Religion
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29 June 2007Ex-gay survivors speak out 1 As Exodus International, the network of "ex-gay" ministries which promotes "freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ," finishes its annual conference in California today, former ex-gay survivors line-up to tell their own stories.The Ex-gay Survivor Conference, which takes place at the University of California this weekend, has sent an open letter inviting Exodus leaders to attend. -
25 June 2007Canadians avoid split over gay blessings + The Anglican church in Canada has narrowly voted against allowing individual dioceses to bless same-sex relationships.The decision will come as a relief to the Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual leader of the Church worldwide, who is keen to avoid a schism over gay issues.However, at the General Synod in Winnipeg, the Canadians also decided that blessing same-sex relationships was not in breach of their "core doctrine." -
19 June 2007Slave owners responsible for Jamaican homophobia + A church minister has claimed that the hatred of gay people endemic on the island of Jamaica is directly related to the rape of male slaves by white English masters.In an article in the Jamaica Observer John Hardy, of the New Testament Church of God in Kingston, said he thinks it will be hundreds of years before gay people are accepted on the island.Homosexuality is illegal in Jamaica, a former British colony, and the culture is deeply homophobic. -
18 June 2007Swedish gay church weddings approved + The largest party in the Swedish coalition government has committed to new legislation to allow gay couples to marry.Fredrik Reinfeldt's conservative Moderate party's board has voted to support further rights for gay people, after eight MPs, including one Cabinet minister, threatened to resign over the issue.Swedish gay and lesbian couples have had the right to civil partnerships since 1995. -
18 June 2007Catholic and Orthodox emphasise shared anti-gay views 1 The Pope has spoken of his hopes that shared moral opposition to gay rights and other social progress may help smooth a reunion of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox religions.On a visit to eastern Church leaders in Cyprus, Pope Benedict XVI said he had a "firm hope" that the schism of 1054 could be healed.Orthodox leader Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus offered to arrange a meeting with the leader of the Russian church. -
13 June 2007Anglican dissidents plan ‘parallel’ church + Powerful conservative primates in the worldwide Anglican church plan to consecrate their own bishop to oversee American churches who oppose gay ordination.The move is in direct defiance of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who wants to try to reconcile the differences in the feuding Anglican communion.Last month Archbishop Williams took the symbolic step of excluding Gene Robinson, the openly gay Bishop of New Hampshire, from the Lambeth conference.
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11 June 2007Jewish holy men curse Jerusalem Pride 1 A group of orthodox rabbis have placed a curse on an upcoming gay parade in the Israeli capital, and vowed to hold a massive rally in protest next week.The rabbis, from the Eda Haredit sect, made a statement about the event yesterday. -
6 June 2007Church adopts pro-gay guidelines 57 Northern Ireland's largest Protestant church yesterday adopted guidelines to help clergy deal sensitively with gay church members.The Presbyterian General Assembly in Belfast adopted the pastoral guidelines by 159 votes to 120.The guidelines call on the church to repent for times when gay people have been treated in ways that lack "grace." -
5 June 2007US Bishops to meet on gay clergy rights 57 American Roman Catholic bishops may give the green light to new guidelines this week, which would mean gay Catholics would not have to try to change their sexual orientation.Bishops convene today in Baltimore for their annual meeting. -
29 May 2007Tutu tells Church to stop obsessing about gays 57 Desmond Tutu has called for the Anglican Church in Africa to stop "obsessing" with gay priests and same-sex marriages.The Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Archbishop of Cape Town said that church leaders in Africa were not paying enough attention to problems in Zimbabwe, HIV/AIDs, or the crisis in Darfur.He told ABC News: "There are so many issues crying out for concern and application by the church of its resources, and here we are, I mean, with this kind of extraordinary obsession." -
25 May 2007Kirk still unclear on gay couples 57 The Church of Scotland report on homosexuality was discussed in the Church General Assembly on Wednesday.The aim of the meeting was to reach a consensus within the Church on attitudes to gay Christians.The 800 members of the Assembly met in Edinburgh to watch video clips from the report's working party.
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25 May 2007Isolation tactic towards gay bishop attacked + The Episcopal bishop of California, Marc Andrus, has declared his support for Bishop Gene Robinson.It was announced earlier this week that openly gay bishop Robinson would not be invited to attend an important conference of Anglican bishops next year."I will be seeking to learn how I can best be in solidarity with Bishop Robinson, through prayerful action," says the Rt. -
22 May 2007South African churches reject gay weddings + Four Christian churches in South Africa have said they will not bless same-sex marriages because they say they are "contrary to scripture."The Anglican Church, Catholic Church, Baptist Church and Presbyterian Church have all confirmed that they will not officiate or bless gay unions.The Methodist Church is still undecided on the issue.
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22 May 2007Gay bishop excluded from Anglican conference 17 The controversial Bishop of New Hampshire has not been invited to the Lambeth Conference next year, Lambeth Palace revealed today.Conservative and liberal branches of the worldwide Anglican communion have been at loggerheads over the issues of homosexuality and same-sex unions ever since a Gene Robinson, an openly gay man, was ordained as a bishop in the US in 2003.
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22 May 2007Church report into homophobia advocates “ex-gay” counselling + Northern Ireland's largest Protestant church has produced a report on homophobia which has been accused of being homophobic.The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has over 300,000 members and 560 congregations in Ireland.Its controversial report by the Social Issues and Resources Panel will not be published until June, but was leaked to the BBC.
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18 May 2007Comment: Farewell to Falwell, saying goodbye to hate 7 It was June 2004 and I was covering Tulsa, Oklahoma's Pride Festival.I stood watching the parade of proud members of our GLBTI community march through the streets.As the parade came to an end the parade watchers were invited to follow the parade down the route and into the park that was holding the festival, our festival, a safe haven for our community to be free. -
17 May 2007Anglican crisis deepens as diocese opts out 3 The diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, has decided to reject the spiritual authority of the US Episcopalian church and seek alternative oversight.The announcement marks a further disintegration in the unity of the Anglican communion and the authority of US Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori.Bishop Jack Iker, bishop of the diocese, is a leading traditionalist who opposes women priests as well as gay ones.
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16 May 2007Homophobic preacher Jerry Falwell dies 6 He blamed gays and lesbians for the 9/11 terrorist attacks and made himself a household name by claiming Teletubbie Tinky Winky was gay.Now the founder of the Moral Majority, the Reverend Jerry Falwell, is dead at 73.Ron Godwin, Liberty University's executive vice president, told Associated Press Falwell had been found unresponsive in his office.
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10 May 2007City aims to shed homophobic image 1 It seems some of Colorado Springs' residents have had enough of the city's anti-gay reputation.The city of nearly 2 million people is the second-largest in Colorado and home to several airforce bases and the home of NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defence Command.It is also noted for the concentration of religious groups such as Focus On The Family. -
9 May 2007Cardinal: homosexuality a form of prostitution 3 The opposition of the Roman Catholic church to gay Pride parades reached a new low today when the Archbishop of Riga called homosexuality "total corruption in the sexual arena" and "an unnatural form of prostitution."An open letter from Cardinal Janis Pujats demands a referendum on the issue of same-sex marriage and calls on crowds of people to take to the streets of Riga to oppose the Pride march on June 3rd.The Cardinal calls gay Pride a "foreign-inspired action."
