Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/controversy-emerges-over-obamas-choice-of-inauguration-pastor Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript President-elect Barack Obama has fielded criticism for choosing Christian leader Rev. Rick Warren, whose conservative views are in contrast with some of Obama's base supporters, to give an inaugural invocation. Analysts discuss the controversy. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. RAY SUAREZ: Through his best-selling books and softer-edged Evangelism, Pastor Rick Warren of California's Saddleback Church has become one of America's most influential Christian leaders.But his selection by the president-elect to give the invocation at January's inauguration has been met with heavy criticism from many Obama supporters because of Warren's conservative views on homosexuality and abortion. Warren has equated gay marriage with incest and abortion with the Holocaust.Mr. Obama was asked today about why he made the choice. U.S. PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA: I would note that, a couple of years ago, I was invited to Rick Warren's church to speak, despite his awareness that I held views that were entirely contrary to his when it came to gay and lesbian rights, when it came to issues like abortion.Nevertheless, I had an opportunity to speak. And that dialogue, I think, is part of what my campaign's been all about, that we're not going to agree on every single issue, but what we have to do is to be able to create an atmosphere when we — where we can disagree without being disagreeable. RAY SUAREZ: Mr. Obama also pointed out that the Rev. Joseph Lowery will give a benediction on January 20th. The civil rights leader holds views in contrast to Warren's on many issues, including gay marriage.Warren has been widely praised for his church's work on AIDS in Africa and social justice issues. He's now among that rarefied strata of religious leaders with whom presidents and aspiring presidents consult. RICK WARREN, Saddleback Church: What's been your greatest moral failure? RAY SUAREZ: Outside of the three debates, a Warren-hosted forum last August in California was one of only a handful of occasions where Barack Obama and John McCain shared a stage, that day to discuss the role of faith and morality in their lives and work.So what does the Rick Warren choice say about President-elect Obama? And what message, if any, is he trying to send?For that, I'm joined by Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a Washington-based think-tank, and Harry Knox, director of the religion and faith program at the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group.