Pentagon May Un-Invite Franklin Grahm -- April 22, 2010

Evangelist Franklin Graham has been invited to appear at the Pentagon on May 6 – the National Day of Prayer.  The invitation came from the National Day of Prayer Task Force which works with the chaplain’s office on the prayer event.

When word got out that Graham had been invited, the Military Religious Freedom Foundation raised an objection, citing the evangelist’s past comments about Islam.  After the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, Graham said Islam “is a very wicked and evil religion.”  In a later op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal, Graham wrote that he did not believe Muslims were evil because of their faith, but "as a minister ... I believe it is my responsibility to speak out against the terrible deeds that are committed as a result of Islamic teaching."

Mikey Weinstein, president of the Foundation, stated that Muslim employees at the Pentagon had been offended by the invitation. He also said that having Graham at the Pentagon would stir up Muslim extremists, putting US troops at greater risk.  He called for the invitation to be rescinded.

Colonel Tom Collins, spokesman for the military said that withdrawing the invitation is “on the table” but no decision has been made.  He said that neither Army Secretary John McHugh nor Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. was aware of the invitation but that Army brass would ultimately decide whether or not to let the invitation stand.

Even though the working relationship between the Task Force and the chaplain’s office has passed legal scrutiny at the Pentagon, Weinstein still protests, saying that the chaplains have effectively endorsed the task force by using its materials and routinely inviting its honorary chairman to speak at the Pentagon.

Speaking for the Army, Colonel Collins said “We are an all-inclusive military. We hold observances throughout the year. This one happens to be a Christian-themed event.”

Meanwhile, Task Force chairwoman Shirley Dobson, responded in a written statement that US leaders have called for a day of prayer during times of crisis, but the tradition is under attack.  She wrote “Enough is enough. We at the National Day of Prayer Task Force ask the American people to defend the right to pray in the Pentagon."

She called on President Barack Obama to appeal a ruling by a federal judge in Wisconsin last week that the National Day of Prayer was unconstitutional because it amounts to a call for religious action. The judge did not bar any observances until all appeals are exhausted.

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