Religion
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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. -
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. -
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." -
9 May 2007US Anglican churches defy Williams 9 A controversial African primate has defied the Archbishop of Canterbury and established a breakaway branch of the church opposed to gay priests.Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria accused the Anglican leadership of being "insulting and condescending" to the rest of the church.He performed a ceremony to establish American bishop Martyn Minns as head of a new church branch under his control in Nigeria. -
9 May 2007Jews and Muslims back Pope over gay rights 5 The Chief Rabbi of Rome has weighed into the controversy surrounding gay rights.Riccardo Di Segni has said people of the Jewish faith must oppose moves to grant limited recognition to same-sex and unmarried couples.The main Islamic group in Italy has also backed the stance of the Roman Catholic church. -
8 May 2007Learn your rights at free gay law event + A special free event designed to inform gay, lesbian and bisexual people of their rights has been organised by award-winning solicitors Russell Jones WalkerPink Law - Know Your Rights At Home, At Work At Play is sponsored by PinkNews.co.ukMembers of the gay community will be able to get free access to information about the range of new laws affecting their lives. -
3 May 2007“Gay American” seeks solace in the priesthood 1 The former Governor of New Jersey, who came out of the closet on live television, is to train for the priesthood.Jim McGreevey has been in the headlines for months over his divorce and custody battle.
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1 May 2007Pope backs bullet bishop 10 A spokesman for Pope Benedict XVI has said he is shocked by the threats made against the life of an Archbishop leading the Roman Catholic church in Italy's opposition to gay rights.Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco was sent a live bullet in the post last week.A police guard had already been put in place last month after Archbishop Bagnasco's cathedral in Genoa was attacked by vandals. -
30 April 2007Outspoken bishop gets more death threats 10 An Italian bishop who compared moves to give gay couples some rights to incest and child abuse is under police guard after he was sent a live bullet in the post.The guard was put in place earlier this month after Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco's cathedral was attacked by vandals.At Sunday Mass security was stepped up with two bodyguards accompanying the Archbishop. -
27 April 2007Gay bishop plans civil union + Gene Robinson has welcomed the introduction of civil unions in the state where he is bishop, and said he hopes to take advantage of his new rights as soon as possible.His election as Bishop of New Hampshire in 2002 made him the first openly gay man to reach such a high position in the Anglican church.His elevation also caused an ongoing row within the church.
