How does burning condoms in the name of Jesus save lives?

[Miss Philicia]

Rick Warren's Africa Problem
by Max Blumenthal
January 7, 2009 | 6:23am


Team Obama likes to cite Warren’s work on AIDS in Africa to combat criticism about the controversial pastor. But how does burning condoms in the name of Jesus save lives?

Once hailed by Time magazine as “America’s Pastor,” California mega-church leader and bestselling author of The Purpose Driven Life Rick Warren now finds himself on the defensive. President-elect Barack Obama’s selection of Warren to deliver the inaugural prayer has generated intense scrutiny of the pastor’s beliefs on social issues, from his vocal support for Prop 8, a ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage in California, to his comparison of homosexuality to pedophilia, incest and bestiality. Many of Obama’s supporters have demanded that he withdraw the invitation.

Warren’s defense against charges of intolerance ultimately depends upon his ace card: his heavily publicized crusade against AIDS in Africa. Obama senior advisor David Axelrod cited Warren’s work in Africa as one of “the things on which [Obama and Warren] agree” on the December 28 episode of Meet the Press. Warren may be opposed to gay rights and abortion, the thinking goes, but he tells evangelicals it is their God-given duty to battle one of the greatest pandemics in history. What could be wrong with that?

But since the Warren inauguration controversy erupted, the nature of work against AIDS in Africa has gone unexamined. Warren has not been particularly forthcoming to those who have attempted to look into it. His website contains scant information about the results of his program. However, an investigation into Warren’s involvement in Africa reveals a web of alliances with right-wing clergymen who have sidelined science-based approaches to combating AIDS in favor of abstinence-only education. More disturbingly, Warren’s allies have rolled back key elements of one of the continent’s most successful initiative, the so-called ABC program in Uganda. Stephen Lewis, the United Nations’ special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, told the New York Times their activism is “resulting in great damage and undoubtedly will cause significant numbers of infections which should never have occurred.”

Warren’s man in Uganda is a charismatic pastor named Martin Ssempa. The head of the Makerere Community Church, a rapidly growing congregation, Ssempe enjoys close ties to his country’s First Lady, Janet Museveni, and is a favorite of the Bush White House. In the capitol of Kampala, Ssempa is known for his boisterous crusading. Ssempa’s stunts have included burning condoms in the name of Jesus and arranging the publication of names of homosexuals in cooperative local newspapers while lobbying for criminal penalties to imprison them.

Dr. Helen Epstein, a public health consultant who authored the book, The Invisible Cure: Why We’re Losing The Fight Against AIDS In Africa, met Ssempa in 2005. Epstein told me the preacher seemed gripped by paranoia, warning her of a secret witches coven that met under Lake Victoria. “Ssempa also spoke to me for a very long time about his fear of homosexual men and women,” Epstein said. “He seemed very personally terrified by their presence.”

When Warren unveiled his global AIDS initiative at a 2005 conference at his Saddleback Church, he cast Ssempa as his indispensable sidekick, assigning him to lead a breakout session on abstinence-only education as well as a seminar on AIDS prevention. Later, Ssempa delivered a keynote address, a speech so stirring it “had the audience on the edge of its seats,” according to Warren’s public relations agency. A year later, Ssempa returned to Saddleback Church to lead another seminar on AIDS. By this time, his bond with the Warrens had grown almost familial. “You are my brother, Martin, and I love you,” Rick Warren’s wife, Kay, said to Ssempa from the stage. Her voice trembled with emotion as she spoke and tears ran down her cheeks.

Joining Ssempa at Warren’s church were two key Bush administration officials who controlled the purse strings of the president’s newly minted $15 billion anti-AIDS initiative in Africa, PEPFAR. Ugandan first lady Janet Museveni also appeared through a videotaped address to tout the success of her country’s numerous church-based abstinence programs.

