Religion
-
6 June 2006Vatican attacks gay marriage 3 The Vatican expressed fresh criticism of gay marriages today, just days before Pope Benedict XVI visits Spain, where same sex marriage is legal.The document, produced by the Pontifical Council for the Family, titled Family and Human Procreation, sets out doctrines on the relationship between family and reproduction. -
2 June 2006Evangelicals condemned after comparing gay marriage to ‘marrying a horse’ 1 A Christian lobby group has been criticised after one of its members was reported to have equated gay marriage with "people wanting to marry their horse."The remarks were printed in an Observer interview with Don Horrocks, head of public affairs at the Evangelical Alliance (EA), last weekend surrounding an upcoming legal challenge seeking UK gay marriage rights in the High Court. -
2 June 2006Methodist Church backs gay marriage + The Methodist Church has backed gay clergy and same sex marriage.In a vote at the annual state convention of the church in Minneapolis yesterday, members approved a resolution supporting equal access to the faith for all sexualities and the removal of a prohibition on 'homosexual unions.'
-
30 May 2006Activists demand religion respects gay rights 4 A secular pressure group is calling on the European Union to stop religious leaders inciting violence against the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, after a weekend of violence between religious and gay groups in Moscow.Sophie in 't Veld, an honorary associate of the UK National Secular Society, has written to Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, requesting that religious leaders attending a meeting with him today should condemn the violence. -
30 May 2006Bible allows gay marriage, bishop claims 2 The Bible supports same sex partnerships, a senior Church of England bishop has claimed.Reverend Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, has fuelled the Church's row over gay marriage and gay clergyman by stating that traditionalists should be "converted" to see gay unions are allowed according to scriptures.
-
26 May 2006Church backs anti-gay apology 1 Clergy members of the Episcopal Church have signed a petition urging bishop's to repent appointing openly gay bishops and approving same sex marriage.The petition has been signed by 900 names in anticipation of the Worldwide Anglican Communion next month.It calls for the Episcopal Church to "fully endorse" regret over the appointment of gay bishop Gene Robinson in New Hampshire and to reject gay marriage and clergymen.
-
24 May 2006Church of Scotland considers gay marriage + The Church of Scotland may become the first major denomination in Britain to bless gay "marriages" after agreeing that individual ministers should be free to decide on the issue.Scotland's national church considered the issue of civil partnerships in a legal questions session at a meeting of its General Assembly, which is taking place all this week.
-
24 May 2006Kenya snubs gay lobby bishop 2 An Anglican bishop has been shafted while on a visit to Kenya over his views on homosexuality.Reverend John Gladwin, Bishop of Chelmsford, had been visiting churches in the country with 20 clergymen, but was yesterday told that hospitality towards him had been "withdrawn" after a local paper claimed he was a member of a gay rights lobby. -
24 May 2006Scottish church backs gay adoption + The Church of Scotland has given its backing to allow gay couples to adopt.In a meeting of the church and society council at the national church's general assembly yesterday, committee members agreed that legal recognition for gay adoption would create more solutions for looking after children safely and securely. -
23 May 2006Religious leaders oppose gay marriage ban 2 Religious groups have joined together to oppose a constitutional gay marriage ban in the US, in anticipation of the Senate debate next week.Christian and Jewish leaders gathered on Capitol Hill yesterday to lobby senators to reject the legislation which would entrench a gay marriage ban in the US constitution and therefore nullify the law allowing same sex couples to marry in Massachusetts. -
23 May 2006Bishop denies gay lobby links 2 A British Anglican bishop faced a hostile reception on a visit to a Kenyan diocese in East Africa yesterday after being accused of representing a gay rights lobby in the country.Reverend John Gladwin, visiting St Thomas Cathedral in Kerugoya, denied reports in a local paper that he was in the area to promote homosexuality.
-
22 May 2006Gay church prays for gay marriage 4 A gay affirming Edinburgh church is calling for a day of prayer in support of civil partnerships as the Church of Scotland General Assembly debates the issue this week.Civil Partnerships were introduced into law in December 2005 and allow for the relationships of same-sex couples to be recognised in law, conferring many of the same rights and responsibilities as marriage.
-
22 May 2006Catholic Church say gay sex lessons are “outrageous” + The Catholic Church in Scotland have condemned the inclusion of gay sex within the syllabus of sex education lessons in Scotland.Following the abolition of section 28 in Scotland six years ago, teachers can now talk freely about gay sex, sexually transmitted diseases and condoms for safe gay sex."Teachers felt they didn't know what to say to pupils about same-sex relationships." -
16 May 2006Vatican denies gay prostitution claims 2 The Vatican has issued a denial and is threatening legal action after claims that one of its priests has been arrested while looking for a male or transsexual prostitute in an area known for soliciting.Italian news agency, Ansa, and several Italian newspapers, reported last weekend that an unidentified 48- year-old official of the secretary of state of the Vatican had been stopped by police after acting awkwardly in an area known for male prostitutes.
-
16 May 2006Reverend backs gay marriage + A Scottish minister has given his backing to civil partnerships after calling on the General Assembly of Scotland to reject an evangelical group's protest against priests conducting the gay service.The Reverend Bob Brown of Queen's Cross Church in Aberdeen voiced disapproval of a campaign by Christian group, Forward Together, who want ministers and deacons banned from conducting the ceremonies because they believe it is against the Bible.
-
15 May 2006Gay group slams “sickening hypocrisy” of Cardinal 2 The head of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has been accused of "sickening hypocrisy" after recent reports that he sacked one of his staff because he is gay.The action taken by Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor was condemned by the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) yesterday. -
14 May 2006Archbishop sacks advisor because he is gay 2 The Archbishop of Westminster has dismissed his gay press secretary after telling him his sexuality was "incompatible" with his position in the Church, prompting further rows over Christianity and homosexuality.Stephen Noon, in charge of promoting the public image and ethics of the Church, was sacked by Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor in 2004 after just a year in the post. -
9 May 2006Church allows gay membership ban + The United Methodist Church's high-court is refusing to reconsider an earlier ruling that allowed a Virginia minister to deny a man church membership because he is gay.According to the Associated Press, the 5 to 4 ruling was handed down yesterday by the Judicial Council, saying there was no basis to revisit the case.
-
8 May 2006California church avoids gay row + The Episcopal Church in California has avoided a row over homosexuality after choosing a heterosexual bishop to become its next minister.There were fears of a new row over homosexuality after the Diocese of California included two gay clergymen on its shortlist for a new bishop.
-
4 May 2006Bishops attack homophobic Polish station + A group of Polish bishops have set up a council to check on homophobic and anti- Semitic broadcasts from a religious radio station in the country.Radio Maryja has created controversy for mixing religious broadcasting with anti Jewish and anti gay commentary as well as its open support for the ruling Law and Justice Party.
