Plaintiff Sharonell Fulton says she is overjoyed with the decision.

"My faith is what drives me to care for foster children here in Philadelphia and I thank God the Supreme Court believes that's a good thing", she said.

Catholic Social Services is a Philadelphia city-funded foster and adoption agency.

Given the funding the city provides, Philadelphia City argued that the agency had no right to refuse to certify same-sex couples as foster parents because of its Catholic beliefs on marriage.

The Catholic policy constituted discrimination and violated the City's nondiscrimination ordinance, the City said in 2018, when the issue arose.

It went on to say it would no longer work with the Catholic Social Services. As the City oversees all foster care placements, the agency's work drastically diminished as the case proceeded in the courts.

Catholic Social Services and two foster parents — one named Sharonell Fulton (pictured) — sued the city, claiming the free exercise clause in the First Amendment gives the agency the right to opt out of the nondiscrimination requirement.

The Fulton v. Philadelphia lawsuit argued that the City's policy violated their free exercise of religion when it stopped contracting with them in 2018.

The Court's unanimous ruling in favour of Catholic Social Services' free exercise clause overturned a lower court and a federal circuit court ruling in the City's favour.

The new decision is being seen as a victory for religious freedom in the United States.

The court did not, however, establish a general right for religious organizations to violate nondiscrimination laws.

It ruled more narrowly.

It said since a section in the city's nondiscrimination policy allowed exceptions to the nondiscrimination policy at the city commissioner's discretion (though none has ever been granted), it must also do so for Catholic Social Services' sincerely held religious beliefs.

Philadelphia's Archbishop Nelson Pérez says the ruling is a victory for at-risk children.

The Catholic Church in Philadelphia has steadfastly served the city for 200 years. It is looking forward to partnering with the City and continuing to provide "the temporal and spiritual needs of all — now and for the long term," Pérez says.

In his view, the Court's ruling protects "our enshrined right to religious freedom and celebrates the rich diversity of religious beliefs in the United States.

"Religious ministries cannot be forced to abandon their beliefs as the price for ministering to those in need. We can all live and work peacefully, side-by-side, to create a better and brighter future for all of our children."

Gay rights groups are interpreting the ruling as another defeat for LGBTQ equality. A study by the Williams Institute at UCLA shows same-sex couples raising children were approximately seven times more likely than heterosexual couples raising children to have an adopted or foster child.

"This ruling will certainly impact foster care and adoption services immediately and perpetuate some pretty horrific myths in the culture — doubting our ability to provide effective parenting," says a lesbian foster parent.

But a leading scholar of religious liberty says as the ruling pointed out, there are more than 20 foster care agencies in Philadelphia, many catering for LGBTQ couples.

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Catholic News Service
• Religion News Service
• Image: Philadelphia Inquirer

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 women are included or excluded by the Church.

The "synodal process" began with an assembly held Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 in Frankfurt, Germany, setting the agenda of the controversial topics they aim to discuss for the next two years, from married priests to the recognition of same-sex couples.

But in a country with a long tradition of outspoken theologians, one of the most persistent voices challenging the Catholic Church's current position will come from outside the synod.

"We need a kind of woman church within our church where women can discover and live their own strengths, abilities and charisms — in the sense of empowerment," said Agnes Wuckelt, vice president of the German Association of Catholic Women (referred to as KFD), in a recent interview with Religion News Service.

She noted that in the absence of representation, many women are leaving the Catholic Church.

Wuckelt's KFD has submitted a proposal to the German bishops' assembly to promote the appointment of women to leadership positions at all levels of the local Catholic Church, with the goal of paving the way to female ordination to the priesthood.

Pope Francis needs to include women in his frequent calls for broader recognition of the rights of disadvantaged and disenfranchised people.

Wuckelt described this process as "a transition to a gender-appropriate church."

Though German bishops have already voted to increase the proportion of women in leadership positions in their dioceses to 30%, the KFD has demanded that it be increased to 50%.

But this is only a small part of what the theologian sees as necessary to promote gender equality in the Catholic Church. Wuckelt argues for women to be allowed to join the ranks of the diaconate, which would allow them to preach, distribute the Eucharist and officiate at weddings, baptisms and funerals — everything but hear confessions or consecrate the Eucharist.

"The biggest obstacle lies in the sacramental understanding of the diaconate," Wuckelt said, which the church views as an initial step toward becoming a priest, not as an independent ministry.

But ultimately, the theologian concedes, she hopes the effect of women deacons will be that "more and more bishops can imagine women as priests."

