Rick Warren prays for Obama
LONG BEACH, Calif. - The first openly gay member of Congress said Sunday it was a mistake for President-elect Barack Obama to invite evangelical pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration.
"Mr. Warren compared same-sex couples to incest. I found that deeply offensive and unfair," Rep. Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, said in a broadcast interview.
"If he was inviting the Rev. Warren to participate in a forum and to make a speech, that would be a good thing," Frank said. "But being singled out to give the prayer at the inauguration is a high honor. It has traditionally given as a mark of great respect. And, yes, I think it was wrong to single him out for this mark of respect."
Under fire for opposing gay marriage, influential evangelical pastor Warren said Saturday that he loves Muslims, people of other religions, Republicans and Democrats, and he also loves "gays and straights."
Says it's OK to disagree
The 54-year-old pastor and founder of Saddleback Church in Southern California told the crowd of 500 that it's unrealistic to expect everyone to agree on everything all the time.
"You don't have to see eye to eye to walk hand in hand," said Warren.
Warren also defended President-elect Barack Obama's invitation that he give the invocation at the Jan. 20 inauguration in the keynote speech he delivered at the Muslim Public Affairs Council's annual convention in Long Beach.
Obama's choice of Warren earlier this week sparked outcry from gay rights and other liberal groups, who said choosing such an outspoken opponent of gay marriage was tantamount to endorsing bigotry.
"Three years ago I took enormous heat for inviting Barack Obama to my church because some of his views don't agree (with mine)," he said. "Now he's invited me."
Warren said he prays for the same things for Obama that he prays for himself: integrity, humility and generosity.
Obama defends 'wide range of view points'
Obama defended his choice on Thursday, saying that he has also invited Joseph Lowery, a Methodist minister and civil rights leader who supports same-sex marriage and gay rights, to deliver the benediction.
"During the course of the entire inaugural festivities, there are going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented. And that's how it should be, because that's what America's about. That's part of the magic of this country ... we are diverse and noisy and opinionated," Obama said.
Toward the end of his speech on Saturday, Warren also talked about singer Melissa Ethridge, who performed earlier in the evening. Warren said the two had a "wonderful conversation" and that he is a huge fan who has all her albums.
The openly lesbian gay rights activist even agreed to sign her Christmas album for him, he said.
Warren gained a prominent role in the presidential election in August when he hosted the Civil Forum on the Presidency, a two-hour televised show in which he interviewed Obama and his Republican opponent John McCain for an hour each on faith and moral issues.
Kudos from some liberal quarters
Warren has won kudos from some liberal quarters by focusing less on traditional conservative issues such as abortion and gay rights, and instead calling on evangelical leaders to devote more attention to eradicating poverty, fighting AIDS in Africa, expanding educational opportunity for the marginalized, and global warming.
But the preacher ignited the ire of many liberals when he publicly supported California's Proposition 8, which amended the state Constitution to ban gay marriage.
Although Warren has said that he has nothing personally against gays, he has condemned same-sex marriage.
"I have many gay friends. I've eaten dinner in gay homes. No church has probably done more for people with AIDS than Saddleback Church," he said in a recent interview with BeliefNet. But later in the interview, he compared the "redefinition of marriage" to include gay marriage to legitimizing incest, child abuse, and polygamy.
Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1980 in Lake Forest, about 65 miles southeast of Los Angeles. He is the author of numerous Christian books, including "The Purpose Driven Life," which has sold more than 20 million copies.
Source: AP
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Rick Warren is happy for Obama? What a joke. it's a shame he can't say the same for America. Rick is nothing less than a religious politician--always trying to ride the fence. His knowledge of the Bible is shockingly shallow and his hunger for recognition is abominable. I have no respect for Rick Warren. He not anything like a prophet who spoke for God, he's a used car salesman who just wants to be popular. Rick, get out of the ministry and do God a favor.
JediCaptian 9 months ago
[8] But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death
WSDMM1 1 year ago
"then don't practice homosexuality openly", what...who are you talking to...and who is taking away your rights?
placidwaves 2 years ago
Rick Warren wishes Obama well because Rick Warren is an idiot
fullgospelpreacher 2 years ago
Indeed. President Obama seems incredibly humble. Not the least sign of the arrogance we saw in Bush.
JodaSFU 3 years ago 2
you proved what you know by your own comment. I know the history. You don't you confessed it by making that same old ignorant remark that every liberal makes that doesn't know government and history:
"we got something called separation of church and state"
You make the ORIGINAL patriots ashamed that they died for this country.
nodoubt257 3 years ago
nodoubt257, why are so you so abhorrently ignorant to both history and facts, and then trying to assert that I am the one that does not know the meaning of separation of church and state.
Please educate yourself nodoubt257, because your making an ass of yourself.
placidwaves 3 years ago
The phrase separation of church and state is generally traced to the letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1802 to the Danbury Baptists, in which he referred to the First Amendment to the United States Constitution as creating a "wall of separation" between church and state.[3] The phrase was then quoted by the United States Supreme Court first in 1878,[4] and then in a series of cases starting in 1948.[5] This led to increased popular and political discussion of the concept.
placidwaves 3 years ago
Go study that "separation of church and state." You're clueless as to what it means.
nodoubt257 3 years ago 2
So i must ask again, nodoubt257, "Are you dense?"
placidwaves 3 years ago