Franklin
Graham said President Obama has “shaken his fist” at God
by announcing his support for same-sex marriage.
On Wednesday, Obama voiced
his support for same-sex marriage, saying he was taking a
personal position on the issue.
"I have hesitated on gay
marriage in part because I thought that civil unions would
be sufficient," Obama said in the interview with ABC. He
added, "I was sensitive to the fact that for a lot of
people the word 'marriage' was something that evokes very
powerful traditions, religious beliefs and so forth."
Now, he said, "it is
important for me personally to go ahead and affirm that
same-sex couples should be able to get married."
Franklin Graham, president
and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association,
issued a statement Thursday about the president’s
decision.
It said, in part, “In
changing his position from that of Senator/candidate
Obama, President Obama has, in my view, shaken his fist at
the same God who created and defined marriage. It grieves
me that our president would now affirm same-sex marriage,
though I believe it grieves God even more.”
Graham also said: “While
the move to pass amendments defining marriage is
relatively new, the definition of marriage is 8,000 years
old and was defined not by man, but by God himself.” To
read Graham's full statement,
click here.
Aides to Obama said the
president's shift would have no impact on current policies
and he continues to believe that marriage is an issue best
decided by states.
Obama’s announcement came
the day after voters in North Carolina passed a
constitutional amendment to define marriage as being only
between one man and one woman.