Warren further belittles gay people; Denies meaning what he’s saying; Blames God and media [video]
”I have been accused of equating gay partnerships with incest and pedophilia…. I believe no such thing. I never have…. You know I believe that God created sex exclusively for sex between a man and a woman. That means I don’t believe in pre-marital sex, I don’t believe in adultery. I believe that God created sex exclusively to be a marriage connection between a man and a woman. But I never taught that homosexuality is the same thing as a forced relationship between an adult and a child, or a — you know, uh, between siblings — things like that. I just never taught that in 30 years…. I’m not opposed to gays having their partnerships. I’m opposed to gays using the term ‘marriage’ for their relationship…. I named several other relationship, and in fact, I’ve done it several times…. such as living together, or a man with multilple wives or brothers and sisters, or adults with children, or commonlaw partnerships or all kinds of relationships. I don’t think any of them should be called marriage. I was not saying those relationships are the same thing…. I believe the definition of marriage should only be included [sic] one definition: A man and a woman for life. It is not an anti-gay view…. Gay partnerships are typically between consenting adults. While I believe that the gay view of sexuality is contrary to God’s word, I do believe that God gives us free choice. And he gives us a choice to obey it or disobey it…. I believe, I must give everybody else that same freedom of choice. And I’m opposed to forcing people to act the way I believe that I ought to act. That’s not what it’s about. Its what I believe God wants me to act, and it’s the way I believe God wants other people to act. But God’s given me the choice, and there’s been times that I didn’t act the way God wanted me to act. Now I believe that God says I must love everybody…. I have to love everybody, regardless of the choice they make…. Not only God, but America gives us this great freedom to make choices, and so I simply believe that while we’re all free to make choices, I think gays should use another term — for their — consenting adult relationships or partnerships. I oppose the redefinition of the meaning of marriage.”
Rick Warren of the Saddleback Church in a “inside” video released for members of his church. He appears to be trying to qualify his earlier statements where he repeatedly and intentionally made comparisons of same-sex marriage to old men and children and brothers and sisters. President-elect Barack Obama has chosen Warren to be part of his Inauguration in January, and that has set off a storm of criticism of both him an Warren for their anti-gay marriage beliefs. Warren here denies, in nuanced terms, that he meant what he said, and instead blames bloggers and the media for creating conflict in the interest of crafting a story that he says is not what he believes. Then he repeats exactly the same thing, and adds in that gay sex is a choice against God’s word. In this latest I-love-gays-too foray, Warren never mentions once that gay relationships are due any respect, legitimacy or benefits under the law. (JoeMyGod)
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