Billy Graham was a beloved Evangelical leader. He was a Christian crusader, and he founded Christianity Today decades ago. Generally, the Evangelical movement is lockstep with the Republican Party. After all, the GOP has claimed the mantle of Christianity as theirs and theirs alone ever since the socially conservative Religious Right gained power in their ranks. This is a movement that is responsible for extreme policies in the vein of being pro so-called “family values” -which is code for anti-LGBTQ, anti- choice, and racist. However, now that Donald Trump has been officially impeached by the United States House of Representatives, the magazine Graham founded has broken ranks with the GOP. Mark Galli, a columnist for Christianity Today, writes:
Let’s grant this to the president: The Democrats have had it out for him from day one, and therefore nearly everything they do is under a cloud of partisan suspicion. This has led many to suspect not only motives but facts in these recent impeachment hearings. And, no, Mr. Trump did not have a serious opportunity to offer his side of the story in the House hearings on impeachment.
But the facts in this instance are unambiguous: The president of the United States attempted to use his political power to coerce a foreign leader to harass and discredit one of the president’s political opponents. That is not only a violation of the Constitution; more importantly, it is profoundly immoral.
He goes on to point out just why so many Evangelicals still support this foul-mouthed, thrice-married serial adulterer despite the fact that Trump’s entire character goes against everything they have ever preached, but goes on to say that at this point this matters not, and that Trump must go:
Trump’s evangelical supporters have pointed to his Supreme Court nominees, his defense of religious liberty, and his stewardship of the economy, among other things, as achievements that justify their support of the president. We believe the impeachment hearings have made it absolutely clear, in a way the Mueller investigation did not, that President Trump has abused his authority for personal gain and betrayed his constitutional oath. The impeachment hearings have illuminated the president’s moral deficiencies for all to see. This damages the institution of the presidency, damages the reputation of our country, and damages both the spirit and the future of our people. None of the president’s positives can balance the moral and political danger we face under a leader of such grossly immoral character.
It remains to be seen if this article makes a dent in Trump’s Evangelical support. After all, if the GOP starts to lose its right-wing Christian base, the party will be effectively dead.
