The Vatican always looks and plans way into the future, from 25, to 50, to 100 years in advance. After World War II, the Vatican had to pick and back an American champion who would be a friend, a man they would help put on a pedestal, who would be loved by everybody. God forbid that he should ever be a Martin Luther! This champion would woo and win the hearts of the American people, a biggie, a champion they would support. He could be used as the pied piper who would pull all the evangelicals into the arms of the pope. They wanted a man who would be a good speaker, a man with charisma who could pack stadiums; a man who would preach a gospel message, but on the soft side; one who would never attack the Vatican. And so when they found him, William Randolph Hearst, a good Roman Catholic publisher, used his newspaper chain to push Billy Graham to fame. For 30 years, Billy Graham spoke to multitudes and became greatly loved, respected, and imitated. When he preached, he was honored and men praised him. Yet when Jesus Christ preached, they killed Him. I often read the scripture: "Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." The newspapers never really blasted Billy Graham. Magazines said he was one of the world's most loved men. Somehow, I kept getting a "tilt" sign flashing in my mind. I've loved Billy, prayed for him and supported him. But I sensed something was wrong.

I was told that when Anita Bryant spoke out against homosexuals and asked for Billy's support, he turned her down. He played it cool. Anita Bryant took the heat and was persecuted for her stand, but not Billy. He was loved by the world for his position. Billy Graham began his ministry as a fundamentalist, and as time passed, he changed his position. Listen to this: In the Catholic Herald of June 3, 1966, Billy Graham is quoted as being a friend of the Jesuits in the United States. Here's another one: Dr. Billy Graham received an honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the Roman Catholic College, Belmont Abbey, in 1967. Billy noted the significance of the occasion by saying that this is "a time when Catholics and Protestants could meet together and greet each other as brothers, whereas 10 years ago, they could not." In April, 1972, Billy Graham received the International Franciscan Award in Minneapolis, given by the Franciscan Friars for true ecumenism. Before I quote what Billy Graham said about Francis of Assisi, first let me say this about St. Francis. He believed he was saved by works, by helping the poor. This way, he believed he was saving his soul. St. Francis was canonized, which means he was made a saint by the Roman Catholic Institution because of his strong position on the doctrine of works. Beloved, we know that this is unscriptural. Did you know that St. Francis of Assissi blessed and baptized animals and gave them Christian names? Now, what did Billy Graham say about this strange fellow? He said, "While I am not worthy to touch the shoe laces of St. Francis, yet this same Christ that called Francis in the 13th century also called me to be one of His servants in the 20th century."

When Billy Graham appeared on the Phil Donahue Show of October 11, 1979, in discussing Pope John Paul II's visit to the United States of America, Billy Graham said, "I think the American people are looking for a leader, a moral and spiritual leader that believes something. And he (meaning the pope) does. He didn't mince words on a single subject. As a matter of fact, his subject in Boston was really an evangelistic address in which he asked the people to come to Christ, to give their lives to Christ. "I said, 'Thank God I've got somebody to quote now with some real authority.*'" How tragic.