|
Excerpts from an Interview in Larry King Live on
Warren's stand on Gay ‘Marriage'
Irvine, CA: How did Pastor Rick Warren handle the
controversy that broke out when President elect Obama
hand picked him to give the invocation at the
Presidential inaugur ation? Warren was known as an
outspoken critic of gay "marriage" and a supporter of
Proposition 8 that was put to vote in state of
California state Obama's supporters were furious with
the President for his choice of an anti-gay pastor.
Warren appeared on Larry King Live. Here are excerpts
from this interview.
Warren: "There was a story within a story that never got
told. In the first place, I am not an anti-gay or
anti-gay marriage activist. I never have been, never
will be.”
Warren explained that, "During the whole Proposition 8
thing, I never once went to a meeting, never once issued
a statement, never -- never once even gave an
endorsement in the two years Prop 8 was going. Somebody
in my church said, "Pastor Rick, what do you think about
this?”
“And I sent a note to my own members that said, I
actually believe that marriage is really should be
defined, that that definition should be say between a
man and a woman. And then all of a sudden out of it,
they made me, you know, something that I really wasn't.
And actually there were a number of things that were put
out. I wrote to all my gay friends the leaders that I
knew and actually apologized to them. That never got
out.
“There were some things said that you know, everybody
should have 10 percent grace when they say public
statements. And I was asked a question that made it
sound like I Equated gay marriage with pedophilia or
incest, which I absolutely do not believe. And I
actually announced that. All of the criticism came from
people that didn't know me. Not a single criticism came
from any gay leader who knows me and knows that for
years, we've been working together on AIDS issues and
all these other things.”
Asked to comment on the Iowa court decision to permit
gay marriage, Warren replied: "I'm totally oblivious to
to what that's not even my agenda. My agenda is two
things.
"In, today (April 6) is the 15th anniversary of the
genocide in Rwanda. It's a national day of mourning,
which I as you know, I've been heavily involved in in
Rwanda and helping rebuild that nation and I'm very
concerned about that.
“And the second thing is, I'm interested in what the
recession is doing to the spiritual climate of our
nation. And as we start Easter week and Passover week,
which is a really big week for those of us who are Jews
or Christians, Passover and Easter, it's our biggest
week of the year. And it actually was the week that I
started Saddleback Church 30 years ago this Easter
Sunday.”
Did Warren talk to Obama after the inaugural? "No, I
haven't. I've talked to the White House staff several
times. I haven't talked to him. All I'm doing is trying
to keep my head down on the things that I've got to do.
And he's trying to keep his head down on all the things
he's got to do. And we certainly need to pray for the
president. I wouldn't want to be president during what's
happening right now," said Warren.
King asked Warren to clarify his stance on homo
sexuality. "Did you not encourage your flock to vote yes
on Proposition 8?" King questioned. Proposition 8 had to
do with abolishing gay marriage in California state.
“Oh, yes. You know, I don't think that the definition of
marriage should be changed.
"So you did ask your people who worship with you to vote
that way?”
"Yes. I just never campaigned...," said Warren. "I never
campaigned for it. I never I'm not an anti gay activist
never have been. Never participated in a single event. I
just simply made a note in a newsletter.
"It's not high on your road of issues?" King asked.
"No, no, it's very low. In fact, I am working with a
number of gay organizations on issues that we care
about, in saving lives," Warren replied.
Pastor Warren took several questions from people via
email while on the show. One of them asked him, "We
heard from somebody who said this, 'my son is gay, a
veteran, and I resent people like Rick Warren using the
Bible to tell my son who he can marry.
To this, Warren replied, "Well, it's not my opinion. As
a pastor, I just have to do what the Bible tells me to
do. And the way I interpret it, I believe that marriage
is between a man and a woman. And that's good for
society. That doesn't mean that people don't love each
other. It just means that marriage is for a man and a
woman.
Conclusion: Pastor Rick Warren does not personally
endorse gay marriage. He does not support any
governmental action that would redefine marriage.
However, he does not want to be seen as a crusader or
activist against gay marriage. In his church, he teaches
the Biblical position on marriage. He encouraged his
church to vote against gay marriage.
|
