When Rick Warren's colleagues in Uganda crafted a new law that carries the death penalty for gay people with HIV, the pastor was silent. Under pressure, he finally speaks.
By Adele Stan, AlterNet
Posted on December 10, 2009, Printed on December 11, 2009
http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/www.alternet.org/144495/
SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO
When Sarah Posner of Religion Dispatches called Pastor Rick Warren for comment on Uganda's homicidal anti-gay law, Warren's spokesman issued a statement from the pastor saying that he had no position or comment on the proposed law. But with criticism mounting, Warren recorded a video in which he decries the Ugandan legislation.
In a video message addressed to "the pastors of the churches of Uganda," Warren says of the law, that he "completely oppose[s]" and "vigorously condemn[s]" it. He goes on to say, "[T]he potential law before your parliament is unjust, it's extreme, and it's un-Christian toward homosexuals..."
Warren is pastor of Saddleback Church, an evangelical megachurch in California, and author of the best-selling book, The Purpose-Driven Life.
As Bruce Wilson reported for AlterNet, the Ugandan proposal calls for the execution of people engaged in certain acts of gay sex, as well as for anyone with HIV who has sex of any kind. The bill also calls for life imprisonment for "homosexuals" -- a punishment already available to prosecutors under current Ugandan law.
Advocates of the legislation include Anglican Archbishop Henry Orombi, who, Posner reports, was instrumental in bringing Warren to Uganda to anoint the African country as a "purpose-driven nation," and Pastor Martin Ssempa, a former ally of Warren's with whom the California preacher says he severed ties two years ago.
Warren associate C. Peter Wagner, who served as Warren's advisor on the latter's doctoral thesis, is also affiliated with the Ugandan churchmen pushing for the law, according to a report by Political Research Associates, a watchdog group. And Warren himself has been involved in pushing California's anti-gay Proposition 8 ballot measure, which he later denied doing, despite the video evidence.
While mainstream media soft-pedaled or ignored Warren's connection to the Ugandans pushing the "kill the gays" law, Posner, Wilson, PRA and Truth Wins Out, an LGBT group that seeks to bust the "ex-gay" myth, stayed on the story, apparently causing Warren to relent and issue today's video.
However, Warren couldn't help but take a swipe at Posner, PRA, Rachel Maddow and others who have been badgering him to make what could be life-saving statement about the law. "[B]ecause I didn't rush to make a public statement, some erroneously concluded that I supported this terrible bill," Warren tells the Ugandan pastors. "And some even claimed that I was a sponsor of the bill." In opening sentences of the video, Warren complains of "lies and errors and false reports" by those who linked his name to the Ugandan clerics who have advanced the bill.
At RD, Posner notes that it took Warren more than a month after the first reports of the anti-gay bill circulated in the U.S. to get around to condemning the bill. (On Thanksgiving weekend, Warren appeared on NBC's "Meet the Press," and neither spoke about the bill -- nor was he asked about it.)
VIDEO AND TRANSCRIPT AFTER THE JUMP
Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, issued this statement:
We applaud Rick Warren for speaking out with force and clarity on a bill that would lead to the persecution and prosecution of gay and lesbian Ugandans. Today, Warren showed true moral courage and stood for what is right and just. We urge other leading pastors and world leaders to stand up and condemn Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Rick Warren's video address to the pastors of Uganda. A transcript of the message appears below the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jmGu9o4fDE
Transcript: Rick Warren's message to the pastors of Uganda, December 10, 2009
We're all familiar with Edmund Burke's insight that all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. And that's why I'm sharing my heart with you today. As an American pastor, it's not my role to interfere with the politics of other nations.
But it is my role to speak out on moral issues. And it is my role to shepherd other pastors who look to me for guidance. And it is my role to correct lies and errors and false reports when others associate my name with a law that I had nothing to do with, I completely oppose, and I vigorously condemn. I'm referring to the pending law under consideration by the Ugandan Parliament known as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.