Four years ago, Pope Francis established a commission to study the female diaconate, but little apparent work has been done since, and the commission's discussions and conclusions have been kept private.

In "Querida Amazonia," a document released last week (Feb. 12) wrapping up last fall's Vatican synod on the Amazon region, Pope Francis made no mention of women deacons or married priests, even though these topics were strongly debated by bishops during the summit.

Francis' approach to women's issues has caused many Catholic feminists to regard Francis with ambivalence.

"On the one hand, he repeatedly emphasizes the high importance of women for the Church. He wants women to participate fully in all decisions in the Church," said Wuckelt.

"However, he rather represents a classic image of women, as it has been represented by Rome for decades."

Given the chance, Wuckelt said she would advise Pope Francis to include women in his frequent calls for broader recognition of the rights of disadvantaged and disenfranchised people.

This also means an "official and sacramental recognition," she said.

She would also encourage the pontiff to invite female and male theologians to counsel him on "finding a wise approach to the theological arguments for the priesthood of women."

Wuckelt quoted a reading by St. Paul, which states that "there are no more Jews and Greeks, not slaves and free people, not male and female; for all of you are one in Jesus Christ."

She said that while these words have "been forgotten time and again in the course of the Church's history," she believes that "it still challenges male and female Christians alike."

Wuckelt isn't the only one looking for more definitive signals from the pope.

A powerful lay group that is co-managing the German synodal process, the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZDK), said in a statement about "Querida Amazonia" that Francis showed a "lack of courage for real reforms."

But Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Münich, who recently announced his intention to not seek a second term as the head of the German episcopacy, took a more optimistic approach, saying that the papal document offers a "framework for reflection" and that the topics discussed during the synod are "by no means off the table."

Wuckelt agreed that "Querida Amazonia" is not "dismissive of the diaconate of women," adding that if the German bishops submit a very strong vote on the matter, the pontiff might "get involved."

The German bishops' deliberations have provoked mistrust among some Catholic conservatives.

Progressive bishops in Germany are viewed in some quarters of the Vatican as a sort of rogue episcopacy, threatening to send a theological and moral shockwave through the Catholic Church in the West.

Traditionalists are already working to minimize the impact of the German bishops' conclusions, arguing that, because Catholicism is a global reality, the bishops of all countries must reach a consensus on the issue of women before any decision is applied.

"In my opinion, this is just an excuse to protest against change and the sharing of power and a feeble means of self-defense," Wuckelt said.

Wuckelt argues that the future of the Catholic Church depends on expanding the role of women.

The German synod was born partly out of a reaction to a 2018 report showing thousands of cases of sexual abuse by clergy over the past six decades.

According to Wuckelt, appointing more women in decision-making positions might help tackle this epidemic and restore popular credibility to the Church.

"We need to discuss this issue from a gender perspective," she said, adding that studies must be made to discover whether female inclusivity could help prevent and detect abuse cases."

"In any case," she added, "it must be assumed that the just participation of women in all services and ministries will change the Church."

After two years of discussion, German bishops will vote on the hundreds of proposals, including the KFD's, and submit those that pass a majority vote to the Vatican and Pope Francis. While remaining hopeful, Wuckelt said that theological discussions are likely to "take a long time."

"Perhaps our great-granddaughters will achieve this goal," she said.

• Claire Giangravé - Vatican Correspondent RNS. First published in RNS. Republished with permission.

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 Church could not accept same-sex marriage.

But the bishop said the Church was bound not to discriminate against homosexuals, as noted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Therefore it should do more to support those who were in stable unions.

He said: "With prayer and a private form of blessing you will be able to accompany their way."

Continue reading

The Human Rights Commission says:

If the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill became law no religious minister would be required to marry a same-sex couple, anywhere, including in a church. Section 29 of the Marriage Act states "a marriage licence shall authorise but not oblige any marriage celebrant to solemnise the marriage to which it relates".

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 do so?

Is there a distinction to be made between the effect on a child of being raised by two women, and the effect on a child of being raised by two men?

The law already makes a distinction between men and women says John Roughan, single men can get an adoption order only for boys.

He points out that the act (section 4, subsection 2) expressly excludes adoption of a female by a sole male applicant unless there are exceptional circumstances.

"I suppose the legislators had heterosexual men in mind. It will be interesting to see what Ms Kaye and co-reformer Kevin Hague will do with that clause if they produce a bill to include male couples" says Roughan.

Read John Roughan's column in The New Zealand Herald

John Roughan is a Weekend Herald Columnist

Image: The Ave.us

The Church hopes the appointment of the committee is a step that will lead it out of the impasse over questions involving in same gender relationships.

