It’s time to ‘rethink’ our pro-life strategy says Cardinal Jose Advincula. We need to re-evaluate the strategy in a different way, using new approaches that refrain from further judgment and condemnation. During the Mass for this year’s “Walk for Life” on Saturday, Advincula – who is the head of Manila’s Catholic Church – spoke of Read more
The Flemish bishops’ decision to bless same-sex unions is reasonable, says Bishop Johan Bonny. Bonny and the other Flemish bishops of Belgium introduced a blessing for same-sex couples in September 2022. They also published a handout outlining suggested liturgy and prayers. The bishops’ based their decision to go ahead with the same sex blessings on Read more
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
A number of ministry and church leaders believe a cautious approach to same-sex marriage is needed so as not to alienate those outside the church. Father Neil Vaney, an Auckland Roman Catholic moral theologian, said the secular media and various people were “pushing” the same sex issue. He said the Church should “show great compassion” Read more
Louisa Wall says much of the opposition to the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill was down to inaccurate “scaremongering” such as claims churches would be forced to marry gay couples. But according to Family First’s Bob McCoskrie experience shows that those assurances are shallow promises. To support his contention McCoskrie sites the following facts: Canada: A court has ruled that Read more
A recently released study suggesting children of same gender parents fare worse than others is flawed because it does not compare children living with parents in stable same gender relationships with children living with parents in stable heterosexual relationships. “In fact, only a small proportion of its sample spent more than a few years living Read more
Hone Harawira is known for a lot of things, but not many people realise he is a social and moral conservative. He is against, for example, drug liberalisation and gay marriage and in an interview with Bryce Edwards Hone claimed to be against a society of “choice”. This, I think, reveals an authoritarian attitude not uncommon in Read more
A TVNZ One News Colmar Brunton poll shows nearly two-thirds support for same sex marriage. Asked if they think same-sex couples should be able to get married, 63% of respondents said yes, 31% said no and 6% did not know or preferred not to say. The Catholic church remains staunchly opposed to gay marriage. “The Read more
The Methodist church in Fiji says in will not be swayed on the matter of same sex unions, but it respects the individual rights of sexual minority groups. The Church will offer spiritual guidance to members of the group who seek their advice. The acting general secretary of the Methodist Church in Fij, Reverend Tevita Read more