Posts Tagged ‘Same Sex Couples’

Spearheading transition to a gender appropriate Catholic Church

Thursday, February 20th, 2020

Though 500 years have passed since the Protestant Reformation began in the eastern German town of Wittenberg, traditional and conservative Catholics find themselves eyeing the German church with concern once again. The country’s Catholic bishops recently launched a two-year summit aimed at “newly assessing” long-held Catholic beliefs on sexuality, love and priestly life, including how Read more

German bishop proposes blessings for same-sex couples

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015

A German bishop going to the synod on the family has proposed that the Catholic Church might offer ‘private blessings’ to same sex couples. Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabruck said it was possible to see strengths as well as weaknesses in both gay relationships and in those of cohabiting heterosexuals. He said that the Catholic Read more

HRC: Religious ministers have right to refuse to marry a same-sex couple

Tuesday, August 28th, 2012

“Religious ministers have the right to refuse to marry anyone. That right will not change if the Bill becomes law,” says Human Rights Chief Commissioner David Rutherford. “It will be up to any individual marriage celebrant, including those who are religious ministers, to decide whether or not they wish to marry a same-sex couple.” The Human Read more

Same sex adoption – different rules for men and women?

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

If the the law is changed to allow same sex adoption will the new law treat female couples and male couples equally? Under existing law it is illegal for a single male to adopt a female. If the law is changed to allow same sex couples to adopt, will a male couple be allowed to Read more

Same Gender relationships – Sir Anand chairs Anglican Committee

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012
resignation offer

The former Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand is heading up a commission of eminent persons set up by the Anglican Church to investigate the issue of blessing people who are in same gender relationships. The Church hopes the appointment of the committee is a step that will lead it out of the impasse over questions Read more

Gay marriage in the spotlight

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

Gay marriage is the latest social issue to be thrust into the political spotlight. For politicians on the right, the issue is reasonably unproblematic as vague positions tend not to be challenged by supporters so much – see Claire Trevett’s Key ‘not against’ gay marriage. But for politicians of the left, the issue is a minefield. Read more

Church has a duty to enforce moral standards in its own community

Friday, July 8th, 2011

Mark John Reynolds, commenting on the Catholic Church’s stand on same sex marriage, contends that the Catholic Church has a duty to enforce moral standards in its own community. “The line between church and state begins the moment a politician such as Andrew Cuomo walks through the parish door. When he stands in the pews, he is Read more

Are women and men interchangeable at will?

Friday, July 1st, 2011

A number of issues which may appear to be unrelated have been in the news Redefining Marriage, Children being raised in a “gender free” environment, Alasdair Thompson’s comments on workplace productivity, Cardinal sees ‘no theological obstacle’ to women priests. They are however connected by the underlying issue of gender difference. At one end of the Read more

NY redefines marriage

Tuesday, June 28th, 2011

On Friday, New York joined the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa and Vermont and Washington DC as places where same-sex marriage is legal in the United States. Opponents of same-sex marriage have vowed to fight back and outlaw gay marriage as they did in California and Maine. The National Organisation for Marriage (NOM) has Read more