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![\"Franklin](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Franklin-Graham.jpg?resize=195%2C195\")
<\/p>\nUK Lawmakers Urge Home Secretary to Ban Hate Preacher Franklin Graham: VIDEO<\/b>
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Lawmakers in England are working to ban hate preacher Franklin Graham<\/a> from entering the country.<\/span><\/p>\n Graham \u2013 who receives an <\/span>annual salary<\/b><\/a> of $620,000 from Samaritan\u2019s Purse \u2013 is booked to appear at the <\/span>Lancashire Festival of Hope<\/b><\/a> in Blackpool next September.<\/span><\/p>\n The festival \u2013 organised by the Billy Graham Evangelical Association<\/a>, of which Franklin Graham is president and CEO \u2013 is supported by a number of Anglican clergy and churches in the Blackpool area.<\/span><\/p>\n However, according to the <\/span>Guardian<\/b><\/a>, several MPs, including a government minister, have urged the home secretary Amber Rudd to refuse UK entry to Graham. A <\/span>petition<\/b><\/a> against him being granted a visa has gathered close to 7,000 signatures.<\/span><\/p>\n Home Secretary Amber Rudd : Stop Hate Speech Preacher Franklin Graham’s Visa to UK \u2013 Sign the Petition! t.co\/a7SCEcSsGj<\/a> via @Change<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 lisa page (@babygracie68) December 12, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Petition organizer Nina Parker, who is also pastor of Liberty church in Blackpool, said: <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAs a Christian and as a leader of a church that particularly welcomes LGBT people, I\u2019m horrified that other local churches are inviting someone with this record of hate speech.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n She added that Graham\u2019s visit had triggered an \u201cenormous amount of protest from Christians\u201d and would be \u201cextremely destructive\u201d in northwest England.<\/span><\/p>\n The Guardian reports:<\/span><\/p>\n Paul Maynard, a minister at the Department of Transport and a Blackpool MP, has written to Amber Rudd urging caution over Graham\u2019s visit to the UK.<\/span><\/p>\n Gordon Marsden, another Blackpool MP who has called on the home secretary to consider refusing Graham entry, said the evangelist may have broken UK legislation on hate speech.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think frankly the evidence is piling up that his visit to the UK \u2026 would not be a good thing and not probably in my view a very Christian thing.\u201d Graham\u2019s statements were \u201cincompatible with what Jesus said in the Bible\u201d, he told BBC Radio Lancashire.<\/span><\/p>\n Afzal Khan, the Labour MP for Manchester Gorton, said he planned to \u201cmake representation to the home secretary if it looks like he is intent on coming.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In an <\/span>open letter<\/b><\/a> to the Bishop of Blackburn Blackpool, vicars Andrew Sage and Tracy Charnock wrote:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe are so nervous about this proposed visit and the damage it will do. Our local Imam is already afraid to put his personal address and phone number on their website. We just wish that we could somehow make it clear that our opposition to Franklin Graham\u2019s visit next year is not just a \u2018spat\u2019 between two different Christian groupings. We want to express our opposition as Christians, as citizens of the UK and more especially the North West and Blackpool.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDespite the confusion, and despite the hurt we know it will cause to some of my Christian and indeed Anglican brothers and sisters in Blackpool, like Sajid Javid, we cannot stay silent in the face of such dangerous and outspoken prejudice. To be clear. We are NOT against the Mission, but we are opposed to Franklin Graham leading it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n In a statement, Blackpool councillor Maria Kirkland said:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe council\u2019s position on these matters is robust and clear. We want to tackle discrimination, promote equality and increase respect and understanding between people regardless of their race, religion or sexual orientation or any such matter that can be subject to prejudice in our society.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf matters are brought to our attention that could constitute incitement to hatred, we will forward these to the relevant public authorities and should this be proved we will not hesitate to terminate this booking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n A Billy Graham Evangelical Association spokesperson said the event \u201cwill be a positive and encouraging event with music and also a message from Franklin Graham about the hope that can be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Watch Graham explain his views on homosexuality below.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n The post UK Lawmakers Urge Home Secretary to Ban Hate Preacher Franklin Graham: VIDEO<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Franklin](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/Franklin-Graham.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRELATED:\u00a0Franklin Graham Calls Stonewall Inn \u2018a Monument to Sin\u2019, Blasts Obama Plans to Recognize It<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n
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