UK MPs demand ban of U.S evangelist Franklin Graham

The opposition that includes pastors, says that the son of legendary evangelist Billy Graham has made homophobic and Islamophobic statements in the past and is “likely to promote prejudice and hatred.”

Graham’s three-day event, which ministry sources relate to the crusades once led by Billy Graham, “is expected take place with the blessing of more than 300 church leaders and members in England.”

But not all residents of the area are enthused about Graham coming to town, the Huffington Post reports, some have urged the U.K.’s home secretary Amber Rudd to ban the preacher from entering the country altogether.

The Guardian reports that Nina Parker, the pastor of Liberty church in Blackpool and the organiser of the petition, said: “As a Christian and as a leader of a church that particularly welcomes LGBT people, I’m horrified that other local churches are inviting someone with this record of hate speech.”

She said news of Graham’s visit had triggered an “enormous amount of protest from Christians in the north-west” of England, and his presence would be “extremely destructive in the area”.

The Guardian reports, two opponents of Graham’s visit, the Blackpool vicars Andrew Sage and Tracy Charnock, have written an open letter to the bishop of Blackburn, Julian Henderson, calling on him to distance himself from the US evangelist. “They say they are nervous about the damage the proposed visit will do to interfaith relations,” the media out let says.

Invited to comment on concerns raised about Graham’s statements on Islam and LGBT issues, a BGEA spokesperson told the Guardian the association was working in partnership with local churches and that “it will be a positive and encouraging event with music and also a message from Franklin Graham about the hope that can be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ.”