Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Exodus 20:16
(paraphrased by InterstateQ!) Pastor Ric’s News & Views: Marriage Part 1
…what do you really believe about gay marriage? Let me just lay it out for you, my members. My views have not changed in 30 years. I’ve been accused of equating gay partnerships with incest and pedophilia. I believe no such thing. You’ve never heard me in 30 years talk like that.
I’ve in no way ever taught that homosexuality is the same as a forced relationship between an adult and child or between siblings. I’ve never taught that in 30 years. I understand why people think that because of a recent BeliefNet interview. In that interview I named several other relationships such as living together, a man with multiple wives, a brother and a sister relationship, adults with children or common-law relationships. I don’t think any of them should be called marriage. There should only be one definition: one man, one woman.
WARREN: The issue to me, I’m not opposed to that as much as I’m opposed to redefinition of a 5,000 year definition of marriage. I’m opposed to having a brother and sister being together and calling that marriage. I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that marriage. I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage.
BELIEFNET: Do you think those are equivalent to gays getting married?
WARREN: Oh, I do! For 5,000 years, marriage has been defined by every single culture and every single religion – this is not a Christian issue. Buddhist, Muslims, Jews – historically, marriage is a man and a woman.
See, Rick, we have this thing called The Internet which allows us to look up what you said in the past. If you did not say these things then there might not be a controversy. Now you have the gall to attack us: AmericaBlog
Merry Christmas from Rick Warren! You’re all hateful, evil, and not even Christian!
Barack Obama’s good buddy Rick Warrenrecorded a video yesterday, talking about the outcry over his being chosen to given the invocation at Obama’s swearing in. And it’s a doozie. Warren’s big mouth, and apparent ego, is pretty much guaranteeing that this controversy will continue all the way up until the inauguration and beyond.
In the new video, Warren accuses gays of “hate speech,” of launching “hateful attacks” against him, and he then says that gay and lesbian Americans have “Christ-ophobia,” a clear effort to mock the term “homophobia.” He goes on to explain that gays are “afraid of any Christian,” suggesting that gay and lesbian Americans – gay and lesbian Obama voters – are not Christians. He then goes on to call gays criticizing him “evil.” All this from a man who compared gay marriage to incest and pedophilia, and who explicitly bans “unrepentant gays” from his church membership.
Now we find out that you haven’t really had a change in heart of welcoming gays and lesbians but you’d rather clarify with more condemning language. What can Barack Obama do to mitigate this situation? Nothing at this point. Either he rescinds his invitation to Pastor Warren and faces the ire of the evangelical community or he keeps Warren and alienates his base supporters.
Yesterday it was reported that Saddleback had taken down it’s unwelcome message to “unrepentant homosexuals” to its church, which some hailed as being a victory.
Today, Saddleback Church clarified for Queerty what was really happening.
“I wanted to make sure you were aware that the Q & A addressing homosexuality on the Saddleback Church Web site has not been permanently removed, but rather repurposed for clarity. I know your readers have noticed the change.
Attached is the audio response from Saddleback Associate Pastor Tom Holladay regarding the question, “What Does the Bible Say About homosexuality – is it a sin?” that will be posted later this morning on the site.
Wanted to make sure you were aware of this. Thanks!” – Kristin Cole, Saddleback PR
The Associated Press contacted 21 banks that received at least $1 billion in government money and asked four questions: How much has been spent? What was it spent on? How much is being held in savings? And what’s the plan for the rest? None of the banks provided specific answers.
“We’re not providing dollar-in, dollar-out tracking,” said Barry Koling, a spokesman for SunTrust Banks (STI), which got $3.5 billion.
Some said they simply didn’t know where it was going. “We manage our capital in its aggregate,” said Regions Financial (RF) spokesman Tim Deighton, who said the bank is not tracking how it is spending the $3.5 billion it received as part of the bailout.
What, did they just think it was a Christmas present from the taxpayers?
Ramazan Baydan, owner of the Baydan Shoes factory, poses in Istanbul with a newly produced copy of the shoe (dubbed “Bush Shoes”) that was thrown at US president George Bush by an Iraqi journalist on December 14, 2008. The maker of the shoe has had to take on 100 extra staff to cope with a surge in demand for his footwear (AFP)
Our friend over at BlogActive and PageOneQ was invited today to debate Rev. Rivers (a noted homophobe from Boston) on the Rick Warren/President-elect Barack Obama fiasco.
So here’s where we part ways. While we think that yes, it’s a good thing that the website has changed, that’s not a victory. All he did was have the divisive phrase taken down from the Saddlebackwebsite. What would be a victory, not that we’re expecting as much, would be a public apology from Rick Warren or Barack Obama about the whole mess.
