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US Christian scholar Allan Carlson: Trump is the only option

Frank Suyak
September 2, 2020

US conservative Christian scholar Allan C. Carlson tells Conflict Zone there is no other option than Donald Trump in the next US election because of the president’s pro-life agenda.

https://p.dw.com/p/3huy3
US President Donald Trump announcing initiativee to protect religious freedom at United Nations, September 23, 2019, New York CIty.Image: Reuters/J. Ernst

Allan Carlson on Conflict Zone

"Donald Trump is a flawed human being, he's a flawed political leader, but he's the only option there is right now. And he's done a better job than I anticipated four years ago," says Allan C. Carlson, a conservative US Christian scholar.

Carlson founded the World Congress of Families (WCF) which has been categorized as a hate group for its anti-gay rights agenda. The group says it is trying to support what it calls the "natural family." Carlson says he’ll be supporting Donald Trump in the upcoming US election, despite his flaws.

"I don't consider that a selective morality, I think I'm quite clearly focused, but it's an imperfect world and you have to make hard choices in an imperfect world," he told Sebastian.
The WCF has worked closely with the Russian Orthodox Church and private Russian sponsors to advance its anti-LGBT agenda and influence legislation in Russia.

Russland Regenbogenfahne an der US-Botschaft in Moskau
LGBT pride banner at US Embassy in Moscow, 25 June 2020Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Maishev

The Southern Poverty Law Center calls the WCF a hate group.


Hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have reportedly doubled in Russia since the country’s anti-gay "propaganda" law was passed six years ago.
“The law in Russia … was focused on the protection of children. It did not authorize or encourage, in any direct or even indirect way, hate,” Carlson said.


The WCF even planned an event in Moscow for October 2014 funded by Russian sponsors. Carlson did not attend because of sanctions imposed on Russia after it invaded and annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea.

Proteste gegen Weltfamilienkongress in Verona
Protest against World Congress of Families event in Verona, Italy, 30 March 2019Image: picture-alliance/dpa/C.Martinelli


Carlson said he regretted the Russian invasion but stopped short of condemning it, saying he understood the historical situation in Crimea.

"One has to choose one's issues," Carlson said.

The conservative Christian scholar has written extensively on the modern family. The WCF, which is a coalition of conservative and far-right religious groups, has not only lobbied against LGBT rights but also condemns birth control, feminism and what it calls attacks against the "natural family."