We have come to expect outrageous statements that frequently flow from the mouths of atheists like physicist Stephen Hawking and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.  Dawkins, in particular, works hard and has made quite a living at attacking God.  Some of us will never get used to what they say. However, as offensive as I find their suggestions, I do not think  that anything they have ever said has taken my breath away in quite the same manner as what Desmond Tutu recently announced to the United Nations.

The now retired black African leader campaigned hard to end apartheid and was well-deserving of his Nobel Peace Prize and other prestigious awards for his no less than heroic attempts to end the ongoing racism, violence and intolerance in his country.  Now this man of God has turned the Gospel around, put his own sway on it, and in no uncertain terms, put God to a test.

During a July appearance before the UN for the “Free and Equal campaign in South Africa at which Tutu spoke, he declared that he “refused to go to a homophobic Heaven,” and would rather go to hell than worship a God who was homophobic.  He was adamant and said his feelings about this were as deep as they were for the cause of antiapartheid. 

I understand his hard-lined stance about the many countries in Africa who enact the death sentence on those committing homosexual acts. The governments making these policies are evil but you are asking to go to the same place others have tried to make your people feel like they were in.

I am appalled and distressed that a peaceful man of God who has championed such outstanding human rights causes would then turn around and challenge what God has said is right.  Do you know what doors you may have possibly opened up not only for yourself but for others who hang on your very words, sir?  And I am not talking about the doors of Heaven. 

Do you really realize what you have said, Tutu? You could have wished nothing worse on or for yourself. 

Katie