Now, as a pastor, I've found that the most effective way to build consensus for social change is usually through direct , quiet diplomacy and behind-the-scenes dialogue, rather than through the media. But because I didn't rush to make a public statement, some erroneously concluded that I supported this terrible bill. And some even claimed that I was a sponsor of the bill. Now, you in Uganda know that's untrue. I'm releasing this video to you and your congregations to correct these untruths and, in addition, to urge you to make a positive difference at this critical point in your nation.
Now, we could never deny or water down what God's word clearly says and teaches about sexuality. At the same time, the church must stand to protect the dignity of all individuals, just as Jesus did, and he commanded all of us to do. Now, let me be clear: God's word states that all sex outside of marriage is not what God intends. And Jesus reaffirmed what Moses wrote, that marriage is intended to be one man and one woman, committed to each other for life. Jesus also taught, though, that the greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves. And since God created all, and Jesus suffered and died for all, then we are to treat all with respect.
The Great Commandment has been the centerpiece of my life and my ministry for over 35 years. Now, of course, there are thousands of evil laws enacted all around the world, and I can't speak to pastors about every single one of them. But I am taking this extraordinary step of speaking to you, the pastors of Uganda and the spiritual leaders of your nation, for five reasons.
First, the potential law before your parliament is unjust, it's extreme, and it's un-Christian toward homosexuals, requiring death penalty even in some cases. And if I'm reading the proposed bill correctly, this law would also imprison anyone convicted of homosexual practice.
Second, the law would force pastors to report their pastoral conversations with homosexuals to authorities.
Third, it would have a chilling effect on your ministry to the hurting. And, as you know and I know, it's the churches that are bearing the primary burden of providing care for people infected with HIV and AIDS. If this bill passed, homosexuals who are HIV-positive will be reluctant to seek or receive care and comfort and compassion from our churchesout of fear of being reported. You and I know that the churches of Uganda are the truly caring communities where people receive hope and help, not condemnation. You know that.
Fourth, all life, no mattter how humble or broken, whether unborn or dying, is precious to God. My wife, Kay, and I have devoted our entire lives and our ministry to saving lives -- to saving the lives of people, including homosexuals, who are HIV-positive. It would be inconsistent to save some lives, and wish death on others. You see, we aren't just pro-life; we're whole-life.
Finally, the freedom to make moral choices and our right to free expression are gives endowed by God, our creator. And Uganda is a democratic country with a remarkable and wise people. And in a democracy, everybody has a right to speak up.
For these five reasons, I urge you to speak up. The pastors of Uganda: Speak out against this proposed law. My role, and the role of the P.E.A.C.E. plan -- in Uganda or any other country -- is always pastoral, never political. I vigorously oppose anything which hinders the goals of our P.E.A.C.E. plan, which is P-E-A-C-E: Promoting reconciliation, Equipping ethical leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick and Educating the next generation -- which, by the way, includes the protection of children.
You need to know that the people of Uganda are in my constant prayers. And this Christmas season, I pray that you will experience the three purposes of Christmas, as announced by the angel at the very first Christmas, the birth of Christ. Do you remember the first thing the angel said? "I bring you good news of great joy." Christmas is a time for celebration. Jesus is the good news for the whole world. And God came to earth to be with us.
Then the angel said, "For unto ye this day is born a savior, who is Christ, the lord." Christmas is a time not just for celebration, but for salvation. He sent a savior, and if we did not need a savior, believe me, God would not have wasted the time to send one.
Finally, the angel said, "Peace on Earth, good will toward men." Christmas is a time for reconciliation.
Celebration, salvation, reconciliation. The message of Christmas is good cheer, good news and good will for the whole world. It's my prayer that the churches and the people of Uganda will experience all three of these this Christmas season.
May God bless you, and may God bless the nation of Uganda.
UPDATE: Sarah Posner has more on this at Religion Dispatches.
Adele M. Stan is AlterNet's Washington bureau chief.
No comments:
Post a Comment