Influential evangelist the Rev. Franklin Graham is urging followers to keep "each of the Supreme Court justices" in their prayers as the high court considers the right of same-sex couples to marry anywhere in the United States.
In a
Facebook posting, he asked for special blessings for Justice Antonin Scalia.
Scalia, along with Justice Clarence Thomas, has been in dissent from the three major pro-gay rights decisions at the Supreme Court since 1996, all written by
Justice Anthony Kennedy.
"I’m encouraging you to join me in praying for each of the Supreme Court justices as they consider whether to make same-sex marriage the law of the land," Graham wrote on his Facebook page.
"Please pray for Justice Antonin Scalia, who was appointed to the court 29 years ago by President Reagan," wrote the son of
famed evangelist Billy Graham, who was a close friend of the late president.
"Pray the Lord will speak to his heart regarding the profound impact this decision will have on Bible-believing Christians in this country."
Within hours of the posting, nearly 86,000 people had "liked" the message from Graham, who also heads the international charity Samaritan's Purse.
The justices didn't tip their hand last month as they heard historic arguments over the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry, but it's believed
Kennedy's vote could decide the issue.
Another preacher who'll need no encouragement to join the prayer circle is
Mike Huckabee, who was in the pulpit for 12 years before he became governor of Arkansas.
Huckabee declared last month it was his "biblical duty" to pray for the Supreme Court justices as they weigh the case, adding in a talk with ministers, "I think it’s fair to say that Christian convictions are under attack as never before,"
Politico reported.
A decision by the Supreme Court is expected in late June.