Adding his name to the growing list of religious conservatives who have praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for his recent attack on the rights of Russia's LGBT citizens, evangelist Franklin Graham — son of the legendary Billy Graham — recently wrote an op-ed (published right after Russia's invasion) praising Putin's anti-gay legislation and lamenting the fact that President Obama isn't similarly antagonistic toward the U.S. LGBT community.
Despite lauding Putin because "he took a stand ... simply to protect children," Graham writes that he is "not endorsing President Putin," whom he's heard is "ruthless" and "a modern version of a czar."
Instead of endorsing the Russian autocrat, Graham writes, his intention is to highlight the differences between how Russia and the U.S. treat their respective LGBT citizens. Russia, Graham believes, is doing a much better job of "protecting children from any homosexual agenda or propaganda" than is the United States.
"Isn’t it sad, though, that America’s own morality has fallen so far that on this issue," Graham writes, "Russia’s standard is higher than our own?"
"In my opinion," Graham continues, "Putin is right on these issues. Obviously, he may be wrong about many things, but he has taken a stand to protect his nation’s children from the damaging effects of any gay and lesbian agenda."
Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, on the other hand, "have turned their backs on God and His standards," a move Graham describes as "shameful."
"The world used to look to America for moral leadership," Graham muses. "But those days are long gone."
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