Joel Osteen of the Houston megachurch
Lakewood has said that he doesn't see “same-sex in the scripture.”
The 50-year-old Osteen, who is
currently pitching his new book I Declare, made his comments
during an appearance on CNN's The Lead.
“Where do you draw the line?” host
Jake Tapper asked. “Do you think that it's important for those
individuals who are in same-sex relationships to at least have the
same rights as more traditional couples?”
“It's a fine line,” Osteen
answered. “We're for everybody, but, of course, as a Christian
pastor my base is off what I believe the Scripture says. Marriage is
between a male and a female. But again, we're for everybody. But
that's where I draw the line.”
Tapper followed up by asking Osteen
whether he believes that gay couples should have access to some basic
rights.
“I think so. You know, I think we
have to be compassionate about it all. We're not against everybody.
And there are certainly people that love each other and I believe
they should have those rights. I just … you know, when I come back
to the Scripture, as much as I'm for everybody, I don't see same-sex
in the Scripture.” (The video is embedded on this page. Visit
our video library for more videos.)