Franklin Graham to Obama: Muhammad Killed Innocents, Christ Didn't
Evangelist Franklin Graham. (Roger Hornback/Getty Images)
Friday, 06 Feb 2015 12:45 PM
Evangelist Franklin Graham and
Catholic League President Bill Donohue have condemned President Barack
Obama for comparing the Islamic State's atrocities to the "terrible
deeds" committed by Christians hundreds of years ago.
Obama made his controversial remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday in Washington, D.C., while referring to the actions taken during the Crusades and the Inquisition "in the name of Christ."
But, according to CNS News, Graham hit back at Obama in a Facebook posting, saying that Jesus Christ "taught peace" and did "not take life," while the prophet Muhammad "was a warrior and killed many innocent people."
Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wrote: "Today at the National Prayer Breakfast, the President implied that what ISIS is doing is equivalent to what happened over 1,000 years ago during the Crusades and the Inquisition.
"Mr. President — many people in history have used the name of Jesus Christ to accomplish evil things for their own desires. But Jesus taught peace, love and forgiveness. He came to give His life for the sins of mankind, not to take life.
"Muhammad on the contrary was a warrior and killed many innocent people. True followers of Christ emulate Christ — true followers of Muhammad emulate Muhammad."
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During his speech
Obama said that the Islamic State (ISIS) was "a brutal vicious death
cult that, in the name of religion, carries out unspeakable acts of
barbarism."
But he added: "Lest we get on our high horse and think that this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ."
Donohue denounced the president on the Catholic League's website, saying "Obama's ignorance is astounding and his comparison is pernicious."
He continued: "The Crusades were a defensive Christian reaction against Muslim madmen of the Middle Ages … Regarding the other fable, the Inquisition, the Catholic Church had almost nothing to do with it.
"The Church saw heretics as lost sheep who needed to be brought back into the fold. By contrast, secular authorities saw heresy as treason; anyone who questioned royal authority, or who challenged the idea that kingship was God-given, was guilty of a capital offense.
"It was they — not the Church — who burned the heretics. Indeed, secular authorities blasted the Church for its weak role in the Inquisition."
Obama made his controversial remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday in Washington, D.C., while referring to the actions taken during the Crusades and the Inquisition "in the name of Christ."
But, according to CNS News, Graham hit back at Obama in a Facebook posting, saying that Jesus Christ "taught peace" and did "not take life," while the prophet Muhammad "was a warrior and killed many innocent people."
Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wrote: "Today at the National Prayer Breakfast, the President implied that what ISIS is doing is equivalent to what happened over 1,000 years ago during the Crusades and the Inquisition.
"Mr. President — many people in history have used the name of Jesus Christ to accomplish evil things for their own desires. But Jesus taught peace, love and forgiveness. He came to give His life for the sins of mankind, not to take life.
"Muhammad on the contrary was a warrior and killed many innocent people. True followers of Christ emulate Christ — true followers of Muhammad emulate Muhammad."
But he added: "Lest we get on our high horse and think that this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ."
Donohue denounced the president on the Catholic League's website, saying "Obama's ignorance is astounding and his comparison is pernicious."
He continued: "The Crusades were a defensive Christian reaction against Muslim madmen of the Middle Ages … Regarding the other fable, the Inquisition, the Catholic Church had almost nothing to do with it.
"The Church saw heretics as lost sheep who needed to be brought back into the fold. By contrast, secular authorities saw heresy as treason; anyone who questioned royal authority, or who challenged the idea that kingship was God-given, was guilty of a capital offense.
"It was they — not the Church — who burned the heretics. Indeed, secular authorities blasted the Church for its weak role in the Inquisition."
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