We also don’t think it’s necessary to have Rick Warren sit down with the “leadership” to discuss this issue. He believes what he believes and nothing we say will change that. The only thing that can happen is hopefully he’ll become more aware of what his statements do to the community at large and what people see when they look upon him as a leader of the Christian evangelical faith community and preach more tolerance. On that note, this blogger won’t be holding his breath.
I’ve been scratching my head for several days now, trying to figure out why practically every news story about Rick Warren explains that he’s not anti-gay, and in fact quite progressive and moderate, because he’s worked on AIDS in Africa. Well, bully for him. But there are two problems there:
Well Peter LaBarbera, of the virulently anti-gaywebsite, Americans For Truth About Homosexuality has finally explained his no commenting policy on his site. It’s because his skin isn’t thick enough.
By the way, and for the record, AFTAH does not allow comments to be posted on our website precisely because of the sheer viciousness, vulgarity and ad hominem, hate-filled attacks that characterize so many messages against us from pro-homosexual activists. Responding to the lies and smears would take all of our time. Uncivil homosexual activists would love that.
Porno Pete?
As veteran AFTAH readers know, one of the favorite, ongoing “queer” lies against me is that I am a secret homosexual or, worse, a covert aficionado of (unspeakably evil and revolting) homosexual S&M and pornography. Hence the nasty slam against me concocted by homosexual spinmeister Wayne Besen: “Porno Pete.” (I suppose if you use the logic of ‘Wayne’s World,’ someone who exposes abortionists secretly yearns to slaughter innocents in the womb — and Wayne himself, who monitors and exposes allegedly fraudulent “ex-gays” through his comically named Truth Wins Out — is a closeted fundamentalist Christian who TiVos every episode of “The 700 Club” while pretending to fight for Queer Liberation.)
He still doesn’t understand the concept that he doth protest too much which is why people assume he’s a closet queer. And trust us when we say, it’s not just Wayne that thought that. Many have independent thought of their own.
Peter also still hasn’t figured out the art of analogy. The logic would be like someone, who goes around telling people about the evils of smoking and how horrible it is while spending hours in smoke filled bars occasionally taking a drag while he drinks himself into the grave.
Peter, you logically get these conclusions because it’s been said by one of your former employees that you had massive piles of gay porno mags in your office. You logically get these conclusions because you frequent things like IML, and Folsom where everyone knows what goes on and frankly could care less unless it affected them. If he wants to dispel the rumors he might want to take pictures of himself to show everyone that he wears normal street clothes to these events. Until then all we can do is speculate.
Another of my favorite Homosexual Hate Sites — and a quick-and-easy resource for finding examples of nastiness and anti-Christian bigotry — is lesbian blogger Pam Spaulding’s Pam’s House Blend. Yet as out there as Spaulding is, and she’s out there, Pam’s blogging buddies’ comments make her seem almost respectable by comparison: see this piece about AFTAH Board Member Matt Barber and mecounter-protesting a Chicago “gay marriage” rally — rife with personal insults and the same, old “they must be gay” attacks. (Funny, it seems that accusing someone of being “gay” is the biggest insult that radical homosexuals can hurl at their opponents.) Can you imagine trying to deal with daily submissions from such bitter extremists? We can’t, and we won’t.
No, being gay is not an insult. We’re making assumptions based on his behavior and psychological state of mind. We’re actually genuinely concerned about him.
Our advice, he should grow up, get some thicker skin, and allow some sort of discourse otherwise his site is just as one sided as he claims sex-ed classes are against Christian ideas.
VANCOUVER – Lesbian and bisexual youth are up to seven times more likely to get pregnant than their heterosexual peers, a study of British Columbia students has found.
The surprising findings were published in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality. The data used for the research were gathered from adolescent health surveys done in B.C. schools in 1992, 1998, and 2003.
The heightened risk is explained by several factors, including an attempt among closeted gay, lesbian and bisexual teens to prove they are heterosexual to avoid harassment and discrimination.
“For some gay, lesbian and bisexual teens it’s camouflage,” said Elizabeth Saewyc, lead author of the study and an associate professor at the University of B.C.’s school of nursing, “because it’s still pretty stigmatized and they still face a lot of harassment at school.”
Why can’t our opposition in the anti-gay ranks understand the consequences of what happens when the closet doors are held closed?
The LGBA last performed at Bill Clinton’s inauguration, not marching, but playing while President Clinton passed by.
New York, NY – December 8, 2008 – The Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA), a musical organization comprising marching and concert bands from across the United States and around the world, has been chosen to perform in the parade for President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 20, 2009. This is the first time in history that a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group will march in a Presidential Inaugural Parade.
