Warren-Endorsed Nigerian Archbishop Backed Anti-Gay Laws Worse Than Pre-WWII Third Reich's

Many sharp journalists, such as Michelle Goldberg, Sarah Posner and Max Blumenthal, are cranking their talents into exposing the angry underbelly beneath Rick Warren's carefully airbrushed and polished public persona. And, a number of political bloggers [1, 2, 3] have noted Rick Warren's support for the virulently anti-gay Archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, but the story has lacked some needed historical context; In 2006, Warren publicly lionized (literally) Akinola three months after the Archbishop had endorsed legislation more draconian than comparable anti-gay statutes passed prior to World War Two under the Third Reich.

As I described in a December 18, 2006 Talk To Action story, a schismatic faction of Virginia Episcopalian churches had just voted to align themselves with the Archbishop of Nigeria, Peter Akinola, who earlier that year had thrown his substantial political weight and religious authority behind draconian Nigerian anti-gay legislation to, among other strictures, "make it illegal for gay men and lesbians to form organizations, read gay literature or eat together in a restaurant."

Although I missed it at the time, the proposed legislation was apparently denounced, according to the current Wikipedia writeup on Akinola, by the US State Department: "The proposed legislation was formally challenged by the United States State Department as a breach of Nigeria's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights."

It was one of those rare examples from the last eight years, it would seem, in which United States foreign policy clearly aligned in support of basic human rights. Rick Warren, however, appeared to be on the other side of the issue.

In my post, I went on to chart, in very specific detail, the ugly reality that the Akinola-supported legislation was actually harsher than similar anti-gay legislation, 1935 revisions to Paragraph 175 of the German penal code, applying to homosexuality, voted into law during the early years of Hitler's Third Reich.

As described on an activist blog that specialized in covering the controversial anti-gay legislation [and whose author has contributed to Talk To Action], in February 2006 "the Primate of All Nigeria and leader of the Anglican Communion's largest Province, Archbishop Peter Akinola, endorsed legislation that would ban most basic civil rights for gay and lesbian Nigerians, and enforce that ban with a 5 year prison sentence."

On April 30, 2006, pastor Rick Warren wrote an op-ed, for Time Magazine, which lavished praise on Akinola, likening the cleric to Nelson Mandela:

"Akinola personifies the epochal change in the Christian church, namely that the leadership, influence, growth and center of gravity in Christianity is shifting from the northern hemisphere to the southern. New African, Asian and Latin American church leaders like Akinola, 61, are bright, biblical, courageous and willing to point out the inconsistencies, weaknesses and theological drift in Western churches."

"...Akinola has the strength of a lion, useful in confronting Third World fundamentalism and First World relativism."

"...I believe he, like Mandela, is a man of peace and his leadership is a model for Christians around the world."

Rick Warren's support for Akinola is not an anomaly but appears to be, rather, the rule. As detailed at Talk To Action by Richard Bartholomew (author of the exceptional Bartholomew's Notes On Religion),

The Kampala Monitor reports:

Dr [Rick] 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.

Warren was speaking in support of Ugandan Anglicans who intend to boycott the forthcoming Lambeth Conference, and this harsh rejection of tolerance for gays and lesbians may have serious consequences in a country where homosexuals face harassment and and the threat of imprisonment.

Warren's comment is of a piece with his support for Martin Ssempa, the Ugandan evangelist who has been a keynote speaker at a Warren conference, and who has received US global AIDS prevention funds. As I wrote in August, Ssempa wants to ensure that homosexuality remains illegal and that gays and lesbians are identified in the public mind as sexual abusers. Ssempa calls for media censorship against opposing views and the dismissal of dissenting academics, and last summer he organised a rally with the theme "A Call for Action on Behalf of the Victims of Homosexuality", at which he railed against "molestation and sodomy."

Comments

[LMPE]

Well, John Hagee claimed that God sent Hitler to force the Jews back to Israel, and Pope Benedict equates "saving" gays with saving the environment, so there's not really any surprise here.

[StevenKeirstead]

Not all African clerics have the intolerant position on homosexuals that Archbishop Peter Akinola has. Most Americans are more familiar with the South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who led the Anglican church in opposition to apartheid in that country. Archbishop Tutu is totally supportive of gay rights.

Mr. Tutu likens homophobia to arpartheid. Here are some quotes from his part of Amnesty internationa's book "Sex, Love & Homophobia­."

"...all over the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are persecuted. We treat them as pariahs and push them outside our communities. We make them doubt that they too are children of God - and this must be nearly the ultimate blasphemy. We blame them for what they are."

"Churches say that the expression of love in a heterosexual monogamous relationship includes the physical, the touching, embracing, kissing, the genital act - the totality of our love makes each of us grow to become increasingly godlike and compassionate. If this is so for the heterosexual, what earthly reason have we to say that it is not the case with the homosexual?"