The committee met for the first time on 9 June to begin the task of clarifying the choices the church faces - and identifying the implications of those choices.

The commission was instituted by the Standing Committee of the General Synod, which resolved at its November 2011 meeting to ask a small group of eminent people "with ability, credibility and a commitment to work in prayerful collegiality" to convene to do this work.

The commission's task is to summarise the Biblical and theological work done by the church over 30 years on these matters - and to present a final report which outlines the various options, and suggests the implications of each of those options, to the 2014 General Synod.

The members of the commission are:

Sir Anand Satyanand, who was a lawyer, judge and ombudsman before he was chosen as New Zealand's 19th Governor General.

Ms Mele Tuilotolava, a Tongan New Zealander lawyer who is also involved in a wide range of health, legal and Pacific Island advocacy work.

Professor Paul Trebilco, head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Otago.

Justice Judith Potter, a High Court judge, and former president of both the Auckland District and New Zealand Law Societies.

Sir Tamati Reedy, an educationalist who was the founding Professor of the University of Waikato's School of Maori and Pacific Development, and who has also served as the head of the Maori Affairs Department.

Source

• Anglicantaonga
• Image: 3News

Continue Reading

• 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 continuum there are those who think that gender difference is a social construct. At the other end are those who think that gender is defined biologically. Are women and men interchangeable at will?

"To speak of 'the order of human nature itself' becomes progressively more difficult and less convincing when gender is regarded as a purely human construct, a cultural invention, and not something given in nature," said Cardinal Francis George in a recent column. " Nature itself has now been mostly reduced to a field for scientific experiment and human control. Even biological differences are to be manipulated for economic profit and according to personal preferences. Whatever restricts personal choice is politically and socially unacceptable. So two men should be able to marry, if that is what they want; and women should be candidates for ordained priesthood, if that is what they believe. Women and men are interchangeable at will."

Source

• Catholic New World
• Image: Tommy's Window

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 said it will spend at least US$2 million in 2012 to campaign against Republicans who switched sides.

"Politicians who campaign one way on marriage and then vote the other, need to understand: betraying and misleading voters has consequences, too. We are not giving up, we will continue to fight to protect marriage in New York," said NOM president, Brian Brown.

"The Republican Party in New York is responsible for passing gay marriage, and sadly it's the families of New York who will pay the worst price of the new government-backed redefinition of marriage."

Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council accused NY Republicans of taking bribes over the matter.

"Enormous political coercion has resulted in a profound failure of moral courage in the New York Senate. A clear majority of the people of New York oppose counterfeit 'marriage,' but Gov. Cuomo and anti-family lawmakers have shown that their allegiance is to a small but vocal minority seeking to redefine marriage and family," he said in a statement. "The so-called religious protections that were tacked on to the bill will ultimately do nothing to protect the religious rights of New York citizens. As we go forward there is little doubt that the "incentives," some taxpayer funded, used to sway votes, especially Republican ones, will be exposed."

New York's Roman Catholic Church has campaigned openly against the legality of same sex marriage.

The bishops are concerned that marriage will be ridiculed and the Church may face government sanctions for continuing to teach about one of the cornerstones of civilisation, the traditional view of marriage.

"The passage by the legislature of a bill to alter radically and forever humanity's historic understanding of marriage leaves us deeply disappointed and troubled," said the New York Catholic Bishops in a statement.

While reminding people to treat homosexuals with respect, dignity and love, the bishops strongly affirmed that marriage as the joining of one man and one woman in a lifelong loving union that is open to children, ordered for the good of those children and the spouses themselves.

The Republican-controlled state senate voted 33-29 for a bill that had earlier been approved by the lower house, which has a Democratic majority.

The state, the most populous US state to allow same-sex marriage, does not have a residency requirement for getting married and the new law takes effect after 30 days.

"Now that we've made it here, we'll make it everywhere," said prominent activist Evan Wolfson.

Sources

• NCR - Statement of the Bishops of New York State
• NY Archbishop Timothy Dolan's blog
• NPR
• BBC
• Washington Post
• Washington Independent
• Image: Washington Post

St Patrick's College student Malcolm Pimentel wanted to bring his friend, former St Pat's student Keith Labad, but said he was told by rector Father Paul Martin that he had to bring a girl.

However, Father Martin yesterday told the Herald that the issue was not one of sex, rather that Malcolm's chosen date was an ex-pupil.

When asked whether two boys from St Patrick's could go together as each other's dates to the ball, Father Martin said: "If they were both from St Pat's that's fine."

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• Image:mixitdj.co.nz