Want to predict which state might move next to legalize same-sex marriage? You might count Catholics. The higher their percentage of the population, the more likely the state is to… support gay rights.

This counter-intuitive finding is brought to you with a tip of two hats — mine to Mark Silk at Spiritual Politics and his to Robbie Jones who led Silk to a new study soon by be published by two Columbia University political scientists.

Jeffrey Lax and Justin Phillips examined public support and resulting political policy on eight issues including marriage, housing, adoption and hate crimes.

The main thrust of the study was to examine whether there is “pro-gay bias in policy making” (the authors conclude no) or a tyranny of local majorities “in which anti-gay majorities trump minority rights” (the authors again say no).

See States with more Catholics more favor gay rights

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In UK RC Church rejects gay parents claims

The Roman Catholic Church has reacted angrily to comments endorsing gay parenthood from a charity with strong links to the Church.

Terry Prendergast of Marriage Care, which is partly funded by the Church, said there was no evidence children were harmed by having same-sex parents.

But the organisation representing Catholic bishops said children need parental role models of both genders.

It said Mr Prendergast, a former priest who has since married, was wrong.

Mr Prendergast made his comments to a gathering of gay Roman Catholics in Leicester.

He told the audience at the Quest conference that same-sex families, along with single and cohabiting parents, suffered discrimination and denigration because they fell short of the Vatican’s definition of what constituted a real family.

The views expressed by Terry Prendergast about the definition of family and marriage are clearly not a reflection of the Church’s teaching, nor those of the Bishops’ Conference

Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Agencies obey gay adoption rules

Instead, he said, they should be held up as role models and an advert for Catholicism.

Mr Prendergast also claimed that there was no evidence to show that children of same-sex parents suffered in any way, and that the elements that made for successful child-rearing were stable relationships.

But the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales has insisted that Mr Prendergast is wrong.

Pastoral response

In a statement, the organisation acknowledged that although it was difficult to define what a family was, the Church still believed that stability for children came from having parents of opposite genders who could provide different role models.

See Church rejects gay parents claims

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UK Roman Catholic church-funded marriage agency backs gay and unmaried parents

Terry Prendergast, the chief executive of Marriage Care, claimed there is “no evidence” that children do better if they are brought up in a traditional two-parent family.

He claimed that those who live together out of wedlock are trying to lead good lives but find themselves “consigned to the dustbin” by the church.

His comments – to be made this weekend to Quest, a group of homosexual Catholics – go directly against the church’s teaching, which holds that homosexuality is sinful and that families should be based on the marriage of a man and a woman.

Mr Prendergast said: “We see, for example, that statistically children do best in a family where the adult relationship is steady, stable and loving – you should note here perhaps that I stress adult, not married, since there is no evidence that suggests that children do best with heterosexual couples.”

He claimed that God was present in the relationships of married, homosexual and cohabiting heterosexual relationships where there was “commitment, consent and covenant”.

He went on: “They want to live good lives according to the precepts of the Gospels. They are an advert for the Church, an advert that the Church often ignores or consigns to the wastebin.”

See Catholic church-funded marriage agency backs gay and unmaried parents Telegraph.co.uk

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Neb. Catholics ask for OK for psychologists to not treat gays

(Lincoln, Neb.) Nebraska’s rules for licensed psychologists could change because of concerns about potential conflicts between religious convictions and sexual orientation.

Jim Cunningham of the Nebraska Roman Catholic Conference says psychologists and other licensed therapists should be able to refuse to treat or refer clients because of the counselors’ religious or …

Governor Gregoire Signs Domestic Partnership Law

It’s not marriage. But a new law in Washington state will soon give gay and lesbian couples the same legal rights as married couples. Governor Gregoire signed the measure Monday.

Hundreds of couples, families and children packed into a muggy Seattle community center, to celebrate a victory. They cheered as Governor Chris Gregoire signed the so–called “everything but marriage” bill.

Gregoire: “It is time for all us here in the state of Washington to stand up and say, ‘We stand for justice. And we stand for shared responsibility to one another.’ Today is that day.”

This measure is the latest step in a three–year effort to give gay couples the same rights as married couples. This final piece adds spousal benefits and rights previously denied to some domestic partners, like workers’ compensation and disability insurance.

See Governor Gregoire Signs Domestic Partnership Law

KUOW NPR -

Domestic partnership law gives gay couples same rights as marriage KPAX-TV

Will Washington’s Catholics become California’s Mormons Examiner.com

“Everything But Marriage” Law in Wash. Advocate.com

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Quinnipiac poll shows racial divide on marriage support among New Yorkers

New polling data was released on same-sex marriage by Quinnipiac University today, showing that New Yorkers are split on the legalization of same-sex marriage. According to the pollster, “Voters opposed same-sex marriage 55 – 37 percent in an April 15, 2004″ similar poll:

New York State voters are split 46 – 46 percent on whether same-sex couples should be allowed to marry, with black voters opposed 57 – 35 percent while white voters tip narrowly in favor of gay marriage 47 – 45 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

In this latest survey of more than 2,800 voters, New York State voters support same-sex civil unions 65 – 27 percent with 67 – 24 percent support from white voters and 52 – 39 percent support from black voters.

Jews support same-sex marriage 61 – 34 percent as Catholics oppose it 53 – 39 percent and Protestants say no 55 – 38 percent. Voters who attend religious services at least once a week oppose same-sex marriage 66 – 26 percent, while those who attend services less frequently support same-sex marriage 56 – 36 percent. Women support the measure 49 – 42 percent while men oppose it 51 – 42 percent.

Democrats support same-sex marriage 59 – 34 percent, but Republicans oppose it 68 – 24 percent while independent voters split with 46 percent in favor and 45 percent opposed. Same- sex marriage wins 61 – 33 percent support among voters 18 to 34 years old and gets 48 – 44 percent support among voters 35 to 54 years old, while voters over 55 oppose it 55 – 37 percent.

Gays and lesbians are born that way, 46 percent of New York State voters say, while 29 percent say people choose their sexual orientation and 6 percent say it is decided by upbringing.

Deeper analysis of the poll and more figures can be found here.

See Quinnipiac poll shows racial divide on marriage support among New Yorkers
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