One of Rick Warren's prized achievements over the past few years has been his outreach to Africa.

The influential pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California, author of best-selling book The Purpose Driven Life, has become an influential voice in several countries on the continent, including Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda.

But that prominence has recently drawn him into controversy.

When the Ugandan legislature began considering a draconian anti-homosexuality bill — which in one version would have punished "aggravated homosexuality" with death or life imprisonment — Warren was castigated for not denouncing the proposed law, especially when one of its most public supporters was revealed to have been a speaker at a Saddleback-sponsored seminar.

The American preacher severed ties with Pastor Martin Ssempa in October but demurred from saying more, saying it would be interfering in Ugandan politics. But after criticism grew in the U.S., Warren on Thursday released a video statement to Ugandan church leaders condemning the proposed law.

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