Ever since Saddleback pastor Rick Warren began his climb to eminence in the 1980s, he has had to combat complaints from associate evangelicals that he is not nearly conservative enough! Of late too, Warren has been on the wrong side of criticism since November when he worked for the passage of 'Proposition 8' in California.

Even President-elect Barack Obama's pick of Rick Warren for giving the invocation at his January 20 Inauguration has led to hyper-partisan denigration from the Democratic Left, which says that Warren is "not consistent" with "mainstream American values."

Though Warren appears to be like any other religious traditionalist - son of a Southern Baptist pastor, Southern Baptist seminary graduate, and the conservative denomination of his church in Orange County - his worldview is somewhat less than conventional.

Speaking against the use of torture to combat terrorism, joining the fight against global warming, and giving fianacial help to people with AIDS, Warren has not been treading the beaten track of conservative Christians! According to Rev. William Leonard, dean of Wake Forest Divinity School in North Carolina, "Warren's social consciousness is somewhat left of center, but his theological, ethical stance is right of center."

Commenting about Obama's choice of Warren, president of the Human Rights Campaign, Joe Solmonese, said that by inviting Warren to his Inauguration, Obama has stained the view that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans have a place at his table.

Pointing out that during his campaign Obama stated his commitment to LGBT rights, a "very disappointed" Rep. Barney Frank is putting down a marker; the left will scrutinize whether the incoming President deserves their continued support after the Warren-blessed Inauguration.