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April 6th, 2013
05:20 PM ET
Son of Pastor Rick Warren commits suicide, family saysBy the CNN Wire staff (CNN) -After a lifelong battle with mental illness, the youngest son of Pastor Rick Warren has committed suicide, his family said. Matthew Warren, 27, died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on Friday, said Deputy Daniel Aikin, with the Orange County Coroner's Office. The family shared news of his death in an e-mail to church staff. Rick Warren and his wife founded Saddleback Valley Community Church, a megachurch in Southern California. "No words can express the anguished grief we feel right now," the pastor wrote in the note, a copy of which was sent to CNN. "You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man. He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter "But only those closest knew that he struggled from birth with mental illness, dark holes of depression, and even suicidal thoughts. In spite of America's best doctors, meds, counselors, and prayers for healing, the torture of mental illness never subsided." According to Aikin, Matthew Warren's body was found at his home in Mission Viejo, California, late Friday afternoon. He put the estimated time of death at around 10 a.m. that day. The coroner's office is investigating the death. An autopsy will be conducted early next week, Aikin told CNN on Saturday. According to a spokesman for Rick Warren, Matthew Warren worked in the Saddleback Resources Warehouse, which distributes books and DVDs. As a pioneer of the megachurch movement, Rick Warren looked to translate traditional evangelical messages to a wider audience. The pastor gave the invocation at President Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration and penned "The Purpose-Driven Life," a Christian self-help guide that became a mainstream best-seller. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories "I'll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said 'Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Why can't I just die and end this pain?' but he kept going for another decade," Rick Warren wrote in the e-mail. In a separate statement, his church asked for prayers and that "God's comfort and peace" be with the Warren family. A spokesman for Warren provided a copy of a letter Warren sent to members of his staff:
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I am not a religious person......personally "God" seems more like a trained dog...bark at this ....wag at that...however that being said ...the man has lost a son....lighten up maggots.
Its a sad thing of course to lose a loved one. But a religious extremist would never really worry, afterall this was the goal of his life to live foreever in the after life? NOT this life, after-life. Right?
Christians are the biggest cult with loads of hypocrisy. As many have said, why the heck is Warren sad? As per the evangelical bul** the kid should be in gaven? right. Why the sadness? Doesn't make sense logically.
Well logic is something that is completely missing in his 'business', so that wouldn't work.
So why is he sad? Could it be because as humans we have other feelings and inherent love for life and for the life of the loved ones (which he calls god given? ). Those are pretty universal feelings across all the animal kingdom (including humans). Hence once can only conclude that he "knows" that this is the only life we mortals will ever have and any one with a bit of brain would want to live as long as possible on this beautiful earth, not waste their time in useless praying for gaven.
Well enough of my rants. The enlightened would understand what I am saying. Those who want to live forever in gaven, just should wonder why the heck they are living on earth and wasting time praying, they could also be in gaven sooner.
wow you are mean as ever. i dont agree that the pastor shoved anything down his son throat. where are you facts that being a christian is like a cult. you don
wrong time to spew bigotry dude. with you showing absolutely no decency and common sense, you are in no position and have no credibility to pass any judgement.
what have you done for humanity lately? beside abusing freedom of stupidity, I mean speech?
I'm not a religious but you are a disgusting person with no respect to anyone. You opinion doesn't matter. He is a human being trying to help people with his faith and at this moment he deserves respect.
mslch, what part of truth hurt you so bad? And you did also exercise your freedom of "being stupid" errr speech.
Where was bigotry in my comments? I merely returned the favor of logical bigotry coming from the hateful right in this country.
Hate begets hate, it seem you folks can fling it but cant take it back.
Eric, yeah right. Non-religious. nuff said.
Read my comment carefully, what I said about being human. U have any comprehension skills? If you did then your first reaction wouldn't be that I am not religious, cause most likely your are.
i understand your believes but the religion itself does not cause people to kill them selves where your respect. where are your evidence that says the family faith cause people to kill them selves
You avoid the bad karma from coming no matter how you pray to GOD .
My dad makes me watch Star Trek episodes over and over again. And then trolls on the internet.
Inspiration
"Yeah go atheist and go straight to hell."
You know I was actually going to diss you until numb nuts said that.
Inspiration from the shallow end of the gene pool? Or just more croaking.
You be the judge. Newts at 11. Narf!
Rick Warren and his Christian gay-hating crew have bullied gay sons and daughters. You reap what you sow.
where are your respect and where are your facts do you have any evidence. the reap and you sow comment is wrong,. the man's son died
hey Zach, why should he be given respect, when he hates gays, liberals, atheists, other religions, non-por-lifers, etc. Why should he get respect. Arent there enough of "sheeps" like you to give respect and mourn?
