The focus: Relationships between Russians and Franklin Graham, who, among other things, met with Vladimir Putin in 2015.
Let’s unpack. religionnews.com/2018/08/07/the…
We just haven’t done a great job of putting them all in one place.
But that’s why I’m here! (Also I got some new info as well!)
First, it’s important to understand that while the Russian Orthodox Church isn’t an arm of the Russian govt per se, they’ve been working in tandem with them for YEARS, helping spread Russian influence abroad —> nytimes.com/2016/09/14/wor…
He also reportedly met with…George W. Bush? christiancentury.org/article/featur…
Franklin Graham offered praise of Putin in an op-ed, specifically regarding his stance on LGBTQ issues. billygraham.org/decision-magaz…
Hilarion mentioned this meeting in his condolence letter when Graham died earlier this year. mospat.ru/en/2018/02/22/…
That doesn’t happen, and the summit itself gets moved to the U.S. in 2017 in response to Russia, in an ironic twist, cracking down on evangelization.
Participants later dined at the Trump International Hotel —> theintercept.com/2017/05/16/mik…
As such, we shouldn’t be surprised to learn that evangelical/religious groups may have been exploited. religionnews.com/2018/08/07/the…
Read more here: religionnews.com/2018/08/07/the…