Pastor Rick Warren defends religious views and Inaugural invitation after controversy surrounding protests of invitation from liberal groups.
Wired PR News.com – President Elect Barack Obama’s recent announcement of Pastor Rick Warren for his choice as invocation presenter for his Inauguration January 20 seemed to hit a raw nerve with several gay rights and liberal groups. Many labeled the action as an endorsement of bigotry due to Warren’s outspoken opposition to gay marriage. As reported by the Associated Press (AP), Warren is now speaking in defense of his invitation stating he loves members of groups he’s been accused of disliking, including Muslims and gay individuals.
As quoted in the AP report of Warren, “You don’t have to see eye to eye to walk hand in hand.” The 54 year-old pastor has received praise from some groups for his initiatives on improving educational opportunities and fighting AIDS in Africa, but came under fire for publicly supporting Proposition 8.
Obama was quoted to have stated in an earlier speech regarding his choice, “During the course of the entire inaugural festivities, there are going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented. And that’s how it should be, because that’s what America’s about. That’s part of the magic of this country … we are diverse and noisy and opinionated.”
Photo Credit:
All About You God (Wikipedia)
