Associated Press - December 1, 2006

Warren ignored calls to disinvite Obama, and the Illinois Democrat and potentional presidential candidate was scheduled to attend Friday's summit at Saddleback Church. Obama planned to take an HIV test during his appearance with Republican Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, Warren and Warren's wife, Kay.

Warren's decision to invite Obama infuriated some evangelical Christians. On Tuesday, Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council, sent an e-mail to reporters calling Obama's support of abortion rights "the antithesis of biblical ethics and morality, not to mention supreme American values."

Radio host and blogger Kevin McCullough wrote in an online column that Warren, author of "The Purpose Driven Life" had "joined himself with one of the smoothest politicians of our times, and also one whose wickedness in worldview contradicts nearly every tenant of the Christian faith that Warren professes."

In a statement, Saddleback Church defended its decision to invite Obama.

"We do not expect all participants in the summit discussion to agree with all of our evangelical beliefs," the statement read. "However, the HIV/AIDS pandemic cannot be fought by evangelicals alone."

On Thursday, two dozen religious leaders issued an open letter to pastors nationwide expressing support for Saddleback and calling on the faithful to come together to fight AIDS despite religious and political differences.

"We ... wonder why any organization claiming to represent believers in Jesus Christ would choose to play what amounts to partisan politics instead of encouraging our leaders to address the scourge of AIDS," the letter read. "In the face of this crisis, it boggles our minds and offends our God-given sense of justice that these groups would choose to attack Sen. Obama and Reverend Warren - Christians both - for working together to stamp out AIDS."

Obama was traveling Thursday and unavailable for an interview. In a statement released through a spokesman, however, he said the AIDS crisis required an "all-hands-on-deck effort."

"Neither philanthropist nor scientist, neither government nor church can solve this problem on their own, but if we're willing to look past the artificial debates and divisions that sometimes characterize the response to this crisis and work together, I think we can make a real difference and save a lot of lives," Obama said.

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