Franklin Graham says Pope Francis has no Right to ‘Bless What God Calls Sin’
Franklin Graham says Pope Francis has no Right to ‘Bless What God Calls Sin’: Just after the Roman Catholic Church head Pope Francis approved the blessing of same-sex couples, Franklin Graham, an evangelist and son of the Influential preacher Billy Graham took to social media to declare that “none of us, including the Pope, has the right to “bless” what God calls sin.”
In response to news that the Vatican has allowed priests to bless same-sex couples, under the condition that they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies, nor at the same time as a civil union, Franklin took to Facebook on Monday to express his disapproval of the Vatican’s decision.
“So-called “blessings” from religious leaders won’t save you from the judgment of God,” wrote Franklin Graham, the president of Samaritan Purse. “Pope Francis has now approved Catholic priests “blessing” same-sex couples. But none of us, including the Pope, has the right to “bless” what God calls sin. “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil…” (Isaiah 5:20).
“The Good News is that right now God will forgive sin, but we have to come to Him His way, on His terms–by repenting of our sins and placing our faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Otherwise, the Bible says, “The destruction of transgressors and of sinners shall be together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed” (Isaiah 1:28),” he added.
On Monday, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a declaration titled “Fiducia Supplicans,” providing “a broadening and enrichment of the classical understanding of blessings, which is closely linked to a liturgical perspective.”
The Vatican document stated that “when people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it” and that “those seeking a blessing should not be required to have prior moral perfection.”