Hudson said she hopes her appointment will help the SU community become more aware and understanding of the pagan community. Although she said there is more awareness and respect than the past, she hopes the chaplaincy will help stigmas and stereotypes disappear.

"(Hendricks has) always put us on equal standing as any other religious group, but to have a pagan chaplain is slightly different in a good, good way," she said.

Yet for all this success, there is a pervasive sense of doom. Prosperous and long-lived as never before, Europeans look into the future with fear, as if they have a secret sickness that has not yet made itself manifest by obvious symptoms but is nevertheless eating away in their vital parts. They are aware that, in Chinese parlance, the mandate of heaven has been withdrawn from them, and that in losing that, they have lost everything.

Partly because of the continuing need to avoid AIDS--and the practices which can spread it--Ssempa and many other Ugandan pastors have united to form a task force against homosexuality and support new legislation to curtail the negative health impact of the so-called "lifestyle."

Homosexual acts are illegal in Uganda and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. But the bill would raise that penalty to life in prison or death penalty in some cases of homosexual intercourse.

"It is unconscionable to target gays and lesbians for who they are," Mr. Obama said, while addressing politicians and religious leaders at the prayer breakfast. Mr. Obama has joined European nations in criticizing the proposed Bill.