Anglican archbishops in Africa are challenging the decision by the Church of England to allow clergy to bless same-sex couples’ marriages, a move that may lead to a split in the church. The Church of England’s General Synod voted on February 9 to permit the offering of prayers and liturgies at civil marriages. This compromise Read more
I came of age in the 1960s. It was an era of civil unrest, race riots, anti-war protests, and the sexual revolution. One of the popular bumper stickers at the time stated: Question Everything. These societal events coincided with the sessions of the Second Vatican Council and its early implementation. The council brought beautiful and Read more
The new pastoral guidelines concerning gender and sexuality are “groundbreaking”, says New Ways Ministry’s Robert Shine. Primarily targeting Catholic educators, “Aroha and Diversity in Catholic Schools” is the opposite of so many policies which have harmed students and upset school communities in recent years, Shine comments. The document clearly shows the bishops’ core concern is Read more
New diversity guidelines for the country’s 235 Catholic schools offer support for rangatahi with regard to sexual diversity. New Zealand’s Catholic bishops, who released the guidelines, say all young people in Catholic schools are to be welcomed, supported and encouraged. This is important as they navigate their journey from childhood to adult and discover more Read more
In the space of a generation, sexual behaviour once considered immoral and beyond the pale is now endemic and considered normal. Long gone are the days when the statue of David displayed in Melbourne’s Myers emporium had to be covered with a fig leaf and where nudity in the musical Hair caused moral outrage. The Read more
Catholic schools in New South Wales are divided over a proposed anti-trans education bill. The proposal seeks to ban any discussion of gender diversity in the state’s classrooms. The state’s main Catholic education body supports One Nation leader Mark Latham’s the bill. The large Parramatta diocese, however, is lodging a strong objection. Latham’s bill proposes Read more
Queer ethnic young people are experiencing harassment and rejection from their communities for coming out, research shows. Letting In – Closing Out, published by academics at the University of Auckland, found cultural expectations of marriage and children are pushing ethnic youth in New Zealand to remain silent about their sexual orientation. Parents struggle with understanding Read more
Queer folks and their allies have had a fraught relationship with religion and the institution of the church. Joshua Todd, a gay atheist knows this well. But for his birthday he wanted to bring attention to the needs of a Norfolk, Virginia-based church that received backlash after voting to become a LGBTQ+ affirming parish. Read Read more
A Brisbane rally to oppose anti-discrimination exemptions for religious groups will be held this weekend. The proposed legal changes could see organisations owned by religious groups, such as schools, hospitals and aged care facilities, be given the right under federal law to legally expel students and fire staff on the grounds of sexual orientation, trans Read more
An alt-right group has emerged in the Catholic church that aims to purge it of LGBTQ members. “We haven’t seen anything like this before,” US Fordham University theologian Jason Steidl says. “I think they are part of a bigger cultural movement. These people have hitched their wagons to Trump’s presidency, to his tactics.” Read more