It is ironic that the proponents of homosexuality so often point to ancient Greece as their paradigm because of its high state of culture and its partial acceptance of homosexuality or, more accurately, pederasty. Though some ancient Greeks did write paeans to homosexual love, it did not occur to any of them to propose homosexual Read more
A Parliamentary Select Committee has recommended that a bill to legalise same gender marriage be passed into law. The Government Administration Committee said the private member’s bill should progress, but with an amendment to make it clear that no minister was obliged to marry someone against their own beliefs. New Zealand’s Catholic Bishops say they Read more
A doctrinal commission will be set up to look at a theological rationale for the liturgical blessing of people in permanent, faithful same gender relationships. This “Commission on Doctrine and Theological Questions” is being convened at the instruction of General Synod Standing Committee, which met in Auckland last week. The commission will also look at Read more
The United States Supreme Court has a history of playing a pivotal role in emotive cultural debates including, for example, abortion (Roe v Wade), racial segregation (Brown v Board of Education) and the death penalty (Roper v Simmons). Marriage equality will now join this list. In a much anticipated move, the US Supreme Court announced Read more
American gay rights activist and radio host Michaelangelo Signorile recently wrote triumphantly of what lies around the corner for a country that just re-elected its “First Gay President” — as a Newsweek cover last year dubbed Obama. Claiming an early victory for his movement in the Huffington Post Signorile proclaimed that “[n]o longer will politicians — or Read more
The United States Supreme Court has decided to rule on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage — a decision the US Catholic Bishops Conference sees as “a significant moment for our nation”. The court’s ruling, which could have ramifications for marriage laws across the country, is not expected until next June. The court has chosen to Read more
New Zealand Catholic Bishops appeared before the New Zealand Government Administration Select Committee considering the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill on Wednesday to share their concerns over the future implications should it become law. Archbishop John Dew, Bishop Colin Campbell and Mrs Sue Devereux, representing the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, made a verbal submission Read more
Some churches have expressed concern that freedom of religion will be breached if the proposed same gender marriage legislation is passed. Victoria University Faculty of Law professor Bill Atkin has recommended that the parliamentary select committee considering a bill which proposes to to legalise same gender marriage add a “conscience clause” to the legislation, to Read more
A family and their parish in Minnesota are in conflict after a teenage son missed out on the sacrament of confirmation because of his Facebook post in support of same-sex marriage. Lennon Cihak, 17, was on track to be confirmed at Assumption Church, Barnesville — until parish priest Father Gray LaMoine saw the teenager’s photo Read more
The bill to make same-sex marriage legal in Aotearoa New Zealand has prompted about 300 people belonging to Tongan churches in Auckland to join a protest march. Labour MP Louisa Wall’s same-sex marriage bill, aimed at legalising same-sex marriage, passed its first reading in Parliament during August. It is now being considered by a parliamentary Read more