Franklin Graham wins UK legal case, will preach in Northern England
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – US preacher Franklin Graham has won a UK legal case brought by British LGBT activists who accused him of promoting homophobia, and will now be able to hold an event in Sheffield, England in May, the BBC reports. The parties agreed to a confidential settlement, with no admission of liability on either side.
Son of Billy Graham, and CEO of humanitarian organization Samaritan’s Purse, Graham had been scheduled to preach in northern England’s Sheffield Arena in June last year, the BBC said. However, Sheffield City Council canceled after LGBT activists, as well as council members and religious leaders, objected to Graham’s event on account of his publically stated views on homosexuality and the protests and disruption the promotion of them may bring to the city.
The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) filed suit against Sheffield City Council for breach of contract, the BBC said. “There is no question that [the cancellation] was done under pressure from those with opposing views,” BGEA said in a statement. “This disregard for principles of good faith and fair dealing, based on the mere suggestion that a person’s sincerely-held religious views or statements are ‘hateful’ or would result in public disorder, should be very alarming to anyone who is genuinely concerned about diversity, inclusion, and tolerance, let alone free speech and the free exercise of religious beliefs.”
While Graham has publicly stated homosexuality is a sin, he “has ever caused a danger to public safety or incited public disorder,” the lawsuit stipulated. The June event has now been rescheduled for May 25.
“The parties are content that the dispute has been resolved and are content with the confidential terms agreed,” a Sheffield City Council spokesperson said in a statement Friday.
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