Roundup: Rick Warren Claims He's Not "Political"

by Jodi Jacobson, Editor-in-Chief, RH Reality Check

November 30, 2009 - 10:38am (Print)

Rick Warren Not "Taking Sides," Except When He Does

In several recent statements, Rick Warren, pastor of the Saddleback Church and a leader of Christian fundamentalists here and abroad, has demured when asked about his work in politics.

On Meet the Press yesterday, for example, he was asked about his involvement in the Proposition 8 battle in California last year, as well as in other political efforts. Warren replied by referring to an earlier statement he'd made on the program:

I said, "I'm just a pastor. I'm not a politician, I'm not a pundit." And so I began to say, "What am I supposed to do with this, this platform?" And I don't believe God gives you money or influence for your own ego, so you can just be a fat cat and be a celebrity. We need more heroes, fewer celebrities. Heroes sacrifice for others, celebrities sacrifice for themselves.

But Warren's statement strikes many as disingenuous. In Newsweek this morning, for example, Lisa Miller writes about Warren's reactions to the work of Martin Ssemap, the Ugandan religious right leader with whom Warren has had close past affiliation under US Global AIDS Policy, and the proposed law in Uganda to make "homosexuality punishable by death."

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."

Yet Warren has called abortion "a holocaust," supports the global gag rule, is a frequent visitor to Capitol Hill to lobby on issues of concern to his fundamentalist agenda, and was among those instrumental in defeating critical changes in the reauthorization of global AIDS policy last year, changes needed to ensure US-funded prevention programs were based on evidenve, public health and human rights, and to benefit women and girls. In fact, he joined a press conference with Congressmen Chris Smith (R-NJ), Joe Pitts (R-PA), and others during which he and others used inaccurate and misleading information to deny HIV-positive women access to family planning information and services.

On Raw Story, Stephen C. Webster explores his connections to the secretive fundamentalist Christian group whose political influence is detailed in Jeff Sharlet's book, The Family.

Sharlet told Terry Gross last week on NPR's Fresh Air that:

The Family has operated secretively with the help of influential congressmen and senators who are members of the group to promote their anti-gay, anti-abortion, pro-free-market ideas in America and other parts of the world, but two sex scandals involving people connected with The Family -Nevada Senator John Ensign and South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford - have brought public attention to the group.

Apolitical? It appears Warren doth protest too much.

South Korea Enforces Decades-old Abortion Ban for Economic Reasons

Women's rights advocates have long contended that governments manipulate women's access to contraception and abortion based less on "moral" considerations or on women's health and human rights concerns than on anti- or pro-natalist goals affected by national economic and political concerns.

A recent turn of events in South Korea appears to underscore that claim, as the government is acting suddenly to enforce a long-ignored ban on abortion in the interest of raising birth rates.

The Examiner.Com reports that fears of a shortage of young people to take care of the elderly underlies a change in plicy in the country:

According to The Christian Telegraph, about 45 years ago the government claimed that there was an overpopulation problem, and so great effort went into encouraging contraception and abortion, even though abortion was technically illegal.

Now, fears of a “demographic catastrophe” are resulting in a push for larger families.

[T]he Presidential Council is proposing an “Increase Koreans project” which would give special privileges to families with at least three children, as well as the third child. The families would be given “special interest rates on mortgages,” and the third child would receive, “an advantage in university entrance examinations, employment, and financial support for high school and university tuition.”

11/30

Rebecca St. James passionate about pro-life message Florida Baptist Witness

America becoming more pro-life The Daily Advance

Behind RNC 'Checklist' Controversy Human Events

Column: Contraception isn't abortion Wausau Daily Herald

Adoption process tries patience Grand Junction Sentinel

Abortion guidance ruling expected BBC News

11/29

Malta 'burying head in sand' on sexual health Times of Malta

Father's lawsuit aimed at clinic Corpus Christi Caller Times

Opinion: Health care reform could eliminate abortion coverage San Jose Mercury News

Pro-life plan Lawrence Journal World