Rick Warren denies making statements to Syria news
Rick Warren from The Sinner's Guide to the Evangelical Right
[Thanks Bene Diction] From Speroforum
The state-run Syrian news agency reported that Protestant Pastor Rick Warren disagrees with US policy in the Mideast and Iraq and that he believes the American administration is mistaken not to hold dialogue with Syria. Rick Warren is pastor of 20,000-member Saddleback Church in Orange County, California.During Warren's visit to Syria on Sunday, the news agency also said Warren believes there was no peace in the region without Syria, and he noted that 80 percent of the American people rejected what the US Administration is doing in Iraq.
The news agency also mentioned Rick Warren as part of an "American delegation" and photographed him sitting beside Syrian President al-Assad. The agency also said Warren "hailed the religious coexistence, tolerance and stability that the Syrian society is enjoying due to the wise leadership of President al-Assad, asserting that he will convey the true image about Syria to the American people." It reported that Warren also gave the President a drawing as "a gift to the Syrian people for their generosity and hospitality, thanking their efforts exerted for maintaining peace and harmony."
In a statement, Christian radio network, VCY America, a frequent critic of mega churches, said Warren "has no business involving himself in any role that appears to be representative of the United States. His promise to Syria to present a brighter view of that nation to America and Saddleback members demonstrates his willingness to serve as a mindless shill for a nation that embraces terror as a legitimate way of solving problems."
The United States has listed Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1979 but said the Syrian Government has not been implicated directly in an act of terrorism since 1986. In September, the US lauded Syrian forces for foiling an attack by extremists on its embassy in Damascus. The US State Department added, though, that preliminary findings of a UN investigation into the February assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri have indicated a strong likelihood of official Syrian involvement. READ IT ALL
Bill McCartney