These Bush officials—Randall Tobias, the Department of State’s Global AIDS coordinator, and Claude Allen, the White House’s chief domestic policy advisor—are closely linked to the Christian right. Tobias, the so-called “global AIDS czar,” declared in 2004 that condoms “really have not been very effective," and crusaded against prostitution, until he resigned in 2007 when he was exposed as a regular client of the D.C. Madam’s escort service. Allen, once an aide to the late Senator Jesse Helms, resigned in 2006 after he was arrested for felony thefts from retail stores.

During the early 1990s, when many African leaders denied the AIDS epidemic’s existence, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni spoke openly about the importance of safe sex. With the help of local and international non-governmental organizations, he implemented an ambitious program emphasizing abstinence, monogamous relationships, and using condoms as the best ways to prevent the spread of AIDS. He called the program “ABC.” By 2003, Uganda’s AIDS rate plummeted 10 percent. The government’s free distribution of the “C” in ABC—condoms—proved central to the program’s success, according to Avert, an international AIDS charity.

On New Year’s Eve, 1999, Janet Museveni, who had become born-again, convened a massive stadium revival in Kampala to dedicate her country to the “lordship” of Jesus Christ. As midnight approached, the First Lady summoned a local pastor to the stage to anoint the nation. “We renounce idolatry, witchcraft, and Satanism in our land!” he proclaimed.

Two years later, Janet Museveni flew to Washington at the height of a heated congressional debate over PEPFAR. She carried in her hand a prepared message to distribute to Republicans. Abstinence was the golden bullet in her country’s fight against AIDS, she assured conservative lawmakers, denying the empirically proven success of her husband’s condom distribution program. Like magic, the Republican-dominated Congress authorized over $200 million for Uganda, but only for the exclusive promotion of abstinence education. Ssempa soon became the “special representative of the First Lady’s Task Force on AIDS in Uganda,” receiving $40,000 from the PEPFAR pot.

Emboldened by U.S. support, Ssempa took his anti-condom crusade to Makerere University in Kampala, where senior residents of a men’s dormitory promoted safe sex by greeting incoming freshmen with a giant effigy wearing a condom. According to Helen Epstein, one day after she visited the school, Ssempa stormed on to campus, tore the condom from the effigy, grabbed a box of free condoms, and set them ablaze. “I burn these condoms in the name of Jesus!” Ssempa shouted as he prayed over the burning box.

“It was a very controversial time,” Epstein told me. “After the Bush administration authorized PEPFAR, a number of the local evangelical preachers began to get excited about this and get involved in AIDS very rapidly. To try to prove his credentials, Ssempa became increasingly active and vociferous in his antipathy towards condoms.”

By 2005, billboards promoting condom use disappeared from the streets of Kampala, replaced by billboards promoting virginity. “Until recently, all HIV-related billboards were about condoms. Those of us calling for abstinence and faithfulness need billboards too,” Ssempa told the BBC at the time. A 2005 report by Human Rights Watch documented that educational material in Uganda’s secondary schools falsely claiming condoms had microscopic pores that could be penetrated by the HIV virus and noted the sudden nationwide shortage of condoms due to new restrictions imposed by on condom imports.

AIDS activists arrived at the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto in 2006 with disturbing news from Uganda. Due at least in part to the chronic condom shortage, HIV infections were on the rise again. The disease rate had spiked to 6.5 percent among rural men, and 8.8 percent among women—a rise of nearly two points in the case of women. “The ‘C’ part [of ABC] is now mainly silent,” said Ugandan AIDS activist Beatrice Ware. As a result, she said, “the success story is unraveling.”

remainder of article can be read by clicking here.

[BT65]

Every time I see Rick Warren's face I want to hurl.  All of this terribly managed Aids campaign is just another reason to dislike him and his "followers."   Maybe someday, one of these people will be saying to themselves, "I should have used a condom."

[Moffie65]

Philica,

My thanks for bringing this to our attention, however the content, while not surprising, brought me to tears when I think of all the lives that could have been saved; if only truly done the "way Jesus would have done it".

