black
    3. His father was a Muslim
    4. His name rhymes with Osama
    and
    5. He can pronounce nuclear.

    Ok, I just made up #5.
    The fundamgelicals want a right wing Christian who is lily white, looks like Charlton Heston, is rich and has a trophy wife and a gaggle of homeskooled children, and preferably is from the South.

    • http://www.goddiscussion.com admin

      You nailed it. :)