In a public show of “fraternal correction,” celebrated evangelist Franklin Graham has called out Pope Francis for his remarks suggesting that Islamic terrorism is not religiously motivated.
Referring to the Pope’s recent remarks that the world is at war but it is not a war of religion, Graham begged to differ, posting on Facebook that “I disagree that it’s not a war of religion. It is most certainly a war of religion.”
Pope Francis has recently expressed his conviction that all religions seek peace, and that religious beliefs cannot possibly be the force driving Islamic terrorism. Rather than religion, the Pope pointed to economic inequalities and a misguided global economy as the dynamo behind jihadism.
In his rebuke of the Pope’s interpretation of Islamic terror, Rev. Graham said that religion “is behind the violence and jihad we’re seeing in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and here in this country.”
“It’s a religion that calls for the extermination of ‘infidels’ outside their faith, specifically Jews and Christians,” Graham said.
Alluding to the recent beheading of a Catholic priest in northern France by two jihadists, Graham underscored the explicit religious belief that moves Islamic terrorists to perpetrate their crimes.
“It’s a religion that calls on its soldiers to shout ‘Allahu Akbar’ (‘God is Great’ in Arabic) as they behead, rape, and murder in the name of Islam,” he said.
“Radical Islamists are following the teachings of the Quran. We should call it what it is,” Graham concluded.
Follow Thomas D. Williams on Twitter Follow @tdwilliamsrome
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