Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelist Association were awarded $109,927 earlier this week after a long-awaited ruling in connection to a case of wrongful discrimination.
As per reports, Graham was set to appear at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland as part of his “God Loves You” tour, only for the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) canceled it.
The SSE is said to have harbored concerns that Graham would be outspoken about a number of topics including homosexual marriage, homosexuality in general, and Islam.
Sheriff John McCormick’s spoke at Monday’s ruling and said: “The concern is expressed that there is the potential for Mr. Graham to make homophobic and Islamophobic comments. I found no evidence to that effect.”
He added: “The defender’s true problem with the pursuer arises as a result of the religious views of Franklin Graham, which it has sought to categorise by wrenching selected comments made in the past whilst conveniently ignoring contrary comments also made by Franklin Graham.”
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McCormick went on to state that he believed the fears raised by the SEC were little more than a “thinly veiled exercise in virtue signaling”.
In his 280-page opinion, McCormick wrote: “The Equality Act 2010 applies to all, equally. It is an act designed to protect cornerstone rights and freedoms within a pluralist society. It applies to the LGBTQ+ community as it does to those of religion, (including Christianity) and none.”
“The law cannot endorse an outcome whereby a mainstream Christian religious gathering cannot be held because some members of the community, however vehemently, disagree with religiously based beliefs to which they take objection,” he said.
“Such objectors in a democratic society undoubtedly have a right to freedom of expression and of assembly to protest against other’s religious views.
“What they do not have is a right to silence them or to stop religious assemblies from being held and from making welcome all who would come and hear the Good news preached by Franklin Graham at the Glasgow SSE Hydro Event,” McCormick said.
Franklin Graham himself, meanwhile, responded to the ruling by expressing his thanks and gratitude to God.
“I am grateful to God for this decision — it is a clear victory for freedom of speech and religion in the U.K. This case was never about financial remedies — it was about the preservation of religious freedom in the U.K. — particularly the right for Christians to share the Gospel in the public square,” he said.
“I want to thank Sheriff John McCormick for upholding the law and affirming that Christians must be treated fairly and equally. This ruling will be a great encouragement for Christians and people of all faiths across the U.K. and many other parts of the world.”
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