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Christian Allies Rally Behind Israel and Pro-Life Activist

2:02 PM ETConfirmed

Faith Desk

In Short: Franklin Graham topped the Israel Allies Foundation's list of top Christian allies for his support of Israel, while ADF International backs pro-life activist Isabel Vaughan-Spruce.

Franklin Graham, son of the late American evangelist Billy Graham, topped the fifth annual list of Israel’s top Christian Allies, recognized for his unwavering faith-based support for the Jewish state and humanitarian assistance during the yearlong war against Hamas in Gaza.

Graham expressed his commitment to Israel, stating, “It is a great honor to stand with Israel. This nation was brutally attacked and has every right to defend itself from those who want to wipe it off the face of the earth.”

Meanwhile, ADF International is supporting Isabel Vaughan-Spruce in her legal battle against the UK’s new abortion buffer zone law. The law prohibits “influencing any person’s decision to access, provide or facilitate abortion services” within 150 meters of abortion facilities.

Vaughan-Spruce, who was charged for standing outside an abortion facility and holding pro-life beliefs, said, “Despite being fully vindicated multiple times after being wrongfully arrested for my thoughts, it’s unbelievable that I have yet again been charged for standing in that public area, and holding pro-life beliefs. Silent prayer – or holding pro-life beliefs – cannot possibly be a crime. Everyone has the right to freedom of thought.”

ADF International’s legal counsel, Jeremiah Igunnubole, emphasized the importance of defending free speech, stating, “We all stand against harassment and abuse, but the ‘buffer zone’ law broadly bans ‘influence’ which is being interpreted by police officers to target innocent people who happen to stand in a certain place and believe a certain thing.”

The Israel Allies Foundation, founded a decade and a half ago, has emerged as a powerhouse in mobilizing support for Israel worldwide through faith-based diplomacy. Its network includes more than 50 pro-Israel parliamentary caucuses around the globe, based on shared Judeo-Christian values.

In Gaza, Pope Francis has been calling the priest and parishioners crammed into Gaza City's Holy Family Church daily to check on them during the past month of brutal fighting. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem also issued a statement on behalf of Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, expressing condolences to the families of those who died and to the Christian community in Gaza.

Father Gabriele, the parish priest, revealed that Pope Leo XIV sent a personal condolence message following an Israeli missile strike that killed five people, including a Christian mother and daughter. He said, “Of those 62 people, 25 have died violent deaths from bombardments or military snipers, and the majority died where they had taken refuge here, at Holy Family Church.”

What this adds

Background

What's confirmed

• “He was a pioneer of Christian television, but to me, he was my husband, my best friend, and the man I was honored to walk beside through so many seasons of life and ministry,” she said.
• They caught the attention of televangelist Pat Robertson, and in 1965 launched a children’s show on Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network.
• “Good morning, Father Gabriele. Ever since hearing the painful news about Maysa and Mary, I’ve been praying for them, their families, and everyone in Gaza. ‘How long, Lord?’” Pope Leo wrote, echoing a lament from Psalm 13.

What's still developing

• Vaughan-Spruce, with legal support from ADF International, sent numerous requests for clarification in proceeding months as to the status of her case, pointing out that the legislation does not function as a ban on her mere presence or on holding pro-life Christian beliefs.
• The coinciding of the release of the list with the start of the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, known as the Feast of Tabernacles, is symbolic to Bible-believing Christians who are inspired by Zechariah 14:16, which envisions a time when people from all nations will gather in Jerusalem to celebrate the holiday.
• Through parishes, schools, hospitals, and charitable works, Christians are called to “put the Gospel into practice” by welcoming and supporting those in need.
• Pope Leo XIV paid special tribute to the many Christians who have died as witnesses to the faith in these regions.
• “Thank you for standing by the parish and so many people who only want to live in peace. God bless, with a warm embrace,” he wrote to Father Gabriele.
• One required public-school classrooms to display copies of the Ten Commandments starting in September 2025. (An appeals court upheld that in April 2026, though a group of Texas parents are asking the Supreme Court to overturn the law.) The other required every Texas school district to vote on whether to establish periods of worship during the school day. (Interestingly, even in a deeply religious state where 67% of adults call themselves Christians, fewer than 25 of Texas’ 1,200+ school districts voted to dedicate class time to prayer and worship.
• You might think that someone like me — who subscribes to “traditional family values” and takes Scripture seriously — would be thrilled by efforts of the Texas Legislature and State Board of Education to make public schools Christian again.
• Christian Horner's interview with The Times during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend caused a stir in the Baku paddock, reigniting speculation over Fred Vasseur's long-term future as team principal at Ferrari.
• While Pope Francis has called for a ceasefire, Palestinian Christians express disappointment in the public comments of other Church leaders concerning the war, particularly the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, who is head of the Church of England and spiritual leader of the 85 million-strong Anglican Communion.
• Many from the small Christian community, which numbers about 1,000, instead took their families to stay in their churches, thinking they would be safe there, as they have been in previous rounds of fighting between Israel and Palestinian armed factions.
• Christian Emmanuel Sanon, a Florida pastor and dual Haitian American citizen who authorities said aspired to be Haiti’s president, was set to stand trial Monday in the next case to go before a jury.
• By 1966, he was hosting “The 700 Club,” a Christian talk show.

Sources

• ADF Internationallink
• israeltoday.co.illink
• Aleteialink
• Americamagazinelink
• Detroitcatholiclink
• Abcnewslink
• Religionnewslink
• Racingnews365link
• BBClink
• Haitiantimeslink
• Breitbartlink
• OSV Newslink
• Premierchristianitylink
• WarpBeat — background on Christian Allies Support Israel and Pro-Life Activist link
• WarpBeat — background on Christian Allies Rally Behind Israel and Pro-Life Activist link
• CBN News — video link