Religion
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4 April 2007Crucifixion teaching repulsive and insane says gay priest + A Church of England Dean will tell a BBC Radio 4 audience this evening that traditional teaching of Christ's crucifixion is both "repulsive" and "insane."The Very Rev Jeffrey John is an openly gay Dean who was forced to step down as a candidate for bishop after a row about his sexuality.Traditionally, Christian theology has taught that because humans have sinned, God sent Christ to suffer and die in our place. -
2 April 2007Homophobic preacher harassing Swedish royal family 2 A spokesman for Sweden's royals has confirmed that American preacher Rev Fred Phelps has been faxing hate messages to them.Phelps and his Westboro Baptist church are best known for their "God Hates Fags" campaigns in the United States.They were the subject of a BBC2 documentary by Louis Theroux broadcast last night. -
2 April 2007Bishop compares gay rights to incest 11 The new head of the Italian Bishops Conference has been heavily criticised by politicians for comparing moves to give gay couples some rights to incest and child abuse.Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, who was appointed last month, is in charge of the Roman Catholic church campaign to block a new law that would allow unmarried couples, gay and straight, some legal protection. -
1 April 2007Stonewall backs gay youth worker in case against bishop 11 The Rt Rev Anthony Priddis, the Bishop of Hereford is accused of blocking the application of a gay man to work within his diocese.John Reaney, 42, was previously employed as a youth officer for the Norwich and Chester Church of England diocese.Within the application form for a similar job in Hereford, Mr Reaney admitted that he was gay. -
30 March 2007Church must be safe haven for gays says Williams 3 The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that the Anglican church must listen to gay and lesbian people and provide a safe place for them.He was responding to an internal church report into the progress of dialogue within the Anglican communion.At a conference in Lambeth in 1998 the church promised to listen to the experience of gay and lesbian people. -
29 March 2007Cardinal questions loyalty of Catholic church to Britain 8 The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has claimed that religion is under attack in this country.In his strongest condemnation yet of legislation designed to protect gay, lesbian and bisexual people from discrimination, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor last night became the first Catholic leader in nearly 200 years to question whether the policy of the government is at odds with practising the Roman faith. -
28 March 2007Bishops warn MPs about civil rights for gay Italians + The Italian bishop's conference has today released a statement saying that the government attempt to legally recognise civil unions is unacceptable.The bishops called the idea that Catholic politicians might vote in favour of the proposals "incomprehensible."Italy has been gripped by the conflict between traditionalists and progressives. -
28 March 2007Gay Humanist retires after 25 years activism + Veteran gay activist George Broadhead has resigned as secretary of the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) after 25 years service.Mr Broadhead co-founded GALHA in 1979 and took on the role of itsadministrative secretary and principle spokesperson two years later.He had previously been involved with the Campaign for Homosexual Equality. -
27 March 2007Conservative Rabbi school allows gay admission 2 A prestigious Conservative Jewish seminary in New York has taken a step towards equality by opening its doors to gay students.The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) announced on Monday that it would begin to accept applications from LGBT students, but that the decision was not taken lightly.The change in policy comes three months after the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards voted to allow the ordination of gays and lesbians. -
22 March 2007US Anglicans reject gay advice 1 The bishops of The Episcopal church in the United States have decided to reject the instructions of the worldwide Anglican communion over gay issues.Their decision makes a split in the church more likely.Last month a meeting of the primates from across the world instructed the wayward American church to stop ordaining gay bishops and to desist from giving church blessings to same-sex couples. -
22 March 2007Brazil’s considers outlawing homophobia + Debate continues in Brazil over government proposals to criminalise homophobia.Under the proposals, Roman Catholic priests and other clergy might face two to five years in prison for preaching against homosexuality.A rector of a seminary who refuses admission to a homosexual student could face three to five years. -
20 March 2007Russian faith groups come out against Pride march 4 Russia's Orthodox Church announced today that it is opposed to the planned Moscow gay Pride parade, as it believes homosexuality is harmful to society.Gay activists plan to hold the parade on the 14th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Russia.Representatives of Russian Muslims and Jews joined the calls for a ban on the parade. -
20 March 2007Italian family day out to oppose gay rights 1 Catholic organisations in Italy have announced that May 12 will be "Family Day", featuring a demonstration in Rome against legislation which will could give legal rights to civil unions.The planned civil unions will be both for heterosexual and homosexual couples, a proposal that has outraged the Catholic Church.The Family Day manifesto does not specifically mention the laws, but focuses on calls for legislation promoting more traditional families. -
20 March 2007Anti-gay propaganda from Christian activists on YouTube + An offensive video created by an unnamed Christian group denouncing the new Sexual Orientation Regulations is circulating on YouTube.The footage shows a primary school teacher reading about homosexuality to a group of small children.It comes with a warning that nobody aged under 18 should view it. -
19 March 2007Swedes could be allowed gay church weddings 3 The Church of Sweden has given its support to proposals that would allow gay couples to marry in church ceremonies on the same basis as heterosexual couples.An official government report, due to be presented next week, would amend existing marriage laws to ensure that all couples have the same marriage rights regardless of their sexual orientation.Bishop Claes-Bertil Ytterberg, head of the Church of Sweden's Västerås diocese, signalled his support for the changes. -
16 March 2007Cardinal says Pope should stop giving orders + An Italian cardinal has criticised other church leaders for opposing the legal recognition of same-sex partnerships.Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini told Italian pilgrims in Bethlehem yesterday that, "The Church does not give orders."His statement is seen by many as a clear rebuke to the Pope's stance in the current Italian same-sex union row. -
16 March 2007Gay students to study at conservative rabbi school 1 A Los Angeles college of Conservative Judaism has accepted openly gay applicants for the first time since the ban on gay ordination was lifted.A spokeswoman for The Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies (L.A.
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15 March 2007Gay bishop says coming out is God at work + The openly gay bishop of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson, has robustly defended his position.At a public meeting in Washington DC Bishop Robinson claimed that of the nearly 8000 parishes in the American Episcopal Church, only 47 have sought guidance from outside bishops after his ordination."If you want to know my homosexual agenda, it's Jesus," Bishop Robinson said. -
15 March 2007Southern Baptist in “babies born gay” row 1 One of America's foremost evangelical clergymen has angered many Christians by saying there might be a biological explanation for homosexuality.Rev.
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14 March 2007Vatican attacks kids attending gay rights rally 1 The official newspaper of the Vatican has lambasted the demonstration in Rome on Saturday to demand legal rights for unmarried same sex couples.
