Saddleback Church Says Rick Warren’s Son Has Committed Suicide

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41. Welcome to DU, honeyward!

Good to have you with us.

Hey, none of us knows what really happened in that family. However, as I said farther down thread, it is NOT an unreasonable assumption to make, considering the political-social climate and the bad attitudes and prejudices many people still have about gays. Young people have so much to process and make peace with, Just As Is. Even the ones who are purportedly what society would define as "normal." And it's something that we've seen happen before to other families.

It's hurtful all around. And you know that, as parents, the Warrens will always wonder what they could have done, or done differently, that might have avoided this outcome. So incredibly sad. I mean - just think for a moment. Suicide is regarded as a very grievous sin in many religions. Used to be, from my understanding being a Catholic, that if you committed suicide, you were not allowed to be buried in a Catholic cemetery. It was a taboo. And it wasn't discussed. And it was a huge shaming. So imagine you're a kid in that family where the ongoing belief system is that homosexuality is an abomination against God. What if your family has a head-of-household who goes out on TV and the lecture circuit pounding away at this belief system in as high-profile a way as Rick Warren sought out for himself. What if you hear it again and again - "homosexuality is a sin before God," and yet when you're brushing your teeth in the morning and you look in the mirror something deep down inside you says - "but that is also ME." I can't imagine a more painful existence! I can't imagine what would contribute more to a serious depression or inner instability.

But how do we know, as well, whether this family's heartbreak might ultimately lead to something healing for other families - and more importantly, prevention of even one other suicide? If perhaps (and of course, ASSUMING THE SPECULATION IS TRUE) this were confronted and discussed, maybe it would be the critical-mass moment for other families with this inner struggle - the way many gun afficionados have been moved to change some of their attitudes about gun ownership after the Sandy Hook tragedy smacked them in the face? Because this stuff happens. AS speculated here - even if it seems unkind or too blunt. Unfortunately, this shit does happen.