Religion
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22 November 2007Chorister dismissed for coming out on TV + Italian gay rights groups have said the case of a chorister forced to leave his choir due to being gay proves the countries need for anti-homophobia laws.Twenty year old Alberto Ruggin was dismissed by his priest after featuring on a television programme where he revealed his sexuality.His priest, Don Paolino Bettanin, from the northern Italian town of Padua, claimed he was "disgusted" by the whole affair. -
21 November 2007Female priest takes up gay Christian role 2 The Lesbian and Gay Christian movement has appointed a new assistant chief executive.Rev Sharon Ferguson, a Theology and Psychology graduate, said she hopes that she can work hard towards a time when groups like LGCM are no longer needed.She said she looked forward to a time: "When all people regardless of how they express they sexuality are treated as equal members of the body of Christ." -
18 November 2007Tutu hits out at Church of England over treatment of gays 6 Archbishop Desmond Tutu has criticised the Anglican church for being "obsessed" with homosexuality, in a BBC radio interview to be broadcast on Tuesday. -
15 November 2007US Catholic bishops issue voting guidance + No to gay marriage, the death penalty, stem cell research, abortion, racism, torture and war crimes. -
15 November 2007Baptist church expelled for embracing gays 1 The nearly 3,000 delegates that make up the North Carolina Baptist Convention voted this week to expel the Myers Park Baptist Church for welcoming and affirming lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Baptists in their congregation.Last year, the North Carolina Baptists decided to expel any member church that openly accepts and affirms LGBT people and same-sex relations from the Baptist community.The vote came after two of the church's leaders called on the delegates to open their hearts to LGBT people.
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14 November 2007Comment: Keep the EHRC door open to promote change 39 Reactions to the news that the Rev Joel Edwards, general director of the Evangelical Alliance, had been appointed to serve as one of the commissioners on the new Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), were swift and predictable.There was acknowledgement but little immediate comment in the religious press (many there are nervous about the news, for the opposite reason to PinkNews.co.uk readers) and annoyance and incomprehension in LGBT communities and among civil rights and secular activists. -
13 November 2007Catholic school in unholy row after ditching gay charity 5 London's premier Catholic state school, the London Oratory, is facing a furore from gay campaigners this week following their decision to drop a leading AIDS charity as the beneficiary for their World AIDS Day charity concert.Gay rights activists are believed to be planning to picket the Oratory School and distribute leaflets to inform students of the school's decision to suddenly cancel its plan to raise money for the Terrence Higgins Trust, one of Europe's most-respected AIDS charities. -
11 November 2007Lesbian passed over in election of Bishop of Chicago 1 An out lesbian was passed over during the Episcopal convention to pick the next Bishop of Chicago.The Reverend Tracey Lind, dean of Trinity Cathedral, Cleveland was one of three women who lost out to Rev Jeffrey Lee, rector of St Thomas Church in Medina, Washington.Bishop William Persell said the vote held yesterday was not a rejection of homosexuals or of women. -
9 November 2007Welcome for evangelical voice on equality commission 39 A group that examines religion in public life has welcomed the appointment of the head of the Evangelical Alliance UK to the new Commission on Equality and Human Rights (ECHR).The think-tank Ekklesia says that the controversial evangelical taking his place on the commission is "an historic opportunity for evangelicals to shift toward full acceptance of the equalities agenda."Joel Edwards was a controversial choice for many LGBT activists. -
6 November 2007Gay rabbi hits out at Bible-inspired homophobia 4 An Orthodox American rabbi spoke out against using the Bible to justify prejudice in a sermon yesterday.Steven Greenberg, America's first openly gay rabbi, shared his belief that the Bible is open to interpretation and should not be used to condemn homosexuality.According to The Columbus Dispatch, Mr Greenberg said: "No one can say, 'It says in the Scripture,' to ground any policy." -
