Rick Warren's Situational Ethics Avoids Condemning Gay Death Penalty

From NEWSWEEK:

Now Warren's on the defensive again, this time for his affiliation with Martin Ssempa, a Ugandan pastor who has endorsed proposed legislation in Uganda that makes certain homosexual acts punishable by life in prison or even, in some cases, death. Ssempa has made appearances at Saddleback and has been embraced warmly by Warren and his wife, Kay.

In October, Warren distanced himself from Ssempa and the Ugandan legislation, saying, "Martin Ssempa does not represent me; my wife, Kay; Saddleback Church; nor the Global PEACE Plan strategy," a reference to Warren's work in the developing world and Africa in particular. "In 2007 we completely severed contact with Mr. Ssempa when we learned that his views and actions were in serious conflict with our own.

"Our role, and the role of the PEACE Plan, whether in Uganda or any other country, is always pastoral and never political. We vigorously oppose anything that hinders the goals of the PEACE Plan: Promoting reconciliation, Equipping ethical leaders, Assisting the poor, Caring for the sick, and Educating the next generation."

But Warren won't go so far as to condemn the legislation itself. A request for a broader reaction to the proposed Ugandan antihomosexual laws generated this response: "The fundamental dignity of every person, our right to be free, and the freedom to make moral choices are gifts endowed by God, our creator. However, it is not my personal calling as a pastor in America to comment or interfere in the political process of other nations." On Meet the Press this morning, he reiterated this neutral stance in a different context: "As a pastor, my job is to encourage, to support. I never take sides." Warren did say he believed that abortion was "a holocaust." He knows as well as anyone that in a case of great wrong, taking sides is an important thing to do.

Editor's note: "...it's not my calling...to comment or interfere in the political process of other nations"

Really? Then perhaps Rick Warren can explain this press release headline:

Saddleback Pastor Begins 12-day, Three-country African Visit to Unite
Government, Business and Church Leaders in Discovering National Purpose

Or TIME magazine's interview with Warren... "Warren talks of turning Rwanda into "the first purpose-driven nation."

Obviously Rick Warren is trying to hide in the shadows between the definitions of "participating" and "interfering". Kind of like the difference between "smoking" and "inhaling".

The Herescope blog made this prophetic observation regarding Warren's PEACE Plan:

"This merger of State and Corporate, with the ongoing blessing of the Church -- and with all profitting monetarily or by gaining power -- means that there is no one to stand up and speak against violence, greed and human rights abuses.

Herescope also connected the dots of corruption in Warren's befriended Rwandan president, Paul Kagame:

"The New York Times reported today (12/03/08) in an article entitled "Rwanda Stirs Deadly Brew of Troubles in Congo" by Jeffrey Gettleman, that a rebellion in the eastern Congo could explode "into another full-fledged war, and drags a large chunk of central Africa with it, seems likely to depend on the involvement of Rwanda, Congo’s tiny but disproportionately mighty neighbor..."

"... "the evidence seems to be growing that Rwanda is meddling again in Congo’s troubles."

"...Bringing it close to home, Paul Kagame -- Rick Warren's personal friend -- seems complicit in all of this:"Several United Nations reports have accused Mr. Makabuza Ngoga of using strong-arm tactics to smuggle minerals from Congo to Rwanda and one report said that he enjoyed “close ties” to Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame."The article notes that there is "There is a long history of ethnic and business ties that seamlessly flow across the colonially imposed borders." It is precisely these business (Corporate) ties -- to both Church and State -- that creates an atmosphere of collusion, distrust, destabilization, exploitation, greed and violence, particularly if there is a vast mineral wealth to be exploited.

Rick Warren's silence on the proposed gay death penalty in Uganda is just another tragic example of America's pastor's situational ethics.

See related articles:

Ken Silva Can Read The Bible, But Can Rick Warren? , Rick Warren: Reconciling The Church and The State ,Rick Warren: Playing Both Sides of the Gay Agenda , Rick Warren, Please Sit Down

Christian Leader Pays For Speaking Out Against Rick Warren , Saddleback & SoulForce: Rick Warren's Half Lie? , Rick Warren Washes His Hands of SoulForce But Saddleback Sets The Table

Saddleback Set To Entertain Gay Activists , Protestant Pope's Self Promotion & Presidential Politics , Rick Warren: I Am Not Anti-Gay Marriage , Truth or Lies? Rick Warren's Moral Facade

Operation Rescue Decries Rick Warren’s Role at Inaugural, Rick Warren: Not Opposed to Gay Partnerships...Yes, I am...No, I am Not !

Learn more about Rick Warren's PEACE train and where it is headed.