The 177-piece LGBA band will join groups from across the country as well as from the Armed Forces in the historic parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, which follows President-elect Barack Obama’s swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol.
“I am honored to invite these talented groups and individuals to participate in the Inaugural Parade,” Obama said in a news release. “These organizations embody the best of our nation’s history, diversity, and commitment to service. Vice President-elect (Joe) Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade.”
Of course, Peter LaBarbera can’t let that happen. Check out his latest missive. (emphasis Peter’s)
Bob oh boy! A band created by the Lesbian and Gay Band Association — built around men and women who share disordered sexuality and, for some, gender confusion — is marching in Barack Obama’s inaugural parade — the first ever “gay” Inaugural marching band! What a civil rights achievement — the Democrats should be so proud. Despite the enormity of this “progressive” milestone, apparently it is only somewhat of a technical “first”: the Aberrant Sex Band played twice for Bill Clinton but reportedly never marched for the … Aberrant Sex President.
In a statement, President-elect Obama said, “”I am honored to invite these talented groups and individuals to participate in the Inaugural Parade … These organizations embody the best of our nation’s history, diversity, and commitment to service. Vice President-elect (Joe) Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade.”
Questions: what deserving, hard-working high school band from Anytown, USA was bumped out by the homosexual marchers in the intense competition to march in the Inaugural Parade? We’re also wondering: do the bisexual LGBT band members get to march in any direction they want? (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
Well here we go again. Did we really just vote for “business as usual” in Washington or did we vote for change? I’m starting to think the former.
It was reported today over at Pam’s House Blend that Rick Warren, the mega-pastor at the mega-church who wrote the mega-best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life, has been asked by the Obama transition team to do the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on January 20th, 2009.
This is the same Rick Warren who has, on numerous occasions defended the passage of Proposition 8 in California, and compared gays and lesbians to zoophiles, pedophiles and polygamists.
(listen around the 2:10 mark)
The last time the President-elect was confronted with this sort of situation it was almost forgivable because the person was rather obscure. In particular I’m talking about the Rev. Donnie McClurkin, an ex-gay pastor who would sing at Obama campaign rallies.
ABC News’ Martha Raddatz interviewed Mr. Bush just before he left Iraq on Sunday. Mostly the corporate media run news has been playing the clip of him saying, “And it was amusing. I mean, I’ve seen a lot of weird things during my presidency and this may rank up there as one of the weirdest.” However very few are reporting the more important, more infuriating statement made after Martha called Mr. Bush on linking al Qaeda to Iraq.
Raddatz: Let’s talk about this trip. Your last trip to the region as president. Your last trip to Iraq. Surely your legacy will be largely about this war. Talk to me about how that feels being here? The last trip and what you really think that legacy will be.
Bush: Well, first of all I think a president’s legacy is going to take time. We’ve accomplished a lot in my administration. Like No Child Left Behind; 52 months of uninterrupted job growth; PEPFAR, which is the AIDS initiative in Africa; fighting malaria, where there’s poverty; faith based; I mean there a lot that people will be able to judge this administration on.
Clearly, one of the most important parts of my job because of 9/11 was to defend the security of the American people. There have been no attacks since I have been president, since 9/11. One of the major theaters against al Qaeda turns out to have been Iraq. This is where al Qaeda said they were going to take their stand. This is where al Qaeda was hoping to take …
Raddatz: But not until after the U.S. invaded.
Bush:Yeah, that’s right. So what? The point is that al Qaeda said they’re going to take a stand. Well, first of all in the post-9/11 environment Saddam Hussein posed a threat. And then upon removal, al Qaeda decides to take a stand. And they’re becoming defeated and I think history will say, one, the world was better off without Saddam, two, along with the Iraqi troops we have denied al Qaeda a safe haven because a young democracy is beginning to grow, which will be an important sign for people in the Middle East.
Essentially Bush is saying to the families of 4209 dead soldiers (as of the date of this post) ‘So what if I sent them to their deaths on a pack of lies?’ Bush is saying to the 30,852 (official as of the date of this post) wounded Iraq war veterans, ‘So what if you’re wounded, missing limbs, forever disfigured, hearing impaired, blinded, paralyzed, or mentally impaired? I don’t care.’
To the Iraqi people who are angry at him for invading, and occupying their country, “Yeah, that’s right. So what?” To the almost 100, 000 or more Iraqi civilians, consisting of children, fathers, mothers, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, “So what?”
This is the value of human life to George W. Bush. As he said at the end of the presser where the shoes were thrown at him “It’s like people on the highway not gesturing with all five fingers.” That is his parting gesture to the world.
It’s bad enough that they don’t want to say how they’re spending our money 