Despite my lack of religion, I have very high regard for Mr. Tutu. I love hearing him on the radio, because he always seems so joyful, in spite of all the hardship he must see in South Africa and the rest of the continent. I would love to have him over for dinner with my husband in Boston (though we would have to clean house).

[berkeleygirl1962]

I sat in the car some months back listening to Tutu commenting about the Anglican split. This amazing man says bluntly that his brethren need to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and stop their ridiculous concentration on the minor "sins" of individuals and focus on "social" sins of injustice and poverty.

[tbone99]

Perhaps when Warren begins his words of wisdom there could be a hearty rendition begun of
Amazing Grace to drown him out.

[M1]

Great idea

[buckbuck11]

...or..Glo­ria Gaynor's "I Will Survive?"

[mommadona]

Tolerating INTOLERANCE is UN-American.

Rick of the Warren needs to be taken down a couple notches.

He puts on his pants, one leg at a time.
Just like that Nigerian Bishop of the Intolerance.

[Dave01]

Or simply taken out!

[Bramble8]

Warren should bow out!

[ProudLiberalDan]

It's time for Barack Obama to show some true moral leadership and withdraw his invitation to Rick Warren. An admission making a mistake and taking corrective action would tell me that we truly have change I can believe in.

Triangulating against me for political gain is right out of the DLC-Clintonian political playbook.

If Obama wanted to reach out, he could have sponsored a forum at the White House. Instead, he triangulated against us and elevated a bigoted minister to a place of honor in his inaugaration. This is not "reaching out". This is cynical and craven triangulation at its worst.

Show some moral leadership, Mr. Obama. Rescind your invitation!

[NWBrunette]

Absolutely right, strong and on target. Thank you.

[Tanyars5]

please support the republicans the next time around....­...go bug them.....t­hey are really open to gay people and their issues

[tbone99]

Obama;s invite to Warren Seems to indicate there is really no difference between the two parties.

But one party is not hypocritical about it.

[tbone99]

having Rick Warren give the invocation at the inauguration is product placement, just the way the Coke can appears in the hero's hand in the movie... to subliminally make people thirsty for it.

It is a purposeful choice to send a message that in fact there will be NO CHANGE we can count on and not only will there be no change - the gloves are off to demonize gays.

[StevenKeirstead]

I don't share your bleak view. I'll withhold judgement on Obama's administration until he proves his policies by action, not empty olive branching.

[MrBurlesk]

So, you intend to wait until they slam the oven door on you to know that you're being persecuted? Actions are already in place. Obama is REWARDING Rick Warren with the invitation to participate in the inauguration. That's an action. Obama has spoken out against gay marriage. These ARE his policies. Don't you GET IT???

[NWBrunette]

An invite to the inaugural stage is action, and is clearly indicative of one's values.

[YR]

I am getting a bit tired of this obsession with Warren. I think some of these posts work to inflate his status. I didn't like him before. Wish he weren't at the Obama inauguration. Think that's a grave mistake. But in other ways, I think this discussion is lacking in some perspective vis a vis his true importance to Obama and the inauguration.

[GlennInVenice]

You wish he weren't at the inauguration.

Me too.

He is still invited which means, to get my wish, I need to continue to work for it.

I am sorry that you are betting a bit tired.

I am not.

[NWBrunette]

I'm with you. Keep working.

[dems08]

Obama is taking a chance with Warren, a chance for a change.

Bringing one's opponents into the fold, and killing them with kindness is the only chance we have of winning them over to our way of thinking.

[kempis]

Yes, well, we'll see how well this works, won't we?

[ProudLiberalDan]

Yeah, because abolition, women's suffrage and the right to labor organizing was won by killing them with kindness.

There's only one language bigots understand -- being stood up to forcefully and having change rammed down their unwilling throats.

[tbone99]

its quite the reverse - a statement not to expect change.

[NWBrunette]

What, you want Dick Cheney on the inaugural stage, Rush Limbaugh perhaps? Ann Coulter? Ted Stevens? Don't be silly. The only reason it's okay with you that Mr. Warren gets on the stage is because you're okay with people practicing hate-speech on certain minority groups. That's despicable.

[TJustSaying]

There is not way to justify locking people up for being gay. That maybe a personal choice or something that happens at birth no one knows but that really is not the argument here. The genetic argument is complicated by bisexuals who choose which to sleep with but that is neither here nor there let's get back on this Nigerian oppressor of human rights. Yes what this guy is doing is cruel, no one can deny that. But let's not forget you can get locked up in America for sleeping with a prostitute or engaging in polygamy so let's not forget our government gets involved in people's personal choices also. However, the penalties are not nearly as strict as the ones this guy is assessing against gays. But the sooner we get government out of people's bed rooms no matter their choices the better. Unless you are sleeping with a child the government has no business dictating who you will sleep with or the terms you choose to do it there in. Like people say the same self righteousness that tells the government they know best about prostitution and Polygamy is the same self righteousness that feeds anti-gay laws. My point is the gay community have friends in unlikely places if they would just reach out to them. Plus you cannot use Nigeria as an example because they have religious murders all the time there which is far worse then what is described in this article.

