Religion
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11 December 2006Church split ‘bad news’ for gay community + Gay campaigners are warning that there may be fiercer religious opposition to pro-LGBT laws in the future amid reports that liberal bishops who support homosexual priests will be barred from certain churches and refused funds.The Sunday Telegraph reported that the rift over gay clergy in the Church of England has got to the stage where liberal dioceses are wishing to break away from the denomination and create their own panel. -
7 December 2006US Jews welcome gays and lesbians 6 Conservative Jews in America have welcomed a decision by the movement regarding gay rabbis and same sex marriage.A two day meeting of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, which gives recommendations on religious doctrine, presented three differing positions that may be adopted by Jewish seminaries, leaving it up to individual seminaries and synagogues, ranging from upholding a ban on lesbian and gay ordination to only allowing non-sexually active gay rabbis. -
7 December 2006Archbishop aims to quell university gay feuds 2 The Archbishop of Canterbury has criticised universities for reprimanding Christian Unions over their stance on homosexuality.Writing in the Times Higher Education Supplement, Dr Rowan Williams accused Student Unions of fearing an "open argument."His comments come after Christian Unions in Exeter, Birmingham and Edinburgh have been prohibited from using university faculties and in some cases from being recognised as a club because of alleged discrimination towards non-Christians and gay people.
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6 December 2006Gay rabbis now kosher + The ruling body of American Conservative Judaism has come to a compromise over the ordination of gay rabbis.The Committee on Jewish Law and Standards held a two-day closed meeting in New York and yesterday presented three differing positions that may be adopted by Jewish seminaries across North America's 750 synagogues. -
5 December 2006Gay nativity scene not all it seems 4 Rightwing students at the University of Texas have created a novel Nativity scene, with a gay couple called Gary and Joseph standing in for the Holy Family.The Young Conservatives group at the university's Austin campus have created the alternative scene to protest at what they perceive to be anti-Christian bias.The focus of their anger is the American Civil Liberties Union, long a bogey man of the American right. -
1 December 2006‘I hope I come back as gay’ 42 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveIs being gay good karma? PinkNews.co.uk meets a group of gay Buddhists who are proud to follow a religion that welcomes them.Barely a week goes by without a religious leader talking about the evils of homosexuality and the damage that gay rights are doing to society.But deep in South London, men and women gather each week, proud of their religion, unafraid of discrimination, they are gay and lesbian Buddhists. -
30 November 2006US Jews to discuss gay behaviour 3 The Jewish Conservative Movement in the US is preparing for a vote on the issue of gay rabbis and same sex marriage next week with members of the community predicting that ordination and unions will be given the nod.It comes in reaction to rabbinical students pushing for "ordination regardless of orientation" and many rabbis coming out or performing same sex ceremonies despite a ban.
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29 November 2006Gay community attacks “deplorable” Christian ad 19 PinkNews.co.uk ExclusiveA newspaper advert taken out by Christian groups against the Sexual Orientation Regulations has been described as "ludicrous" and "deplorable" by gay campaigners.Yesterday's Times newspaper featured an advert from a group of Christian leaders calling themselves Coherent and Cohesive Voice, urging followers to write to Communities Secretary Ruth Kelly and equality minister Meg Munn to oppose the new equality laws and seek religious exemptions. -
28 November 2006Gay equality law’s ‘unacceptable’ 12 The church cannot be expected to cooperate with the government if gay equality laws are passed, a clergyman touted as the next leader of the English Roman Catholic Church has claimed.Archbishop of Birmingham Vincent Nichols, seen as the man to takeover from Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, used a sermon over the weekend to attack the incoming sexual orientation regulations, accusing the government of 'imposing conditions' on the church. -
28 November 2006Haggard’s excuses raise drugs questions for gay escort 1 A gay escort who outed a senior church leader is now being sought by police on drugs charges.Reverend Ted Haggard, was dismissed as Senior Pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado and resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals earlier this month amid claims that he had meetings with a gay rent boy. -
27 November 2006Christian magistrate resigns over gay adoption 4 A Christian judge is taking legal action against the UK Government after claiming he had to resign from his role because he was against ruling on adoption cases which would have placed children in the care of same sex couples.Andrew McClintock stepped down after his request to not have to deal with cases involving gay parents were dismissed. -
24 November 2006Congregation evicted over gay talk 2 A gay activist is demanding an apology from a US Diocese after a congregation's lease was terminated over disagreement of a talk he was due to give at the venue.The Diocese of Camden, New Jersey, leased space for three years to the Unitarian Unversalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore, but the congregation has been forced out of their leased space without warning for arraigning gay activist Marc Adams to speak at a Sunday service. -
23 November 2006Christian students ‘under considerable opposition’ + Senior Bishops of the Church of England, and the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, have spoken out against "intolerant and unlawful" actions by several universities after a number of Christian Unions have been banned from campuses.Unions in Exeter, Birmingham and Edinburgh have been prohibited from using university faculties and in some cases from being recognised as a club because of alleged discrimination towards non-Christians and gay people. -
23 November 2006Gay clergy ‘divisive’ for Church relations + Gay bishops and female clergy are driving a wedge through the prospect of good relations between the Anglican and Catholic Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope concluded today.In his first official visit to the pontiff, Dr Rowan Williams spoke of the importance of unity in the church, the pair presented a declaration which highlighted certain issues straining Christian relations. -
20 November 2006Christian Union’s ‘ex-gay’ course banned 4 Edinburgh University's Christian Union is considering legal action against the academic institution after being banned from teaching a course which included literature on "curing" homosexuality.The Union's PURE course on abstinence was heavily criticised after recommending books on "ex-gay" groups, leading Edinburgh University to ban its teaching, describing it as inappropriate.
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16 November 2006Anti-gay Christians ‘out of touch’ + Gay campaigners have criticised the "religious bigotry" of church groups in the US this week after Catholic bishops approved controversial guidelines on the treatment of gays and lesbians while other denominations have vowed to punish those acting too 'gay-friendly.'Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said the actions of several church groups undermines the work being done in some areas of Christianity to welcome gays and lesbians.
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14 November 2006Catholic gays oppose pastoral guidelines + Christian gay groups have criticised guidelines approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) today on the attitude towards homosexuality.Officials at the gathering approved a document entitled Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care.The guidelines attempt to create a balance between welcoming gays and lesbians into the Church whilst upholding religious teachings. -
13 November 2006Gay humanists back Elton John’s religion attack 8 The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has backed comments from Sir Elton John after he claimed that religion promotes the hatred of gays.The gay singing legend launched an attack on religion last weekend accusing it of promoting homophobia and suggested that it should be banned. -
13 November 2006Gay Christians welcome Mexican unions 1 A gay Christian group has welcomed Mexico's introduction of civil union laws in its capital.Last week Mexico City backed civil union laws for gay and straight partners, joining the municipalities of Buenos Aires and Rio Grande de Sul (Brazil) in passing such legislation.The Metropolitan Community Churches congratulated the lawmakers on breaking down discrimination. -
13 November 2006US Church suggests therapy to solve gay issue + The US Catholic Church will discuss guidelines on ways of welcoming gay people into the church at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) this week, with one controversial suggestion being therapy.The guidelines attempt to create a balance between welcoming gays and lesbians into the Church whilst upholding religious teachings.