Con men, and women in this case, are a slippery bunch, and these two from Kampala are truly refined in their avarice and greed.  Hell I could become an archbishop of a church if someone gave me $200,000,000!  Unfortunately when those in Washington were also driven by the same greed and avarice; presto, you end up with complete chaos, and in this case, murder. 

Yes, make that bastard in the Whitehouse pay, and someone please wake Mr. Obama up. 

[rick21007]

What would Jesus do?  (and i ask this in only half-jest!)    My guess is that He and His disciples would be passing out condoms in Uganda  and most likely get thrown in jail by the religious right for it.

rick

[woodshere]

What would Jesus do?  (and i ask this in only half-jest!)    My guess is that He and His disciples would be passing out condoms in Uganda  and most likely get thrown in jail by the religious right for it.

I would say your are exactly correct.

[komnaes]

“I burn these condoms in the name of Jesus!” Ssempa shouted as he prayed over the burning box.

He could have just swallowed them...

[Basquo]

What would Jesus do? 

Ask Him.

[newt]

I just have to say...

1. Having spent a lot of time in Africa for AIDS, ABC is hugely popular with many Africans.

2. In the context of 10%, 20%, 40% prevalence, it doesnt matter a flying fuck waht you do in terms of prevention, except perhaps, LONG TERM, make people significantly richer.

- matt

[komnaes]

Ask Him.

It is the last thing you should ask those freaks to do buddy.. you never know what's actually whispering to their ears..

[hotpuppy]

Sadly, Africa isn't the only place having this problem.  The infection rate among youth in the US is soaring.

Not to take away from the thread.  Ms. Phillicia is right on.  Warren is scum and his sidekick is just a money grubbing hater.  Thankfully they will be out of power in approximately 12 days.  I just hope Obama can really effect change... considering that his cabinet is made up of mostly Senate members.

Once they are out of power they will have to slink back under their rocks and pray about us for a while.

[BlueMoon]

It's about saving souls, not lives.

[edfu]

Once they are out of power they will have to slink back under their rocks and pray about us for a while.

Once WHO is out of power???  The Republican right-wing current administration?  Maybe, but Obama has now raised Warren to further prominence with his selection to a featured "religious" role in the inauguration.  Don't you think Warren and "his sidekick" Ssempa will continue with their murderous policies?  Warren and Ssempa are not going to "slink," I guarantee you. 

It's about saving souls, not lives.

So was torture and burning at the stake during the Inquisition. 

[U1195]

  I am African,believe me,the Christian Religion hast contributed to a great extent to put
put Africa today in this undescribeable human suffering and death through hiv and aids.
Aids in Africa is a sickness of Christians,and we see the Islamic North-African countries donot
have the problem to the extent as in christian south of the sahara.

The christian Religions planted the seeds for the spread of hiv and aids in Africa,through brain-washing africans.And even now where hiv is out of control in africa,it is still the christian religions puting stones on the way of people who want to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Hiv and aids are a sickness of christians in africa.And the christian religions have brought death to millions
of africans instead of saving lives I am planing an action in the catholic church in my village:on a sunday church service,when the priest will start giving out  holy communion,i will also go out stand near the priest and share condomes. i know they will through me out immediately but i will resist!!

[komnaes]

It's about saving souls, not lives.

Burning condoms can safe souls? Is it the latest trend in witchcraft?

[Moffie65]

A special note to U1195,
I grew up in Kenya, a son of a missionary, and I must tell you that I totally agree with much of what you have just written.  Unfortunately, few in Europe or the United States can appreciate the utter negative influence that Christianity, as it has been interpreted by most missionaries throughout history; has had on sub saharan Africa.  Yes, I witnessed it for most of my youth, and I somehow agree with most of what you have said.  I trust you will enjoy what I am writing in this post.

I don't care what anyone says, Warren and Ssempa are total con men.  I can prove that, using their own theology.

If they want to use the Old Testament from the bible to squash Gays and anyone else on the planet; then they are in error, because the OT was written for the Hebrews, or Jews.  To use OT theology for the modern day is incorrect for Christains to use, and the Jewish church should rise up in protest.

