Religion
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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. -
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. -
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. -
13 March 2007Clergyman refuses to marry straight couples + An American Episcopal clergyman has announced that he will not perform marriage ceremonies as a protest against the church's bar on gay unions.A conference of Anglican primates from around the world last month urged the American communion, known as Episcopalians, to desist from appointing openly gay bishops and blessing gay partnerships.The Americans had caused tension with traditional churches by performing the blessings.
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12 March 2007Christian teen group hold San Francisco rally + Thousands of teenagers from a Christian ministry gathered in San Francisco at the weekend to rally against homosexuality and other moral corruptions they think affect their generation.More than 20,000 teenagers converged on the city 's ATT baseball park to participate in "BattleCry," a two-day extravaganza featuring Christian rock and religious inspiration and worship. -
12 March 2007Catholics protest gay rights from the pulpit 5 In a clear indication that the Catholic church's fight over the Sexual Orientation Regulations is far from over, the Archbishop of Birmingham has urged his flock to write protest letters to the government.A letter was read out at all churches in the diocese at Mass yesterday, telling Roman Catholics to write to their MPs about the regulations, which outlaw discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation when accessing goods and services. -
1 March 2007Synod falls out over civil partnerships for gay priests 1 Conservative and liberal Anglicans joined forces yesterday evening to defeat the bishops at the Church of England Synod over gay priests.The hierarchy wanted their view that gay and lesbian clergy can have civil partnerships as long as they stay celibate, ratified.However, the Synod did reject an evangelical motion saying that civil partnerships undermine marriage. -
28 February 2007Synod takes a middle way in gay debate 1 The General Synod of the Church of England has passed a compromise resolution on gays in the church.Some delegates were wary of re-opening the debate about the place of lesbian, gay and bisexual people in the church just a week after a meeting of Anglican primates exposed the division in the worldwide communion.The Bishop of Gloucester, Rt Rev Michael Perham, said it was the wrong time to talk about gay priests.
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27 February 2007Anglicans appear sex obsessed admits Williams 1 The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday told the General Synod of the Church of England that the public view of their congregation is of one obsessed with carnal matters.The synod meets twice a year to discuss the business of the church, and is made up of bishops, priests and lay people.Dr Williams, opening the four-day meeting, told delegates about the outcome of the primates meeting last week in Tanzania. -
23 February 2007US students roadtrip to anti-gay colleges 1 Next month fifty young adults will board two buses for what promises to be the trip of a lifetime.The eight-week Soulforce Equality Ride will bring them to 32 Christian colleges with policies that silence or exclude lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) students.Their mission: to open a dialogue about the painful consequences of discrimination and the religion-based prejudice that sustains it. -
23 February 2007Baptist churches face child sexual abuse condemnation 2 America's largest Protestant denomination has come under fire over alleged child sexual abuse committed by its clergy.A victims' advocates group, Survivors' Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP), called on Monday for a zero-tolerance policy on sexual abuse within the Southern Baptist church.Southern Baptist leaders have argued that it is impossible to investigate molestation claims across the denomination.
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23 February 2007Anglican church could “divorce” admits Williams 4 The Archbishop of Canterbury has said that the Anglican Church may split over the acceptance of gay priests.Last night, Dr.
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22 February 2007Vatican attack Tony Blair over adoption + A senior Roman Catholic official has criticised the Prime Minister's decision not to allow church-run adoption agencies to opt-out of gay rights legislation.The proposed exemption caused a Cabinet row when it was first proposed.Under pressure from his own MPs, Mr Blair finally conceded that Roman Catholic adoption services would be covered by the Sexual Orientation Regulations.
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20 February 2007Analysis: What now for the Anglicans? 4 The final communique from the leaders of the Anglican church seems on the surface to provide a simple way forward.The primates demand that the American church stop ordaining gay bishops and give a commitment not to bless same sex partnerships.The Americans have been given until 30th September to make a statement pledging they will comply with these instructions.
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20 February 2007Anglicans threat over gay issues 4 The conference of Anglican primates meeting in Tanzania has demanded that the American church stop ordaining gay bishops and give a commitment not to bless same sex partnerships.Senior church leaders have also agreed to allow conservative American Anglicans to form their own organisation.The five-day meeting exposed the divisions within the Anglican communion over gay issues. -
19 February 2007Homophobia conference told of Iraq “sexual cleansing” + Delegates attending a human rights conference in London have been told that gay and lesbian people in Iraq are being systematically targeted.At a conference on Faith, Homophobia and Human Rights, 250 people from over fifty organisations have signed a statement condemning homophobia within religious institutions that fail to confront prejudice and hate.
