Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me Stephen Sacker. My guest today was raised in the family

business and has gone on to lead it. That business is preaching, spreading the word of God in America and

beyond. And in the world of Christian evangelism, no clan is more powerful than that of the Graham's. Billy, the father,

was raised on a farm in North Carolina and became the rock star of evangelism, addressing huge crowds

across five decades, consorting with presidents and prime ministers and creating an outreach organization which his son,

my guest today, Franklin Graham, now leads. Unlike his father, Franklin hasn't tried to sidestep

political involvement. His strong anti-abortion and anti-gay marriage views have seen him ally

himself with America's conservative right.

He's been a staunch defender of Donald Trump.

And now, with the U.S. facing a divisive battle over the future of abortion rights

and an intensifying culture war between social conservatives and progressives, Franklin Graham has a choice to make.

How deep into the political fray is this preacher man prepared to tread? Well, he joins me now.

Franklin Graham, welcome to hard talk. Thank you. Your family name is synonymous with preaching, with evangelism. You've been at it

for what, four decades and more. As you look at your own country, America today, how do you

feel about its moral and spiritual health? I think morally, no question our nation is in great decline. The world is

morally. And it's one of these things that we see, but we don't get discouraged. We keep

preaching the truth. And the truth is that God loves us, that he cares for us, that he sent his son from

heaven to this earth to take our sins. He didn't come to condemn us, he came to save us. And

this is a message that we preach to every generation. Why are you so convinced that you are

living through an era of moral decline?

I just watch the news and you see the moral decline all around us. Of course, our church

attendance is down, but that's one thing. But we see things, issues like abortion in our

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