Metro Weekly

Follow the fibber: Rick Warren backtracks, denies, then restates position against gay marriage and sex [video]

”I am not an anti-gay or anti-gay marriage activist. Never have been, never will be. During the whole Propositioin 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. The week before the vote, somebody in my church said, ‘Pastor Rick, what — 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 definition should be saved 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, I actually — there were a number of things put out. I — I wrote to all of my gay friends, the leaders that I knew and actually apologized to them. That never got out…. 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. Uh, 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…. I’m totally oblivious to [Iowa’s marriage decision] — that, that’s not even my agenda….”

”Oh, yeah. You know, I don’t think that the definition of marriage should be changed…. Yeah, I just 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. And, of course, everything I write hits the road…. No, no, in fact it’s very low [on my list of issues]. I’m working with a number of different gay organizations on issues that we care about in saving lives.”

Author Rick Warren appearing to contradict himself and his past statements on the CNN talk show hosted by Larry King. He was asked about the controversy that erupted when President-elect Obama requested him to deliver the invocation at the Innauguration. King then followed up by questioning Warren again about the fact that he encouraged his ”flock” to vote for the passage of Proposition 8. (Associated Baptist Press) (Larry King)


Just a few of Rick Warren’s past heterocentric, Evangelical declarations against legal and social equality for gay men and lesbians regarding marriage and sex … because God said so:

  • There is no reason to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2% of our population.
  • Now, here’s an interesting thing. Just — there are about 2% of Americans are homosexual — are gay, lesbian people. We should not let 2% of the population determine — to change the definition of marriage that has been supported by every single culture and every single religion for 5,000 years. This is not just a Christian issue, it’s a humanitarian and human issue that, uh, uh — God created marriage for the purpose of family, love and procreation. So, I urge you to support Proposition 8.
  • [What about partnerships benefits in terms of insurance and hospital visitation?] Not a problem with me. But the issue to me is — I’m not opposed to that as much as I’m opposed to the redefinition of a five thousand year definition of marriage. I’m opposed to having a brother and sister be together and call that marriage. I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that a marriage. I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives. [Do you think those are equivalent to gays getting married?] Oh, I do!
  • There were all kinds of threats, if [Proposition 8] did not pass, then any pastor could be considered doing ”hate speech” if he shared his views that he didn’t think that homosexuality was the most natural way for relationships. And that would be ”hate speech.”
  • Kay and I have given millions of dollars out of ”The Purpose Driven Life” — helping people who got AIDS through gay relationships so they can’t accuse me of homophobia.
  • I believe that God created sex exclusively for sex between a man and a woman.
  • I’m opposed to gays using the term ‘marriage’ for their relationship.
  • I believe that the gay view of sexuality is contrary to God’s word.
  • [If Proposition 8] hadn’t passed, the pain that it would have caused to far millions more, I think would be more severe.
  • No, [I would not change my position]. It doesn’t matter to me. We all have biological predispositions…. And you say ‘Because I have natural impulses toward the same sex, I shouldn’t have to reign them in.’ Well, I disagree.

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