[timtimes]

The next time I get an 'urgent appeal for help' from some Nigerian, recently removed from a large amount of wealth, who is seeking my assistance in the recovery of same, I am going to respond that I am unable to help so long as the laws of Nigeria are homophobic. I'll request he/she contact me after taking care of the problems in their own country.

Enjoy.

[walleymr]

I wonder if this guy would be ok being served by gays in a restaurant ...

[DCdweller]

If he isn't then it will seriously limit the restaurants he can eat in.... as well as the tv shows and movies he can watch, banks he can go to, real estate agents he could work with, teachers he could learn from, farmers he could eat the produce from, stores he could shop in, as well as virtually every other place or business he could patronize.­.... hopefully he gets a gay doctor at some point.

[TJustSaying]

With all the violence that happens in Nigeria I suspect far more is happening to gays there then we are being told. Why does no one care if gays are murdered, I ask again????

[tbone99]

or having a gay nurse or doctor.

[eka]

Archbishop Akinola is a blight on the christian church. His strong antigay stance is merely to promote himself, it has given him credibility among fundamentalist western christians who shower him with accolades and yes money. People this is about the wealth creation for one man. The northern part of nigeria is muslim and they practice sha'ria laws, he has no say in what they do. To them he is an infidel. No, his whole anti-gay ministry is just for people living in the west. For a so called christian he obviously has no concern for the poor and sick who surround him every day in nigeria. If he was really concerned about people or the teachings of christ he would speak out against the abject poverty and corruption that cripples his flock daily. Yet not a single word from him, instead he moves around with the same currupt officials that make life so unbearable for the average nigerian. Peter Akinola is a fraud simple as that. He is no christian.

[JohnJames]

Akinola is despicable and no doubt he's benefited by appealing to Western anti-gay bigots but this is also about a race to the bottom between Islam and Christianity in Sub-Saharan Africa with each side trying to prove itself the more "moral" by outdoing the other in their bigotry and intolerance. Gay Africans are the bait in this monstrous homophobic recruitment game, a homophobia that didn't exist there before colonialism.

[Dave01]

"a homophobia that didn't exist there before colonialis­m."

Nor did it exist here in the United States (prior to colonialism). In fact gays was revered among Native Americans as being two-spirited.

[CindyV]

I said this during the primaries and I'll say it again, "Obama will not be good for the LGBT community.­" I did not support Obama during the primaries. I voted for him only to ensure that McCain did not become president. I'm beginning to regret my vote. I should have written in Hillary's name. She would not have thrown her gay supporters under the bus to suck up to Rick Warren. Obama is not good for gays.

[StevenKeirstead]

I'm not sure Mrs. Clinton would have been that much better. Some day it would be nice to have an openly gay president wouldn't it? When that happens we will know America has changed to te point where we really are all equal.

[GG1983]

Some day it would be nice to have being gay noy even matter and to just have everyone have equal rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[JimR]

You have got to be kidding me. The Clintons are legendary for using people and groups of people for political expediency.

[Eyewideopen]

"I said this during the primaries and I'll say it again, "Obama will not be good for the LGBT community.­" I did not support Obama during the primaries. I voted for him only to ensure that McCain did not become president. "




This is what I suspected for a while of most of the GLBT community.

[Tanyars5]

Not this crap again. I am sure Huckabee/Palin will be running in 2012. I sure hope all of the gays who feel the way you do support him/her. The republicans are really supportive of gay issues. I am sure republicans will put gay poliics on the top of their priority lists. I cannot believe what I have read from these people. It is laughable.

[rocketman69]

Thank you huffpo!! I now realize something that has eluded me for years. The difference between free-speech and bigotry is whether or not I agree. I.e. Gays are anti-Christian bigots and Christians are gay bigots. And the bloggers are republiphobes. And the pro-choice are fetuphobes. This is really simple(istic). No wonder I had to come here to learn it.

[GG1983]

There is a difference between free speech and right and wrong. It is wrong to persecute others because they are different or believe differently. If someone doen't want to associate with LGBT people or has some religious objection that is their business but it is wrong to legally discriminate or criminalize behavior because of personal prejudice. Taking peoples' rights away is wrong, It is not a matter of opinion.

[Davwbaird]

free speech that hits the brain of someone who is demented in such a fashion that they give life to violence is not free speech but hate speech.