2 November 2007No comment from Bigot of the Year 6 A bishop who asked a gay job applicant a series of humiliating questions and then rejected him for the post on the grounds of his sexuality was named Bigot of the Year at the Stonewall Awards last night.The gay equality organisation's chief executive Ben Summerskill told an audience of 400 gathered at the Victoria Albert museum in London that the Bishop of Hereford had been invited but claimed to be on holiday. -
2 November 2007Foster couple agree to council diversity policy + A Christian couple have agreed to abide by the local council policy on diversity, despite previously resigning as foster carers over a row about homosexuality.65-year-old Vincent Matherick and his 61-year-old wife Pauline attracted the attention of the press when they stood down after six years of providing foster care, claiming that Somerset County Council was asking them to "promote" homosexuality.They have now issued a joint statement with the council and signed the Equalities Promise and may be allowed to continue fostering. -
1 November 2007Christians call for boycott of Stonewall 1 The nomination of two senior bishops as Bigot of the Year at tonight's Stonewall Awards has angered an evangelical group of Scottish Christians.CARE Scotland said the nomination of the Bishop of Hereford and the Archbishop of Birmingham was an insult and in a letter to First Minister Alex Salmond called on the Scottish government to stop working with Stonewall.Archbishop of Birmingham was nominated for speaking out against new goods and services protections for gay people. -
1 November 2007Pope to meet Saudi King Abdullah 4 The leader of the Roman Catholic Church is to hold meetings with the head of state of Saudi Arabia.Tuesday's meeting between Benedict XVI and King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz will be the first between a Pope and a Saudi ruler.The King has been on a controversial state visit to the United Kingdom, which ended today. -
31 October 2007Gay hate church trial nears end 3 Shirley Phelps-Roper took the witness stand last week as the lawsuit brought against her father's Westboro Baptist Church drew to a close.Phelps-Roper told jurors at the courtroom in Baltimore that she was an angel sent to speak the truth to "earth dwellers" about the hate God has for their evil.She explained last week that's why she picketed the funeral of Matthew Snyder, a 20-year-old Marine who was killed in Iraq in March of 2006. -
30 October 2007Study claims homophobic literature is available at UK mosques 3 Extremist texts that encourage hatred of gays, Christians and Jews are available at Britain's mosques.Researchers for the centre-Right think tank Policy Exchange claim to have found such publications in a quarter of the 100 mosques and Islamic institutions they visited, including London Central Mosque in Regent's Park, which is funded by Saudi Arabia.Many of the publications allegedly called on British Muslims to segregate themselves from non-Muslims and contained repeated calls for gays to be executed. -
30 October 2007Catholic Archbishop supports gay discrimination 13 The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Australia has said it is acceptable to discriminate against people because of their sexuality.Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell said that comparisons between gay and racial discrimination are false.Australia's federal elections will be held on November 24th and the religious leader's comments are an attempt to influence discussion about gay equality. -
29 October 2007Evangelicals call for ban on Harry Potter books 10 America's largest conservative organisation has called for the banning of the Harry Potter books and films after author JK Rowling revealed that main character Albus Dumbledore was a gay wizard.The Christian Coalition of America claims to have 2.5 millions supporters and describes its mission as "defending America's Godly heritage."Its chairman, Roberta Combs, said she was disappointed that Rowling chose to out one of the most popular characters in children's literature. -
26 October 2007Gay baby campaign is “strange” says Vatican 2 A senior Roman Catholic Cardinal has criticised an anti-discrimination poster that features a baby wearing a wristband with "homosexual" written on it.The government of the Italian region of Tuscany is poised to display thousands of copies of the poster in public places and municipal offices as part of a campaign against discrimination.The tagline on the posters - Sexual Orientation Is Not A Choice - has divided gay people, while conservative politicians are outraged that public money has been spent on it at all. -
25 October 2007Gay marriage divides Church of Sweden 3 A proposal by Sweden's three opposition parties in to legalise gay marriage has divided the Church of Sweden.Until 2000 the Church was established, meaning was is the official state religion.
