CORRECTION: the initial publication of this article said that Rick Warren supported the Ugandan anti-gay bill. This is incorrect. Warren actually spoke strongly against this bill. His statement has been included.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has again stepped forward as the key Administration official supporting the cause of gay rights. Clinton continues to press her point that GLBT rights are human rights, and on Monday called gay rights the "new frontier" of human rights. Giving a speech at Georgetown University, Secretary Clinton said, "So it is clear that across the world this is a new frontier in the minds of many people about how we protect the LGBT community, but it is at the top of our list because we see many instances where there is a very serious assault on the physical safety and an increasing effort to marginalize people. And we think it’s important for the United States to stand against that and to enlist others to join us in doing so." Clinton specifically called out Uganda, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and Nigeria as having committed "serious" human rights violations against the GLBT community.
The Ugandan legislature is currently considering passing a bill, that if signed into law, would criminalize homosexuality, up to and including the death penalty. Clinton was the first senior US official to speak against the bill. Four days later the White House issued a statement specifically condemning the bill, saying, "The president strongly opposes efforts, such as the draft law pending in Uganda, that would criminalize homosexuality and move against the tide of history."
Notably, Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), a leading conservative in Congress also made a strong statement against the bill. Coburn said, "Over the past two decades, political, religious, and community leaders in Uganda have united to promote a rare, winning strategy against HIV that addresses the unique and common risks of every segment of society. Sadly, some who oppose Uganda’s common-sense ABC strategy are using an absurd proposal to execute gays to undermine this coalition and winning strategy. Officials in Uganda should come to their senses and take whatever steps are necessary to withdraw this proposal that will do nothing but harm a winning strategy that is saving lives.”
Controversial pastor Rick Warren also spoke against the bill, saying, "As an American pastor, it is not my role to interfere with the politics of other nations, but it IS my role to speak out on moral issues. It is my role to shepherd other pastors who look to me for guidance, and it is my role to correct lies, errors, and false reports when others associate my name with a law that I had nothing to do with, completely oppose, and vigorously condemn. I am referring to the pending law under consideration by the Ugandan Parliament, known as the Anti-Homosexuality Bill...
"I am taking the extraordinary step of speaking to you -- the pastors of Uganda and spiritual leaders of your nation -- for five reasons: First, the potential law is unjust, extreme and un-Christian toward homosexuals, requiring the death penalty in some cases. If I am 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 affect on your ministry to the hurting. As you know, in Africa, it is the churches that are bearing the primary burden of providing care for people infected with HIV/AIDS. If this bill passed, homosexuals who are HIV positive will be reluctant to seek or receive care, comfort and compassion from our churches out 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. Fourth, ALL life, no matter how humble or broken, whether unborn or dying, is precious to God. My wife Kay and I have devoted our lives and our ministry 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. We're not just pro-life. We are whole life."
Comments
errr.. I think Warren is on record as being against the Ugandan bill... that's what he says in your link.
When I hear Hillary Clinton speak, her vision of a better world for all--moves me to to the deepest parts of my soul. I applaud her; I thank her; and I and am humbled as a Human being to be her contemporary.
Something people should be prosecuted for.Its immoral and shameful. Religion should be brought back into government and upholding the values of it. Gays would be stoned and banned from society. Put em on an Island and let nature take its course.Its going against nature.Its a genetic defect just as obesity.I guarantee youll find genes different in gays than straight people. What about a straight pride parade. if gays can do it so can we. Quote someone saying "God made Adam and Eve" not Adam and Steve. Its a psychological problem and should be catergorized the same as a schizophrenia.
Activist must be a Christian with that attitude -- punishing the "sick," killing people in the name of righteousness, marginalizing and castigating his fellow man for being born different than he perceives himself.
I'm sure -- as we approach the a celebration of the birth of Christ -- that the Prince of Peace, the All-Loving Spirit of Man, must agree with your sentiment, Activist. Judge not lest ye be judge, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us. You seem to have mastered it all. I guess you are without sin, to be able to cast that first stone. You are without a log in your own eye now that you can see the splinter in everyone else's. Congratulations on being better and more holy than everyone else, including Christ himself. It must be an awfully hard and lonely plight of yours to be so right as to know who should live and who should die. May we all bow down to your Divine Knowledge and weep at the revelation of your singular truth.
Funny the reply i recieved. Holy Bible. Leviticus 18:22 thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind : it is abomination. - actually id suggest reading all of chapter 18 of Levitucus because it teaches moral laws about sexual acts. As stated it Leviticus chapter 20. What happens to these people that commit these acts .Death for doing any gay acts. If you are christian and that is gay. You yourself are an abomination to God and will be cast in hell.
Activist, you are such a wonderful and knowledgeable person.
I'm glad you have defined that human beings are the ones who are to take the lives of gays, because that is not what my Holy Bible says. It just kind of says they're going be put to death, and since WE ARE ALL going to be put to death by God, I guess I misread what God intended.
Oh, Holy Activist, I'm sure you never ever ate a piece of bacon or ham, never touch a shrimp, oyster or crab. I'm sure you've never cut the hair at your temples. I'm sure you never said an unkind word about your mother and father. I'm sure you never committed adultery by looking at a woman in a lustful way. I'm sure you never had sex before you got married and have remained faithful. I'm sure you buy your slaves from the nations around you.
Leviticus says so many things which seem completely irrelevant to the Constitution freedoms of Americans. I'm so happy you have arrived to take us backward through thousands of years of civility.
Very good points to put out. Everyone ,you might as well say ,has done so much to offend god in some manor or another but wouldnt you think that instead of going against what belief is held so strongly to , again , uphold it too the standard which it has taught us or should we abolish it altogether.? If our world wasnt filled with falsified values and an entertainment center society with sex and violence portrayed and glorified infront of every single person with technology , it would be filled with the very people God wanted them to be in the first place. The point is to recognize the fault and correct. Not to continue. If you look into earlier cultures without , youll notice these values were already instituted within without debate.
A common point ahead. Wouldnt you think that bringing up a person debating has nothing to do with the topic.? Getting upset while your making a point and countering this with accusations is irrelevant. This is on Uganda also. Noone has a right to make their law but them. We should have no input on their policies. :) love the sarcasm . One scripture in the bible says not to keep times or observe. So technically , we all very well have done some disgrace.Unless it was speaking of astrology. Nasa too though. Very evil to the bible. On contrary , i am not christian. I like to debate different issues. I was bringing up the bible issue because , well , this would go against the bible to allow homosexuality.I have been fond of breaking barriers myself , even if hypocritical.
There is NO condemnation for all who are in Christ.
Anyone who undermines your faith by judging your sexuality of who you're attracted to is breaking Jesus' order to love one another as we love ourselves.
WHOSOEVER believes shall not perish - John 3:16
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!