This month, Yale University Press released “The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality Within the Biblical Story,” a highly anticipated book coauthored by preeminent New Testament scholar Richard Hays and his son, Christopher, himself a respected Old Testament scholar. In this book they seek to make a biblical case for same-sex relationships and marriage. Ending the Read more
Father Timothy Radcliffe, a spiritual assistant for the October Synod on Synodality, has expressed uncertainty about how young gay Catholics should live according to Church teachings. Writing for the Vatican’s L’Osservatore Romano, Fr Radcliffe acknowledged the complexity of applying Church teachings. This is especially challenging for young people trying to accept their sexuality. “The challenge, Read more
Though I have butched up pretty good in the ensuing decades, I was a somewhat soft boy at my Jesuit high school. It was no place for sissies. Being gay After a difficult freshman year, I begged my parents to transfer me to the local public school. That request, to my father, was ridiculous. Little Read more
A South Korean Catholic priest’s public blessings for same-sex couple are making the world of difference to the way couples see themselves. Father Seungbok Lee’s actions have won applause from individuals and groups supporting same-sex couples’ rights. Two sets of female same-sex couples – Yeon Yeon and Yoon Hae, and Chris and Ari – are Read more
The final report from the synod on the family has narrowed down aspects of a “welcoming” preliminary report, especially concerning gay people. The preliminary report, issued half way through the synod, asked if the Church community was welcoming to gay people. It noted that gay people have “gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian Read more
The 2018 Lambeth Conference of the world’s Anglican bishops is in doubt, with speculation it won’t be convened for years. Based on comments by the presiding bishop of the US Episcopal Church, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Irish Times reported the conference had been cancelled. Bishop Schori said the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby was Read more
Despite numerous controversies over dismissing gay Catholics from church posts and the U.S. hierarchy’s campaign against same-sex marriage, Catholic leaders have carefully, if quietly, avoided doing anything to block gay couples from having their children baptised. But a move by a bishop in Wisconsin to route all such decisions through his office is raising questions Read more
The world’s first openly gay Episcopal bishop has announced his divorce from his long time partner. Bishop Gene Robinson’s election in 2003 shocked the worldwide Anglican communion. After entering into a civil union with his partner of 25 years Mark Andrews in 2008, Bishop Robinson announced the split in May this year, the Religion News Read more
Bill Anderson, a Baptist Pastor in Pahia, a small town in the north of New Zealand, believes that Gay people people cannot be Christians. When asked why other churches accept Gay people, Mr Anderson said he did not know. Commenting on modern society, he said: “You can’t even go to a movie without getting slammed; Read more
Being about the only professor at a liberal, tolerant, cosmopolitan Western university who is known to be a practicing Catholic — baptized at the age of two weeks — I have been asked frequently in recent times about what I think will happen to the church in the light of Pope Benedict’s resignation. Will it Read more