A VERY WICKED DECISION

[mburbank]

Pentagon Muslims Angered by Rev. Graham Invitation


By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Muslims at the Pentagon are incensed by what they say is an insensitive invitation to evangelist Rev. Franklin Graham, who has called Islam an "evil religion," to preach on Good Friday at the Defense Department.


In letters to the Pentagon chaplain's office, Muslim office workers complained strongly about Graham's plans to lead prayers on Friday, one of the most religious days in the Christian calendar.

The Muslim employees urged officials to find a "more inclusive and honorable" religious leader to replace Graham, son of the Rev. Billy Graham and head of a Minneapolis-based evangelist association in his father's name.

Army spokesman at the Pentagon, Lt. Col. Ryan Yantis, told Reuters on Tuesday that Graham was invited several months ago to deliver the homily at the Good Friday service and that the chaplain's office would not rescind the invitation.

"We are in a balancing act between accommodating the interests and requests of many faiths and we will do our utmost to keep that balance in mind in providing religious support to workers in the Pentagon," said Yantis.

Yantis said he was aware of a small group of Muslims working at the Pentagon who met the deputy chaplain last Friday to complain about comments made in the past by Graham.

"They asked that the Pentagon chaplain's office be mindful and take into consideration these sorts of things for future events and the deputy said he would certainly keep this in mind," said Yantis, who added a broad range of religious leaders had been guests at the Pentagon.

Criticism by Muslims at the Pentagon is embarrassing for the Bush administration, which has gone to great lengths to try to convince Arab nations the U.S. invasion of Iraq (news - web sites) was aimed at toppling Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and not at the Islamic faith.

Graham angered Muslims after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks when he called Islam a "very evil and wicked religion."



Two questions about this.

If Graham had called Judaism "A very wicked religion" do you think he'd still be invited?

Do you think they would invite Louis Faraquan to preach next Ramadan at the Pentagon.