Falwell Defends Choice of McCain as Graduation Speaker at Liberty Univ.
by Jim Brown
March 31, 2006
(AgapePress) - - Dr. Jerry Falwell is defending his decision to invite Arizona Senator John McCain to speak at Liberty University's spring commencement ceremony. McCain will make his first ever appearance at the Lynchburg, Virginia, school when he delivers the Christian university's commencement address on May 13.The invitation from Liberty Chancellor Jerry Falwell may come as a surprise to some conservatives, considering McCain's past opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment, his support for embryonic stem-cell research, and his recent cameo appearance on the raunchy, nudity-filled movie Wedding Crashers. But Dr. Falwell said he wanted to invite a "dominant Christian leader of the free world."
"There are several very good pro-life, pro-family candidates who are vying for the White House, and I thought I would invite one of them who's an American hero, a military hero, who's a U.S. Senator, and who, very frankly, is at the moment the frontrunner," Falwell explains. "That doesn't mean we're endorsing Senator McCain, but it does mean we're taking a very close look."
According to Dr. Falwell, Senator McCain assured him during a telephone conversation earlier this week that if federal courts were to toss out state amendments protecting traditional marriage, he would be "a champion and a leader" for a Federal Marriage Amendment.
The well-known evangelist admits he has had some political differences with the Arizona senator over the years, but that that does not preclude his coming to Liberty University. "I have known him for quite some time," Falwell shares, "but I had an extended conversation with him several months ago in his office, and he told me of his commitment to Jesus Christ and his desire at this stage of his life to honor the Lord."
Past graduation speakers at Liberty include both Presidents Bush, Dr. Billy Graham, Karl Rove, and Sean Hannity. Speaking at the baccalaureate service the evening before this year's graduation will be Christian conservative leader and former presidential candidate Gary Bauer.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