So who died and made you relevant?
what do you mean by calling me sheep. i knows the man son died and he probablt does hat many people but where do yo ucome off with saying that he doesnt deserve some respect his son died and that he is suffering where is your manners
@john i am relevant i am new to this blog and @cigarld i dont know what you means by i calling me a sheep. does it give a right to bash a guy who has a a history of hating people he lost a chiid grow up and respect should be given to everybody irregardless of his or her believes
Sow what? May your lack of compassion and humility be truly revealed and may you be judged.
Mentally ill, suicidal, and under medical care for years, yet Matthew Warren was still able to get a gun; and you can bet it was legally purchased.
Not only should people being treated for mental illness be data-based so their names will come up during a gun-purchase background check, families must do a much better job of removing firearms from the possession of relatives who may harm themselves or others....
Yeah, a database of people seeking treatment for mental illness, that's a wonderful idea!!! Because it wouldn't lead to the further stigmatization of mental illness in this country, and it certainly wouldn't prevent people from seeking treatment, for fear of being added to "the list". Right...
Are you suggesting that someone who lost a child or a parent and went to grief couseling due to temporary depression should never be able to purchase a firearm?
.......It is tough to live up to the perfection demanded by the son of a preacher. I know..............
Interesting comment, would that like having parents for teachers and never being smart enough?
Sorry Dyslexic....should read teachers for parents.
what kind of people are on this post. have some respect for the man. there is no facts to back up that RIck Warren has anything do with the poor man's son death. nothing my point is that many people should learn to respect other people. its does not matter that he is a pastor. what does matter with people. he just lost his son and its wrong to say he had something to with it. where are your manners.
Hate to break it to you Zack, unless you're suffering from multiple personalities, my comment wasn't directed at you.
i know that i am speaking to all people who read this blog.
I can not get over how cruel and sick some of you 'so called humans' can be. Whether you like this family or not, there is no reason to get on here and voice your horrible, offending, sick thoughts! There are so many places you can go and release your sick aggressions other than a place where someone has just lost their child. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy! So just remember you reap what you sow and whether or not you want to believe it, you WILL answer for actions. Please try not to be selfish and hateful and do something constructive with yourselves. I can only imagine how miserable you people are with yourselves. What a shame
Judge not, lest you be....oh, ... wait...
i agree with you 100% some people has too much time on their hands and like i said earlier some people dont have no respect and lost their manners
Zachary I can't imagine some of theses people ever had manners.. I could never imagine being so ignorant and cruel to anyone whether I believed in God or I didn't...
If he had mental illlness how did he get a gun?
It was probably his father's
That's a question that will have to be answered real soon. I can't wait to hear what Rick says about that.
My deepest sympathy to his family. I know first hand how awful this is as I lost a 20 yr old son to suicide. Your life is never the same. So sad,
I am sorry for your loss sir.
JESUS , laughed at death and said " oh death where is your victory now ? " , he means what he says and
says what he means. " oh death where is thy sting " , greater men have gone through the valley of death ,
JOB and all of his suffering and the loss of his sons and daughters said " blessed be the name of the
lord , naked i came , naked will i depart from this earth " , ALL WILL RISE ON THE RESURECTION
DAY . JESUS SAID I AM the way the truth , i am the resurection. who can refute his
words. who can answer god as he answered job out of the storm , who can boast
as he did. THEN GOD MEANS WHAT HE SAYS.
More kind and loving posts from my dad soon.
Out of respect for the dead (and the living), CNN should close this comments section.
Also, if you're an archeologist from the year 2500, and you find this stuff, please throw it away.
I assure you, humanity isn't this bad.
Bravo, Morovia. Deepest condolences to the Matthew's entire family. We are so sorry for the loss, and for the pain you feel.
Amen
It's insanity. I saw this article a few hours ago and checked back in to see the comments. I see the some of the same posters still trolling and making horrific remarks. That means they have been on this article for HOURS stirring up trouble. What does that tell us about who they are? No life, very unhappy and mentally ill themselves. It truly is not an example of our society today. Not at all.
demonic seance? Demonic oppression? mental attacks? circles of tormenting comments? demonic manifestation?
RIP, tender soul.
Ecclesiastes 7:17
Be not overly wicked, neither be a fool. Why should you die before your time?
Not Helpful
1 Corinthians 3:16-17
Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
suicide is not the unpardonable sin...there is only one.
Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Mark 3:28-29 (KJV)
I'm sorry for your loss. His faith and your will get you through these times. And for the nay sayer's, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (say). Peace be with you Pastor Rick, family and church family.
The vile comments about this man had his family show the level of filth and rot that is in the life and mind of the atheist. Most atheist are basically low level trash or hillbillies that have no regard or empathy with a father and mother who have lost a child. But then what do you expect from an atheist? They mimic ignorance and confusion.
My dad is coming to get you.
The bible says you go to hell if you commit suicide.
oh and your rush to "judgement" is any better? don't make me laugh
My dad is the best troll there is.
Ignore this gay half-wit – he can't help it, he was born that way! 🙂
I'm just like my dad. Like father like son.
In-sipiration, wishful thinking! How are your hemorrhoids these days?