NEWS

FAITH, HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA, & HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE 2009

U.K. GOVERNMENT  WILL STAND FIRM AGAINST FAITH EXEMPTIONS ON LGBT EQUALITIES

Government Equalities Minister, Maria Eagle pledged that she and other Ministers would stand firm against any attempts by faith groups to get out of the demands of LGBT legislation and the forthcoming Equality Bill.  

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Say What?

U.S. Bishops issue “Guidelines” for ministry to
“Persons with Homosexual Orientation”

”The contrast between the ministry of Jesus and the . . . guidelines by the Roman Catholic bishops is striking. At every turn, Jesus sought to dismantle the walls that society had built that labeled some insiders and some outsiders, some ‘pure’ and others ‘impure.’ The Roman Catholic bishops instead stand in the tradition of the religious authorities whom Jesus consistently challenged. They seek to make some pure and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender folk impure. They strive to label some good and others outside of goodness. As a minister of the Christian gospel, I choose to stand with Jesus, whose ministry calls us to challenge documents like the proposed guidelines.”
— Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, Program Director, Institute for Welcoming Resources

Say What?

Fallout from the Vatican “Instruction”
Regarding Gay Priests and Seminarians

“This is just the latest stage in the Vatican's campaign to halt the progress of civil and spiritual liberation for gay people. This campaign has revealed an ugly side of the Catholic Church — a side that rejects modern science and psychology, forbids dialogue, and uses power as a blunt instrument of control. This latest sally in the campaign, however, is likely to backfire.
     First, it makes the Catholic hierarchy look ridiculous and mean....”
— Michael B. Kelly, Vatican flight from reality, The Age - Melbourne       (more)

Article on homosexuals costs staffer his job

Erik Meder was asked to resign his post with the U.S. Jesuit Conference because of an article he wrote for a Jesuit national newsletter that advocated the church have an open dialogue with homosexuals about homosexuality.       (more)

U.S. and Mexican Bishops: 
Strangers No Longer: Together on the Journey of Hope

Erik Meder:
Strangers No Longer': Who is the Other Among Us?

Chicago Priests Speak Out on “Violent and Abusive Language” from the Vatican

In an Open Letter to the Hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, 23 Chicago priests protested “the increase in the use of violent and abusive language” directed at gays and lesbians by the Vatican, bishops conferences and some bishops.

“Has any other group within the Body of Christ been so assaulted and violated by such mean-spirited language?” they asked. The Vatican document released last summer urging Catholic politicians and others in positions of authority to oppose any measures that might make gay unions legitimate represents a clear “demonization of these children of God,” said the letter. By way of example, the priests cited expressions in that document calling homosexuality a “serious depravity,” “grave detriment to the common good” and “intrinsically disordered.”

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Memphis Bishop says gay and lesbian people need to feel at home in their church; starts new ministry  (more)