Religion
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5 February 2007Priests could be locked up, fears Catholic commentator 10 A leading Roman Catholic journalist has said he is concerned that laws protecting gay and lesbian people from discrimination could lead to prison for some clergy.John L Allen is an expert commentator on Vatican affairs for CNN and is known for his objectivity.He has published two books about the current Pope. -
1 February 2007Archbishop still hopeful about adoption opt-out 10 One of the Roman Catholic church's most senior figures has said he is still confident that the church's followers will be able to opt-out of new gay rights laws.The Archbishop of Birmingham said that he is still hopeful of a "common sense solution" to the issue.On Monday the Prime Minister announced that there would be no exemptions to the Sexual Orientation Regulations. -
1 February 2007University could ban civil partnerships + Academics at Canterbury Christ Church University are angry about a possible ban on civil partnership ceremonies being conducted on university premises.A meeting of the institution's branch of trades union UCU on Tuesday called on the three administrators who have proposed the ban to withdraw it or resign.The university is a teacher training college for the Church of England. -
26 January 2007Jewish adoption agency open to gays 3 The only registered Jewish adoption and fostering agency in England has told PinkNews.co.uk that they are not seeking an exemption from the Sexual Orientation Regulations.Norma Brier, who is chief executive of the agency, Norwood, confirmed that they will comply with the regulations, which are designed to protect gay lesbian and bisexual people from discrimination when accessing goods and services. -
25 January 2007Gay father praises Catholic agencies and defends Ruth Kelly 57 PinkNews.co.uk exclusive A gay Anglican priest who has fostered a child for 15 years has defended the staff of Catholic adoption agencies and criticised the way in which Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly has been pilloried for her religious beliefs.Fr Martin Reynolds, who is a prominent member of the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, said that everything must be done to preserve the "outstanding work" that social workers and other staff in Catholic agencies do to help vulnerable children. -
24 January 2007Anglicans back Catholics in adoption row 3 The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have written to Prime Minister Tony Blair in support of an exemption from anti-discrimination legislation for Roman Catholic adoption agencies.In the letter the Archbishops, the most senior clergy in the Church of England, tell Mr Blair that, "the rights of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation, however well meaning."Their intervention is in support of Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor. -
23 January 2007Cardinal asks politicians for adoption opt-out + The row over a possible exemption for the Catholic Church from new laws to protect gay people from discrimination intensified yesterday as a senior cleric weighed into the debate.Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor has chosen the high risk strategy of openly threatening to close adoption agencies in England and Wales rather than let gay or lesbian people make use of them. -
16 January 2007Ex-archbishop steps into Exeter student row 4 George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, has involved himself in the ongoing dispute between student groups at Exeter University.As previously reported on PinkNews.co.uk, a group of Christian students at Exeter University are going to court to try to set a legal precedent about acceptance of gay rights. -
15 January 2007Mexican bishop slams same-sex unions + A northern Mexican bishop has criticised the approval of a bill to recognize gay unions in the Mexican state of Coahuila.It is the second such measure in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation.According to the Associated Press, Roman Catholic Bishop Alonso Gerardo Garza said the law was an attack on the institution of marriage. -
15 January 2007Italian gays protest at the Vatican 2 A group of around 150 protesters attended a rally in St Peters Square on Saturday to protest against the anti-gay stance of Pope Benedict XVI.The protest, organised by gay rights group Arcigay, was held on the ninth anniversary of the suicide of writer Alfredo Ormando.The protesters carried banners calling on the Italian government to legalise gay unions.
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8 January 2007Williams fears Anglican church could split 3 The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has spoken about his fear that the Anglican church might not be able to remain united in the face of deepening rows over gay and lesbian clergy.Williams, who is head of the Anglican communion worldwide, has been trying to hold the opposing wings of the church together since taking up his post in 2002. -
8 January 2007LGBT ‘Navajo’ project angers Natives 4 The Native American Navajo nation have written to a Christian couple recently awarded damages by Lancashire Police to express their dismay that their tribal name is being used for an LGBT project.Helen and Joe Roberts from Fleetwood hit the headlines last year after police questioned them for attempting to distribute anti-gay literature. -
5 January 2007Christian Union students want gay acceptance test case 4 A small group of Christian students at Exeter University are going to court to try to set a legal precedent about acceptance of gay rights.The Christian Union has been prevented from using facilities at the university because they ban gay or lesbian students from joining their organisation."Legal action was the very last thing we wanted to take," a Union spokesman told The Daily Mail.
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5 January 2007Vatican embraces gay icon + Oscar Wilde, long claimed by the gay community as the ultimate bitchy queen, has been embraced by one of Pope Benedict's closest advisers.The Vatican's head of protocol, Fr Leonardo Sapienza, has published a book of witty remarks for Christians, perhaps aware that the devout tend not to be the most spontaneously amusing of people.Irish-born playwright Wilde is featured heavily in Provocations: Aphorisms for an Anti-conformist Christianity. -
4 January 2007Jewish leaders question anti-discrimination regulations 1 The Board of Deputies of British Jews, which represents most of the Jewish community in the UK, has weighed into the controversy surrounding new regulations that grant gay people protection against discrimination.The organisation has expressed concern about the controversial new rules, due to be introduced this month.They have been delayed on the orders of Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly, after protests from the Christian churches. -
2 January 2007Gay activists fear for Sexual Orientation Regulations 3 A leading gay rights group has expressed concern at the tactics being used by Christian groups opposing the introduction of new rules to protect LGBT people from discrimination.The Sexual Orientation Regulations, which outlaw discrmination in the provision of goods and services on the grounds of sexuality, are due to be implemented across England and Wales in April. -
2 January 2007Christians ask the Queen to block gay protection 6 A group of Christian lawyers is to petition the Queen over new regulations that will outlaw discrimination against gay and lesbian people.The Christian Concern for Our Nation is affiliated with The Lawyers' Christian Fellowship, who claim to have over 2,000 members.The Queen is Supreme Governor of the Church of England as well as Head of State. -
29 December 2006COMMENT: An annus horribilis for all faiths 1 It has been a grim year for all the major religions.
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25 December 2006Have a very lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Christmas + Festive greetings from all at PinkNews.co.uk, The Pink News and our publishing partners 3Sixty.The team being a mixed bunch of sexualities, genders and religions, we know that everyone spends this time of year in a different way.For Christan readers we wish a Merry Christmas and wish for the New Year to dawn a new age within all the church's many denominations.
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24 December 2006Victory for gay row Christians is not a victory for common sense 12 "Hallelujah!" squeals the Daily Mail on the news that Joe and Helen Roberts are to receive £10,000 compensation and costs after an 80 minute interview by police resulting from comments they made about gay rights and civil partnerships.The couple who claim to be Christian told a council worker that they found the civil partnership literature displayed in public libraries in Lancashire "discriminativly offensive [sic]."
