Rev. Joel Osteen: Would attend a gay wedding, wouldn't officiate one
Thu. October 27, 2011 4:14 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
Washington, D.C. -
Megachurch minister Joel Osteen said in an interview that he would attend a gay wedding -- but wouldn't officiate at one.
Osteen spoke with Washington Post columnist Sally Quinn.
She followed up on questions he was asked last week by CNN host Piers Morgan.
"I've said for as long as I remember that I believe the scriptures say that homosexuality is a sin," Osteen said. "I had never been asked about attending a gay marriage. If there was a family member or someone you loved -- I would look at it as a respect for that person. But as a Christian minister, I couldn't in good faith marry same sex people because I believe it's not what the scripture says.
"I think a gay person can take the same principals out of [my new] book. That they don't have to let another person take away their power with all the bullying we see. We all have sin and sometimes I think that there are certain organizations that want to pick on one sin. I don't see homosexuality as the same sort of sin as pride.
"I just don't think it does any good for us as ministers to beat people and be hateful -- Jesus was full of love and compassion. We're all growing and changing. Maybe someone who is having this difficulty now -- maybe in five years they won't."
Osteen spoke with Washington Post columnist Sally Quinn.
She followed up on questions he was asked last week by CNN host Piers Morgan.
"I've said for as long as I remember that I believe the scriptures say that homosexuality is a sin," Osteen said. "I had never been asked about attending a gay marriage. If there was a family member or someone you loved -- I would look at it as a respect for that person. But as a Christian minister, I couldn't in good faith marry same sex people because I believe it's not what the scripture says.
"I think a gay person can take the same principals out of [my new] book. That they don't have to let another person take away their power with all the bullying we see. We all have sin and sometimes I think that there are certain organizations that want to pick on one sin. I don't see homosexuality as the same sort of sin as pride.
"I just don't think it does any good for us as ministers to beat people and be hateful -- Jesus was full of love and compassion. We're all growing and changing. Maybe someone who is having this difficulty now -- maybe in five years they won't."