Evangelical magazine founded by Billy Graham calls for Trump's removal

[babylonsister]

https://www.axios.com/christianity-today-evangelicals-supports-impeachment-92956ccb-241c-48d7-bad3-d3e4ddd2d64d.html


Marisa Fernandez
14 mins ago
Evangelical magazine founded by Billy Graham calls for Trump's removal


An editorial published Thursday by Christianity Today, a magazine founded by the late Rev. Billy Graham, called for President Trump's removal from office in the wake of his impeachment, deeming him "grossly immoral."

"We have reserved judgment on Mr. Trump for years now. Some have criticized us for our reserve. But when it comes to condemning the behavior of another, patient charity must come first. ... To use an old cliché, it’s time to call a spade a spade, to say that no matter how many hands we win in this political poker game, we are playing with a stacked deck of gross immorality and ethical incompetence."

Why it matters: Christianity Today is an influential mainstream magazine for evangelicals, with 4.3 million monthly visitors on its site and hundreds of thousands of print subscribers. President Trump won 81% of the evangelical vote in 2016, a group that makes up about 25% of the electorate, according to the Pew Research Center.

Billy Graham's son, Franklin, is an ardent supporter of President Trump. He told "Axios on HBO" in November that he supports the president because he "defends the faith."

Highlights: The editorial calls Christianity Today's stance a moral choice — similar to how the magazine reacted when former President Bill Clinton was impeached.

"[T]he facts in this instance are unambiguous: The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral."

"Trump’s evangelical supporters have pointed to his Supreme Court nominees, his defense of religious liberty, and his stewardship of the economy, among other things, as achievements that justify their support of the president. ... None of the president’s positives can balance the moral and political danger we face under a leader of such grossly immoral character."

"That [Trump] should be removed, we believe, is not a matter of partisan loyalties but loyalty to the Creator of the Ten Commandments."

[TheBlackAdder]

1. Didn't see that one coming.

[empedocles]

2. 4.3 million monthly site visitors

[Girard442]

3. Nice way to cover your ass, guys.

When you could have made a difference, you pulled the covers over your head. Now that a Trump dictatorship is almost a done deal, you find your voice.

Oh, just fuck you.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

15. Still, I'll take it.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

4. Holy shit.

[Frustratedlady]

5. Franklin needs to wake up. If Trump defends the faith, I'm missing something.

Franklin never was his father, but I thought he'd surely be smarter than to fall for Trump. But, then....

[Pantagruel]

6. They want Pence installed

[Lucky Luciano]

16. That's it

[erronis]

23. Yup. This was probably in the playbook 5-6 years ago. Doubt drumpf was aware

that he was a throw-away for an even more vacuous stand-in.

[yonder]

7. Well, thats likely to sting a bit as far as it goes but

they would turn right around and endorse a Pence type in a heartbeat.

Still, it's good news and I'm curious to see how pResident Spurfoot will react on his twitter machine. Could be interesting.

[griffi94]

22. I'm waiting for Trump to go on a twitter tirade against the Evangelicals.

That would very entertaining.

[pnwmom]

8. The link to the CT site works now:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-should-be-removed-from-office.html?fbclid=IwAR1ala8KoEfOnIuBQYnzy-nd1xMDB2oZpsGdiFAWDe-Ba_-gMgHtPP4WvQk

[Leghorn21]

9. Aw, now this is just good fun!! - - and "Christianity Today" has already bolted up to #5 in

twitterville!! - that mean IMF45 will totally see it!!

Haw haw!! Sup Franklin

[regnaD kciN]

10. I'm assuming Little Franklin has nothing to do with running Dad's old magazine?

[Vogon_Glory]

11. I am sore amazed

Yet I feel that such an editorial decision is so weird I ought to check for pigs roosting in tree-tops.

[Xolodno]

12. Lets see if the rest of the Xtian right follows suit.

Because lets be honest, they don't want Trump, they want Pence. And a Trump waiting for acquittal, but being prolonged...makes Trump crazy...and crazy doesn't get the religious right what they want.

That's why Mitch wanted a quick trial, longer this goes...the more cracks form. Add to that, Pelosi could have had a long laundry list of articles of impeachment...she allowed only two. Which doesn't help Mitch, he has less to attack.

[Wednesdays]

13. If it means a President Pence,

they'd be all too happy to toss tRump under the bus.

[erronis]

24. That was the plan from the get-go.

[kentuck]

14. Wow!

Big story!

[rickyhall]

17. Some people are waking up, finally.

Supporting dump compromises their moral stance making them hypocrites who their god doesn't care much for.

[spanone]

18. K&R...👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[keithbvadu2]

19. Trump who ridiculed Holy Communion was ok with them until he gets impeached.

Trump who ridiculed Holy Communion was ok with them until he gets impeached.

[zentrum]

20. If he loses

.....the true believers, he loses the WH.

This is very hopeful.

[NBachers]

21. This is Hugh- but I would've changed "ethical incompetence" to "ethical malice."

[Beartracks]

25. "no matter how many hands we win in this political poker game"

Well, they certainly waited a long time -- until they had won a good number of those poker hands -- before finally deciding to "call a spade a spade." Apparently, evangelical Christians can only tolerate so much "gross immorality and ethical incompetence" even though Trump's character, ethics, and morality have been so very obvious from the start?

I guess up until they won those political poker hands, these Christians decided Trump's "gross immorality and ethical incompetence" were worth it.

=============

[benld74]

26. Link below

https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2019/december-web-only/trump-should-be-removed-from-office.html

[enid602]

27. Franklin

I don't think Franklin Graham would agree with this magazine on impeachment.

[liberalla]

28. My jaw is on the floor... wow!

A little (lot) late, but I'm glad to read it now...

I don't think it will make a huge difference, but maybe? Who knows who it may influence...