Pope Francis' secret huddle with embattled Kentucky clerk Kim Davis signifies the Pontiff's strong belief that Christians must be protected from persecution at all levels, the Rev. Franklin Graham tells
Newsmax TV.
"I'm thrilled the Pope had this meeting and it sends a very strong signal that he supports religious freedom," Graham, the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham, said Wednesday to J.D. Hayworth and Miranda Khan on "Newsmax Prime."
"Christians need to be protected from these new laws that are coming out that are discriminating against … and forcing Christians to do things against their conscience and go against the teaching of the Bible."
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Davis — the center of national attention for her defiance of a court order to issue same-sex marriage licenses because of her religious beliefs — was granted a meeting with the Pontiff last week. Francis reportedly told her to "stay strong."
The cloak-and-dagger secrecy shrouding the meeting at the Vatican Embassy in Washington, D.C. was instituted to avoid a media frenzy,
according to Davis' lawyer.
Davis' defiance has triggered angry protests pitting religious fundamentalists against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender groups and others who support them.
Further explaining his support of Davis, Graham called homosexuality "a sin against God," but insisted he is not out to criticize gays and lesbians.
"I'm not here to bash you or anything like that, I'm just here to tell you the truth — that this is what the Bible teaches and all of us are sinners and I'm a sinner," he said.
"But we have to turn from our sins, repent, and believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and God will forgive our sins and he will heal our hearts.
"And for the Pope to meet with Kim Davis sends a very strong signal that he supports Kim Davis and what she was standing for and I'm glad he did that."
Asked if he's in favor of a government shutdown to support the defunding of Planned Parenthood — under fire for hidden-camera videos purportedly showing the sale of fetus body parts being discussed, Graham said:
"No, I don't support the government shutdown and this is the wrong way to go. We need new leadership that is more aggressive in getting these agendas through the House and through the Senate.
"But to shut down the government, that's failed every time people have tried to do that and it's the wrong way to go.
"We need to defund Planned Parenthood, but we don't need to be shutting down the government to try to do this. It's only going to backfire and hurt those that are behind that."
Graham, president and CEO of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, is on a promotional tour for his father's latest book,
"Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity, and Our Life Beyond," published by published by Thomas Nelson.
"My father was concerned that people's opinions about the afterlife today are shaped by television, movies, books that have been written, and he wanted to make sure that people got a look at what he Bible has to say, God's word," he said.
"So he starts his book really going to Genesis and going right though the Bible showing what God has to say about Heaven, about Hell.
"There's two paths, two choices that we make in life and my father wanted people to understand that Jesus Christ is the only way."
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