It’s Their Party

This doesn’t happen too often, but we commend famed pastor and best-selling author Rick Warren for hosting the second annual Global Summit on AIDS beginning today at his Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif.

1). But, no matter how much merit this important conference has, that hasn’t stopped some evangelicals from getting up in a lather and causing a stir. Seems that there are nearly 60 speakers scheduled to give addresses at the AIDS summit but conservative evangelical Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council, has e-mailed reporters to protest the visit of THIS speaker who Warren invited and who Warren is defending. Who is this speaker who has raised the ire of so many God-loving Christians?

A. Sen. Barack Obama
B. Sen. Hillary Clinton
C. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
D. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani

2). And why is this person’s participation in the Global Summit on AIDS being black-balled by the Christian right?

A. This person supports a woman’s right to choose.
B. This person was not born in America.
C. This person has a gay campaign manager.
D. This person has attended several mosque services since the 9/11 attacks.



ANSWERS

1). A: Barack Obama, who by the way, is a Christian.
2). A: Schenck is protesting the visit because of Obama's support of abortion rights. "Senator Obama's policies represent the antithesis of biblical ethics and morality, not to mention supreme American values," Schenck wrote in an e-mail to reporters.
The Saddleback Church responded with a statement acknowledging "strong opposition" to Obama's participation. The church said participants were invited because of their knowledge of HIV/AIDS and that Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Life," opposes Obama's position on abortion and other issues. "Our goal has been to put people together who normally won't even speak to each other," the Saddleback statement read. "We do not expect all participants in the summit discussion to agree with all of our evangelical beliefs. However, the HIV/AIDS pandemic cannot be fought by evangelicals alone. It will take the cooperation of all — government, business, NGOs and the church."