Rick Warren Offers to Save Homo-Hating St. James Anglican Church, But Where's Howard F. Ahmanson, Jr?

By Gustavo Arellano Tue., Jan. 13 2009 at 1:47 PM

Categories: Gimme That OC Religion

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Rick Warren has finally crossed the Rubicon of homo-hating with his invitation to St. James Anglican Church in Newport Beach to set up camp at Saddleback Church because the California State Supreme Court recently ruled they can't stay on their Balboa Peninsula property. A quick primer: St. James split with its Episcopal diocese in 2004 because they didn't like the idea of a gay man getting ordained as a bishop and began taking its orders from a homo-hater in Uganda. So this isn't even a gay-marriage issue, people: Warren is opening his arms to folks who don't think gays can assume leadership in the church. Sick, Purpose-Driven Rick: sick.

But piling on Warren isn't the purpose of post. One of the main reasons for the schism is Howard F. Ahmanson, Jr., supreme funder of many conservative Christian causes--his most recent Uncle Moneybags move was giving $900,000 to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign. Read this excellent report on Ahmanson's influence in creating the Episcopal Church schism over the ordination of the openly gay Gene Robinson as a bishop back in New Hampshire. At last report, Ahmanson was still a member of St. James Anglican.

Which begs the question, and we ask it directly to Howard, whom we know reads Navel Gazing: given your fabulous wealth, why don't you just buy a building for St. James? And, if you no longer belong to St. James, don't you think the least you can do to those poor souls is buy them a place as penance for the secular vengeance you inadvertently wrought? Inquiring minds want to know!

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Or you can take up your "ruse" opinion with St. Augustine: �That is, he should not hate the man because of the fault, nor should he love the fault because of the man; rather, he should hate the fault but love the man. And when the fault has been healed there will remain only what he ought to love, and nothing that he ought to hate� (City of God, 14.6). As for who has created the schism, the modern Episcopal Church's embrace of heterodoxy for its own sake, and rejection of orthodoxy and its own heritage is the source of this schism. Parishes like St. James are just remaining faithful to doctrine and the deposit of their faith.
Gustavo: Weak. Your argument hinges on your opinion -- presented as fact -- that love-the-sinner-but-hate-the-sin is a "ruse." That reasoning is so circular it's dizzying.
Matt Coker and Duplojohn: Knock it off. Howard dons his magnificent beard just fine! Matt/Jubal: Again, connect the dots. When a congregation creates a schism and aligns itself with bishops who don't even bother with the love-the-sinner/hate-the-sin ruse, that's homo-hating. And for Warren to offer shelter to such people is telling of where his ultimate feelings on homosexuals is.
Duplojohn: That photo is of neither Howard F. Ahmanson, Jr. nor Bobby Weir. It's Albert Brooks hiding behind a wig, glasses and fake beard.
All you ever yammer about is evil gay this, evil gay that... Really? Then perhaps you can cite a single example of where I have said being gay is evil? You can't, because I haven't -- but don't let that get in the way of you ranting. Let's settle this one and for all: do you think homosexuality is a sin? No, I do not.
Matt Cunningham: All you ever yammer about is evil gay this, evil gay that, then act surprised when someone calls you or your friends anti-lgbt. Let's settle this one and for all: do you think homosexuality is a sin?
Jubal: You're one to speak on facile arguments, but read what Cany below you has to say. About the kind of non-response response I expected. You're not employing "facile arguments" here. You're not employing any arguments. Your post is an exercise in trying to shut down debate and discussion by labeling anyone who disagrees with you about same-sex marriage or the ordination of gays as a "homo-hater."
Name: Yes, Ahmanson amazingly is a reader of the Weekly�likes �Ask a Mexican!, even! Jubal: You're one to speak on facile arguments, but read what Cany below you has to say. Cany: if you want to share your run-in with Warren, email me at GArellano@ocweekly.com. Anonymity guaranteed!
Actually, Warren said a LOT more than that. What Warren did, AGAIN, was support the schismatics in TEC though I believe he called them (and wrongfully) "orthodox". Since Warren is NOT an Episcopalian, knows little about the other 96% of us, and has aligned himself to Archbishops Orombi (Uganda) and Akinola (Nigeria) both of whom have openly used phrases about lgbt folks that would frost pavement in August, and both of whom have supported criminalization of even association of lgbt people in their respective countries, Warren's actions are much worse than actually reported. As someone who once had to deal with Warren personally on a civic matter, I lost all my respect for him then. And it surely isn't getting any better.
That picture totally looks like a well trimmed Bobby Weir!
"Homo-hater"? Are you deliberately simplistic, Gustavo? Or is just easier than engaging people you disagree with in a discussion?
I consider both Ahmanson & Warren to be hypocrites. However, I find it oddly interesting that of the two, Warren--who is non-denominational in his Xtianity--is showing more Xtian compassion towards the St. James Anglican Church congregation, than Ahmanson--who is a St. James congregant (go figure)!
Dude he reads this?!??!?! Can I please borrow $2,000? Gustavo put in a good word for me and I'll give you a chalupa. Word.