The Rev. Rick Warren, pastor of
Saddleback Church and author of the best-selling book The Purpose
Driven Life, has reversed course on a proposed anti-gay bill in
Uganda.
In recent weeks, Warren has refused to
take a public stance on the legislation, which in one version would
have prescribed execution for gay men and lesbians if they are
HIV-positive or have a history of violating the law.
The legislation, which is favored for
passage, is supported by Martin Ssempa, a Uganda pastor who has made
appearances at Warren's Southern California megachurch. Warren
distanced himself from Ssempa in October after the relationship was
criticized, but refused to condemn the bill, saying “it is not my
personal calling as a pastor in America to comment or interfere in
the political process of other nations.”
But on Thursday, Warren released a
video statement to Ugandan church leaders where he said “it is
my role to speak out on moral issues,” and called the bill “unjust,
extreme and un-Christian toward homosexuals.”
“Because I didn't rush to make a
public statement some erroneously concluded that I supported this
terrible bill, and some even claimed I was a sponsor of the bill,”
he said. “You in Uganda know that this is untrue.”
“I oppose the criminalization of
homosexuality,” he added.
Warren has become a lightning rod for
criticism on anti-gay issues after he likened gay marriage to an
incestuous relationship and polygamy in an interview with
Beliefnet.com editor Steven Waldman and backed passage of Proposition
8, California's voter-approved gay marriage ban.
Despite a loud protest from gay
bloggers and activists, Warren gave the invocation prayer at
President Obama's inauguration in January.
While Warren condemns the bill in his
video message to Uganda's clergy, he also makes it clear that he
remains anti-gay: “We can never deny or water down what God's Word
clearly teaches about sexuality. Let me be clear that God's Word
states that all sex outside of marriage is not what God intends.”
And then adds, “at the same time, the church must stand to protect
the dignity of all individuals – as Jesus did and commanded all of
us to do.”