After the death, resurection, and assention of Jesus, the church grew in the middle east and the Roman Empire, and as such, there were teachers and people of the church that would go around and tell the churches what the proper way of living a Christain life should be.  For example, Paul was one of the most promenent of these, as he was the author of many of the New Testament books.  Mostly letters to churches.  These are the crux of the modern Christian church, and are used by Warren and his type to do their ministries, and they have taken the liberty to apply these Christian ways of living and behavior to the masses at large all over the planet.

The problem arises when they go OUTSIDE of their own churches and make edicts which are universal and supposed to apply to the society at large.  We don't have to listen to these people, and should by their own theology go back into their closets and shut the fuck up.  Have they forgotten that it was people just like them that crucified Jesus because they declared him a heretic!  I just wish someone would wake up and quit acknowledging these types in Washington.

Paul even stated in one of his letters that preaching and teaching the society at large was equivilant to "casting pearls to the swine".  Well this is one swine that is so deeply frustrated by these Theological Terrorists, and I look forward to the demise of Warren, just as many of his lying and hateful types have been brought down in the past.

What a sad state of affairs it is that we now accept people coming into promenence due to the lies and hate that they spew in the name of Jesus.  

Frome one very frustrated and angry Christian Queer!!!!!!

If this post makes no sense to you, I appologise, it makes me so angry that sometimes the words don't flow with clarity

[Moffie65]

It's about saving souls, not lives.

It is pretty hard to save the souls of dead people.  Accepting of Jesus Christ and all that goes along with it, is a consious exercise.  If you are dead because the people who were supposed to bring you the message of salvation forgot to give you a condom so you could stay alive long enough to hear their message; then it is pretty much final that your soul has passed on and is not in the body that is supposed to accept that Christianity.  I detect an oxymoron, not unlike Rick Warren.

[aztecan]

What a sad state of affairs it is that we now accept people coming into prominence due to the lies and hate that they spew in the name of Jesus.  
From one very frustrated and angry Christian Queer!!!!!!

This is perhaps one of the reasons many of us old queers have forsaken Christianity. The utter hypocrisy of most Christian theologians is astounding.

Most organized religions are pretty hypocritical. They insist you must live as they say to live, or else.

I watched Rick Warren the other day. I had heard much about him, but never listened to him. He was speaking to a Muslim-American group.

I decided to make up my own mind after listening to him rather than relying on the opinions of others.

While he soft-peddled the vitriol most evangelicals spout, the underlying current was still there. Fanatics are fanatics, regardless of what religious pretext they use.

So, I must concur with Tim, Philicia, et al.

HUGS,

Mark

[Miss Philicia]

Burning condoms can safe souls? Is it the latest trend in witchcraft?

He was being sarcastic I think.

[Miss Philicia]

Speaking of non-vitriolic evangelicals, my very favorite of the "new breed" types are Joel Osteen and his Barbie doll wife, Victoria:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01ROlMaWDnQ

If you watch long enough they'll stick the knife into the cock suckers with a big, warm smile.

[hotpuppy]

Paul even stated in one of his letters that preaching and teaching the society at large was equivilant to "casting pearls to the swine".  

I'll bring the lipstick, you bring the dress... sounds like a fabulous time....   Oink!

[BlueMoon]

He was being sarcastic I think.

Not exactly sarcastic, but you can count me as firmly on the side of condoms for life.

I think that most religious organizations involved in charitable work such as this are basically recruiting to their ideology by targeting vulnerable groups.  And if they happen to actually believe what they preach, then big-time charity work looks impressive on their resumes if they're trying to get through the Pearly Gates.  But at heart, they still believe that sexuality, and especially homosexuality, is sinful, and that HIV is divine retribution for corrupting the sacred act of sex.

In fact it was Barack Obama who characterized sex as sacred, I think in a reply to the campaign charge that he advocated sex education for kindergarteners.  I found that disturbing.  It sounds far too Puritanical.