Rick Warren's collaboration with a homophobic African church leader

[kwassa]

Rick Warren’s Africa Problem
Posted by Max in January 7th 2009

http://maxblumenthal.com/2009/01/rick-warrens-africa-problem/

However, an investigation into Warren’s involvement in Africa reveals a web of alliances with right-wing clergymen who have sidelined science-based approaches to combating AIDS in favor of abstinence-only education. More disturbingly, Warren’s allies have rolled back key elements of one of the continent’s most successful initiative, the so-called ABC program in Uganda. Stephen Lewis, the United Nations’ special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, told the New York Times their activism is “resulting in great damage and undoubtedly will cause significant numbers of infections which should never have occurred.”

Warren’s man in Uganda is a charismatic pastor named Martin Ssempa. The head of the Makerere Community Church, a rapidly growing congregation, Ssempe enjoys close ties to his country’s First Lady, Janet Museveni, and is a favorite of the Bush White House. In the capitol of Kampala, Ssempa is known for his boisterous crusading. Ssempa’s stunts have included burning condoms in the name of Jesus and arranging the publication of names of homosexuals in cooperative local newspapers while lobbying for criminal penalties to imprison them.

Dr. Helen Epstein, a public health consultant who authored the book, The Invisible Cure: Why We’re Losing The Fight Against AIDS In Africa, met Ssempa in 2005. Epstein told me the preacher seemed gripped by paranoia, warning her of a secret witches coven that met under Lake Victoria. “Ssempa also spoke to me for a very long time about his fear of homosexual men and women,” Epstein said. “He seemed very personally terrified by their presence.”

Much more in the article.

[Mari333]

1. yes, rick needs to be exposed for who he really is

too many people are falling for the kinder, gentler nazi image hes trying to project. he is the poster boy for 'wolf in sheeps clothing.'

[Nikki Stone1]

2. I don't even know where to start with this.

Thanks for posting it, though.

[EFerrari]

3. Unlike Rick Warren, Ssempa is open about his fear and hatred

of gays and women.

[Deja Q]

4. At least he's not racist.

:shrug:

:eyes:

((other people are going to do what they want. Try to convince them. If the attempt fails, what's left? Proceed with one of those choices. I think Warren's wrong. Even if I talked to him, gentleman to gentleman, to convince him his stereotypes are wrong with any proof I can bluster with all my muster, he may not change his mind. That's his prerogative too. Or maybe he would. Or other tangents. Whatever.))

BTW: I've heard of "burning rubber" before, but that article describes a new extreme... (I had to find something sarky to say and I just did.)

An afterthought: Remember that loser from Georgia, George Allen? He's always been in favor of offshoring, yet finds the time to call Indians "macacas" too. So it's equally possible Warren is a racist but hasn't said a slur down that line... yet...

[kwassa]

5. Rick Warrens's comments about Gene Robinson and homosexuality

Uganda: Gay Row - U.S. Pastor Supports Country On Boycott
Evelyn Lirri
29 March 2008

http://allafrica.com/stories/200803281265.html

Kampala — FAMED American pastor, Dr Rick Warren has said he supports the decision by Ugandan bishops to boycott the forthcoming Lamebth conference in England, United Kingdom. "The Church of England is wrong and I support the Church of Uganda(CoU) on the boycott,"Dr Warren said on Thursday shortly after arriving in Uganda.

The Bishops are protesting the Church of England's tolerance a homosexuality. Announcing the boycott in February, Archbishop Henry Luke Orombi said that Uganda's action had been prompted by the invitation of bishops of The US Episcopal Church (TEC) who in 2003 elected as bishop, Gene Robinson, a divorced man living in an active homosexual relationship.

Rev. Orombi said the Archbishops of all the 38 Provinces of the Anglican Communion strongly opposed the election of Gene Robinson as bishop - and in a meeting shortly after the election "warned that, if they proceeded with the consecration, their action would "tear the fabric of the Anglican Communion at its deepest level." Dr Warren said that homosexuality is not a natural way of life and thus not a human right. "We shall not tolerate this aspect at all," Dr Warren said.

[kwassa]

6. late afternoon kick