Religion
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28 August 2007Anglican bishop compares gay hate to slavery 5 The openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire has attacked the attitudes of homophobic African bishops in an interview with BBC Radio 4 this morning.Gene Robinson spoke openly about his view on the current controversy surrounding the Anglican Church."It's very painful for me," he said. -
23 August 2007Homophobic Christian thinks gays are all white 13 Stephen Green, an activist with extremist group Christian Voice, has questioned the presence of racist group the National Front at Pride events, on the basis that "homosexuals are not black or Asian as a rule."The controversial preacher made his observation as part of his report on the group's website about his protest at this year's Brighton Pride celebrations.He also complains that the NF are "copying" his idea of protesting at gay events. -
21 August 2007Nigerian bishops to boycott Anglican conference 13 The Church of Nigeria gave its strongest indication yet on Monday that it would boycott next year's conference of global Anglicans to protest against what it called "intransigence" by pro-gay U.S. -
21 August 2007Ugandan churches demonstrate against gay acceptance 5 Following last week's historic press conference by gay rights advocates in Uganda, the Christian churches in the country showed their disapproval today with a demonstration.It was the first anti-gay rally in the country's history and was organised by the Uganda Joint Christian Council.UJCC member churches include the Roman Catholic and Anglican Church of Uganda. -
20 August 2007Mormon attitude towards homosexuality softens 5 A new instruction pamphlet issued by the Mormon church advises parents not to reject gay children, in what is being seen as a softening of attitudes towards homosexuality.God Loveth His Children, is aimed at church members who are "troubled with same-gender attraction" and was released at the end of July.It states that gay people do not "choose" their orientation and counsels that homosexuals should remain celibate. -
20 August 2007US black congregations split over gay issues 1 Conflicting views on homosexuality are now sparking disputes in black churches in the United States, just as they have done in predominately white Protestant denominations for years."It's going to be a real challenge," said the Rev. -
14 August 2007Kenyan bishop to consecrate dissident Americans 1 In a further sign of the deterioration of the Anglican communion, Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi will consecrate two American clergy as assistant bishops in his province of Kenya at the end of the month.The crisis in the Anglican church worldwide over gay issues began in 2003 with the ordination in New Hampshire of the first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson.Evengelical and conservative American Anglicans have rejected the authority of gay-friendly bishops in their country and are seeking religous leadership from a range of African leaders. -
14 August 2007Gay hate preacher attacks Irish tolerance 6 The religious extremist who pickets the funerals of American soldiers killed in action has turned his attention to Ireland.Rev Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist church are best known for their "God Hates Fags" campaigns in the United States.He has now launched godhatesireland.com in protest at the introduction of laws in the Republic protecting gay people from harassment. -
13 August 2007Church cancels funeral for gay man 2 A Texas church withdrew an offer to host a funeral once they found out the deceased was gay.Cecil Sinclair died last Monday, aged 46, and Arlington's High Point Church cancelled its invitation to host the service on Wednesday. -
13 August 2007C of E Bishop to attend LGBT health conference + The Anglican Bishop of Manchester will be among the speakers at unique conference in the city next week.Final preparations for this year's annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Health Summit are being made for the two-day event which takes place at Manchester Town Hall over the 20th and 21st August.The summit, presented with the theme Choices, Voices, Knowledge and Power, will host 16 workshops.
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13 August 2007Lutherans choose middle path on gay clergy + America's largest Lutheran denomination on Saturday urged its bishops to refrain from disciplining gay ministers who are in committed same-sex relationships, but rejected measures that would permit the further ordination of gays churchwide.Those in favour of full inclusion of gays were still encouraged, calling the resolution a powerful statement in support of clergy with same-sex partners.Conservative group Lutheran CORE was critical of the vote. -
9 August 2007Science and religion clash over Russian schools 5 A representative of the Russian Orthodox Church has warned of the dangers of science taking too prominent a role in the education system.According to The Associated Press, Father Vsevolod Chaplin said that teachers should inform children not to follow the vicious examples of "homosexuals and prostitutes."His comments came during a debate between leading figures of the religious and scientific communities. -
9 August 2007LGBT rights activist claims Jesus was gay 20 A leading campaigner for gay equality in Northern Ireland has hit back at criticism of a placard carried at last weekend's Belfast Pride by stating he is convinced Jesus was a gay man.Belfast City councillor Christopher Staltford led calls for restrictions on future gay parades, claiming he was offended by a placard reading "Jesus is a fag."In a discussion on BBC Radio Ulster P A MacLochlainn responded that in his view the details of Jesus' life as presented in the Bible led him to conclude that he was a homosexual. -
8 August 2007Dissident Anglicans want church property 1 Three churches in Los Angeles that rejected the authority of their diocese over the ordination of a gay bishop are asking the California Supreme Court to give them control of parish properties.The parishes of All Saints in Long Beach, St.
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8 August 2007Lutheran priests come out in protest at sex ban + In a co-ordinated campaign of opposition to a rule banning lesbian and gay ministers from having sexual relationships, 82 Evangelical Lutheran clergy came out of the closet yesterday.The Church's Assembly in Chicago is expected to vote on the issue tomorrow.Previous efforts to suspend the celibacy rule have failed, and the mass coming out is intended to show that there are a significant number of gay and lesbian ministers already in loving, monogamous relationships.
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3 August 2007Akinola to ordain dissident English bishop 15 The gay-hostile Archbishop of Nigeria is planning to ordain his own 'flying bishop' in England, in a direct challenge to the authority of Rowan Williams.Archbishop Peter Akinola has already appointed a bishop to minister to Anglicans in America who object to gay people in the church, despite a plea from the Archbishop of Canterbury not to split the worldwide Communion.A source describing himself as a 'worker in the Nigerian diocese' said Archbishop Akinola's plans were common knowledge.
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1 August 2007Gays keep the church open, says Bishop Robinson 2 The openly gay Anglican bishop whose ordination sparked the crisis in the worldwide Communion has claimed that without gay members the Church of England, "would be close to shutting down."The Right Reverend Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire, who lives openly with his male partner, said the church's denial over the number of gay and lesbian Anglicans was 'terrible.'He added that he found it 'mystifying' that the Anglican Communion could not be honest about it.
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31 July 2007Trans prisoner must be given hormone treatment, court rules + A prison inmate who performed a self-castration with a razor blade after being refused treatment for gender identity disorder should have female hormone therapy paid for by the state, a federal judge has said.Jenniffer Spencer, born Randall Gammett, sued the Department of Corrections in the US state of Idaho for violation of her constitutional rights and for the punishment she was subjected to when doctors failed to diagnose gender identity disorder and treat her with female hormones. -
27 July 2007Catholic adoption agency closes rather than accept gay couples 14 A Roman Catholic adoption charity is to turn away children in care because it refuses to accept the government's gay rights laws.Catholic Care will end its 100-year-old adoption service, which places 20 children with new families every year, because it does not want to help same-sex couples adopt.The Sexual Orientation Regulations, passed earlier this year, protect gay, lesbian and bisexual people from discrimination when accessing goods and services.
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26 July 2007Anglican bishops will boycott conference over gay issues 4 The Global South group of Anglican church leaders has decided that it will boycott next year's Lambeth conference.As many as 120 bishops will not attend unless the American part of the Anglican church repudiates its current accepting attitude towards gay clergy and relationships.Conservative and liberal branches of the worldwide Anglican communion have been at loggerheads over the issues of homosexuality.
