Rick Warren Condemns African Anti-Gay Sex Bill

After weeks of pressure by liberals to speak out against a bill against homosexual acts in Uganda that is backed by many of his Christian allies in the U.S. and the East African nation, Pastor Rick Warren on Thursday released a video and statement defending his earlier silence but also vigorously condemning the bill.

Warren is a megachurch pastor in Southern California whose bestselling books and close ties to politicians and world leaders has made him the most prominent American preacher since Billy Graham. He began his video statement by explaining that the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 is "a law that I had nothing to do with, completely oppose and vigorously condemn."

"But because I didn't rush to make a public statement," Warren continued, "some erroneously concluded that I supported this terrible bill, and some even claimed I was a sponsor of the bill. You in Uganda know that is untrue."

He also said he had not spoken out earlier because "it is not my role to interfere with the politics of other nations." But he added that because this is a moral issue and because he is a mentor to pastors in Uganda "who look to me for guidance," he decided to release a statement.

The bill, which is currently before the Ugandan parliament and has been expected to pass, would require a seven-year jail term for homosexual acts and three years for anyone who fails to report evidence of homosexual acts within 24 hours of learning of them. It would also call for the execution of any homosexual who rapes a disabled person or anyone under 18 (statutory rape), or when the rapists is HIV positive. While many countries -- especially conservative Muslim nations -- criminalize homosexual sex, the Ugandan law would be among the strongest. See Chick's REVEREND WONDERFUL.