Franklin Graham is an "apostle of hatred," according to one United Methodist minister.
Graham, the son of evangelist Billy Graham and current president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), has been particularly outspoken on issues of homosexuality and Islam.
Rev William E Alberts, writing on Counterpunch, accused Graham of doing everything he could to avoid dialogues with Muslims and correct any misconceptions around Islam.
He was referring to Graham's refusal to repeated requests by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) for a dialogue on the Islamic religion.
In a press release dated December 11, CAIR said that its Executive Director Nihad Awad had repeatedly requested a meeting with Graham so he "could be offered accurate and balanced information about Islam." However, the BGEA president did not respond to the requests, CAIR's statement said.
CAIR sought the dialogue after receiving a number of complaints from concerned Muslims about an appearance by Graham on CNN in which he made a number of assertions, including that Islam is a violent religion.
During the interview, Graham said: "We have many Muslims that live in this country. But true Islam cannot be practised in this country. You can't beat your wife. You cannot murder your children if you think they've committed adultery or something like that, which they do practice in these other countries... I don't agree with the teachings of Islam and I find it to be a very violent religion."
CAIR's desire to meet Graham goes back to 2001, the same year as the 9/11 attacks, and comments the evangelical leader made against Islam during a chapel dedication in North Carolina.
"We're not attacking Islam but Islam has attacked us. The God of Islam is not the same God... It's a different God, and I believe it is a very evil and wicked religion," Graham said at the time.
In his Counterpunch article, Rev Alberts also accused Graham of inciting hatred against Islam.
"Rev Graham would have everyone believe numerous other violent characteristics he attributes to Islam," Alberts wrote.
He continued: "This apostle of hatred seems bent on avoiding any dialogue with Muslim leaders that would correct misconceptions and create understanding and unity."
