Evangelist Franklin Graham has said the sexual harassment allegations brought against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein "sadden" him and are a sobering reminder that "our nation is in the moral decline."
On Facebook, the CEO of Samaritan's Purse said that some on the right are "expressing joy, almost glee" that the sexual exploits of Weinstein, a known liberal, are in the news.
"Some feel vindicated after the alleged allegations of misconduct of people on the right, like Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly," he said.
However, the scandal makes him feel anything but joyful, Graham said.
"I am saddened that our nation is in the moral decline that it is," he said. "The human heart-whether the person is on the right or the left-without Christ, we're all the same. The Bible tells us that the human heart is 'desperately wicked; who can know it.' What many people may call wrong or a mistake, the Bible calls sin and is clear that we are all guilty of sin."
Sin, Graham warned, has consequences.
"The Bible warns us that the penalty of sin is death," the evangelist said. "The Bible also warns us, 'Be sure your sin will find you out.' But God offered a sacrifice for sin, once for all-His Son, Jesus Christ, who went to the Cross for us. Everyone needs to examine their own heart. God will forgive anyone, if we truly repent and put our faith and trust in His Son."
As of Wednesday morning, at least 25 women have publicly described inappropriate conduct by Weinstein that spanned three decades.
Three women told The New Yorker, in an investigation published Tuesday, that the Hollywood mogul sexually assaulted them, and a number of actresses, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, told the New York Times that he sexually harassed them.
The Weinstein Company fired him and said it was "shocked and dismayed" by the "allegations of extreme sexual misconduct and sex assault" which came as "an utter surprise to the board." Weinstein's wife, designer Georgina Chapman, has said she is leaving him as a result of the allegations.
According to the BBC, Weinstein was a big donor to the Democratic party under former President Barack Obama's leadership, and the Obamas' eldest daughter Malia worked as an intern at The Weinstein Company in New York earlier this year.
In a statement, the Obamas said they were "disgusted by the recent reports about Harvey Weinstein" and added that they "celebrate the courage of women who have come forward".
Weinstein also donated to Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, and one fundraiser at his home in 2013 brought in more than $2 million.
On Twitter, Clinton said she was "shocked and appalled" by the revelations and said such behavior "cannot be tolerated."
