“We are also concerned that Rev. Graham’s comments can be used to encourage racism,” they stated in their letter. “We urge him to be mindful of the unprecedented verbal attacks on President Obama based on his race and be careful not to allow his own voice to be used to help drive such hateful words.

Franklin Graham responded on Tuesday to criticism from faith leaders in the NAACP who accused the evangelist of questioning President Obama’s Christianity.

“I regret any comments I have ever made which may have cast any doubt on the personal faith of our president, Mr. Obama,” he stated. “The president has said he is a Christian and I accept that (and have said so publicly on many occasions). I apologize to him and to any I have offended for not better articulating my reason for not supporting him in this election – for his faith has nothing to do with my consideration of him as a candidate.”

Graham went further to say he cannot and will not vote for Obama because of his positions on abortion and traditional marriage, which he found to be in “direct conflict with God’s standards as set forth in Scripture.” He also added that he would vote for any candidate, whether a Democrat or a Mormon, who supports traditional marriage.

A coalition of black ministers and the NAACP have blasted evangelist Franklin Graham for his comments that they felt called into question President Obama’s Christian faith. The NAACP issued an open letter on Tuesday denouncing Graham’s comments.

“As Christian denominational leaders, pastors, and, most importantly, followers of Jesus Christ; we are greatly troubled by recent attempts by some religious leaders to use faith as a political weapon,” the letter reads. “We were disturbed and disappointed by statements made by Rev. Franklin Graham during an interview on MSNBC that questioned whether President Obama is a Christian.”

Graham, the son of famed evangelist Billy Graham and the CEO of Samaritans Purse, was appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” last Tuesday when he was asked if he believed President Obama is a Christian.

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