I'm assuming it's his belief in the love of the Lord Jesus Christ that gives Franklin Graham, son of Billy, a sense of optimism so strong (or blind) that he agrees to go on the BBC only to be repeatedly 'monstered' by BBC interviewers for his "inflammatory" and "offensive" views about Islam and same-sex marriage, and his 'closeness' to President Trump.
Edward Stourton's interview with this 'wrong-thinker' on today's Sunday was pretty much a carbon copy of Martin Bashir's interview with him on Sunday two years ago - an interview I described at the time as "a very chilly grilling".
Back then Martin Bashir went after Mr. Graham in the manner of a prosecution barrister, constantly invoking the "offence" Mr. Graham's words have caused to Muslims and LGBTQ people.
Franklin Graham was back in the BBC dock today, with Ed Stourton covering exactly the same ground: Does he stand by his post 9/11 statement that Islam is evil? Doesn't he realise how "inflammatory" that is? Does he understand the hurt caused by his view that same-sex marriage is Satanic in origin? Isn't he wrong to be so close to Donald Trump?
Ed interrupted the sinner at least 12 times, sprang 'gotchas' on him, and tried to get him to see the error of his ways and repent his past words.
Nonetheless, I bet Sunday are thinking themselves 'brave' to have interviewed him in the first place, as quite a few people didn't want the programme to 'platform' him at all.
