Far right-wing American commentator Todd Starnes laments the de-platforming of Franklin Graham in the UK

Image via YouTube

AFTER learning that a third UK venue had cancelled a Franklin Graham mission, Starnes, above, used his website to claim that godly voices were being stifled in ‘a nation that has embraced intolerance and hostility toward Christians’ and that hostility against religion was being fueled by ‘enraged’ members of LGBT communities.

Starnes will no doubt be even more furious now that all eight of the venues booked to host Graham’s rallies have torn up the contracts entered into with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Associaton (BGEA), which is now threatening legal action.

A spokesman for BGEA told CBN News they have decided to fight in court for their religious rights in Britain.

Since the original venues have broken our legal contract with them, we are pursuing appropriate actions based on grounds of religious discrimination and freedom of speech. The Gospel always faces opposition, so we will prayerfully and boldly continue to press forward so that the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness will be proclaimed in all of the cities we have planned to visit.

The eighth and last city to impose a ban on Graham is Newcastle. The Utilita Arena in Newcastle said yesterday (Wednesday):

Following talks with our partners and relevant stakeholders we can confirm that the Franklin Graham event scheduled at the Utilita Arena Newcastle in June will not take place.

However, this has not deterred the evangelist who’s still looking forward to his eight-city tour of the country. The BGEA spokesman said:

Image via YouTube

The planned Graham Tour is going ahead and is certainly not canceled in any of the cities as some press reports have indicated. The momentum for the tour is growing throughout the UK by the day. We are continuing to finalize sites for the tour to determine where the events will take place.

At the weekend  a defiant Graham, above, said on Twitter:

I’m looking forward to preaching the Gospel across the UK in late May & June. Hundreds of churches are praying & planning to be a part of these evangelistic outreaches. People everywhere are searching for something to fill the void in their lives. Jesus Christ is the answer.

Starnes said on his website that anti-Graham forces are determined to prevent Graham from speaking  in public venues – citing his belief that homosexuality is a sin and that marriage is between one man and one woman.

They said his message that Jesus Christ can changes lives might incite hate and put the gay community in danger. So they launched a campaign to bully and badger government leaders into silencing the American evangelist.

Starnes also had a warning for American Christians:

You should not be surprised by what’s happening across the Big Pond – a nation that has embraced intolerance and hostility toward Christians. And you’d better get ready – because it’s happening in this country, too.

The LGBT activists have already conquered our nation’s public schools. They’ve also gained a foothold in some of our most prominent conservative websites and cable news channels.

If we do nothing they will be successful in silencing Christians in the public marketplace. And once that happens – you’d better believe they will come for our church houses.

The ultimate goal of anti-Christian organizations like GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign is to silence and destroy anyone who opposes their radical agenda. Anyone.