Notably, pluralities of white mainline Protestants and white Catholics now favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally -- the first time this has occurred in Pew Research Center surveys. Political independents are divided in their views of same-sex-marriage; in 2009, they opposed it by a wide margin…
White mainline Protestants and white Catholics have become more supportive of gay marriage, though virtually all of the change in opinion among both groups has come among those who attend services relatively infrequently.
About half (49%) of white mainline Protestants support same-sex marriage while 38% oppose this. This is a reversal of opinion from the past two years when 40% favored and 49% opposed allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally. Just 35% of white mainline Protestants who attend church at least once a week favor same-sex marriage, nearly the same percentage as in 2008-2009 (34%). Among those who attend services less often, support has increased by 11 points (from 42% to 53%).
There has been a similar shift among white Catholics -- 49% now favor same-sex marriage while 41% are opposed. Opinion was more evenly divided over the past two years (44% favor, 45% oppose). Here too, support has increased among those who attend services less than weekly, from 51% in 2008-2009 to 59% in 2010…
… Jews and the unaffiliated have remained far more supportive of same-sex marriage. Their views also have changed little during this time. Three-quarters of Jews (76%) and 62% of the religiously unaffiliated say they favor allowing gays and lesbians to marry legally…
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On the eve of Valentine's Day, protesters converge on Holy Name
by Tara Malone,
February 13, 2011 - Chicago Tribune
On the eve of Valentine's Day, Helen Moshak pinned rainbow ribbons to her white knit cap and returned to the Roman Catholic Church she left five years ago, dismayed by its opposition to gay marriage when two of her three children are gay. Photo
The 76-year-old Skokie woman did not step foot inside Holy Name Cathedral, the storied seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago.
Nor did she join in the picket line of about 60 men and women — her son Damian Moshak and his partner among them — protesting the Catholic Church's stance on gay marriage and other stances they see as unjust to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
Rather, Moshak stood across the street from the downtown cathedral and held a sign that read: "Catholic parents of gay kids know that all are equal before God." Photo
"I feel a bit shy. But then again, it's the right thing to do," Moshak said…
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Ratzinger, Hurley, Maida & Accomplices - Kids Are Being Hurt!!!
“If you shut up truth and bury it under the ground, it will but grow, and gather to itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through it will blow up everything in its way.” Emile Zola
What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
Luke 12:3 Photo
USCCB Condemns New Ways Ministry; Gay Ministry Responds
by James Martin, S.J.
February 6, 2010, America Magazine
Francis Cardinal George, archbishop of Chicago and president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, has denounced New Ways Ministry, a national organization based in Mt. Rainier, Maryland, which reaches out to gay and lesbian Catholics, runs conferences on issues concerning gay and lesbian Catholics, and sponsors regular retreats for that same population. (It also offers a variety of resources on its websites, such as a list of Catholic parishes where gays and lesbians would feel welcome.) Valued among the gay and lesbian Catholics, the organization and its founders (Sister Jeanine Gramick, SL, and Father Robert Nugent, SDS) have often found themselves at odds with the Catholic hierarchy. Sister Gramick and Father Nugent have been for some years officially barred "from any pastoral work involving homosexual persons," as the USCCB statement affirms. New Ways Ministry, which includes on its board and advisory board both priests and religious, said in a statement today that it was not contacted by the USCCB to explain its positions before the bishops' statement was released. Here is part of Cardinal George's statement, dated yesterday…
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Organize to Support Gay Marriage - February 10, 2011
Gov. Quinn to 'follow conscience' on unions
by Dave McKinney,
December 2, 2010 - Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief
GAY RIGHTS | Says he'll sign bill despite Catholic Church criticism Photo
SPRINGFIELD -- The Illinois Senate Wednesday passed landmark civil unions legislation that is now headed to Gov. Quinn, who has pledged to sign it despite new church criticism he would not be a good Roman Catholic in doing so.
"Today was a great day for the people of Illinois, for the family of Illinois,'' Quinn said after the Senate's 32-24 vote for legislation that would make Illinois the sixth state to recognize civil unions between gay and lesbian couples.
The Senate's vote followed House approval Tuesday and came despite criticisms over the measure's potential cost to taxpayers, the likelihood it would lead to legalization of gay marriages and concern that it had trumped fixing the state's budget ills among legislative priorities.
Shortly after the Senate's move, the governor, who is Roman Catholic, got an earful from the head of Springfield's Catholic archdiocese, Bishop Thomas John Paprocki, who questioned Quinn's adherence to church teachings…
…Told of the bishop's statement, Quinn shrugged.
"I follow my conscience. I think everyone should do that. I think that's the most important thing to do in life, and my conscience is not kicking me in the shins today,'' the governor told reporters…
…"I have a gay daughter," said state Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria), the bill's chief Senate sponsor, whose child, Maggie, watched the deliberations from the Senate gallery with her partner.
"I've seen this issue through the eyes of a father who has a gay child. What it means is I have one daughter amongst my three who doesn't have the same rights as the other two, and I don't understand that,'' Koehler said…
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Churches split over plans for gay marriage services
by Kate Devlin Uk Political Correspondent,
14 Feb 2011 – Herald Scotland
RELIGIOUS groups have expressed concern at plans to allow gay marriage ceremonies in church.
Proposals to allow civil partnerships to take place in religious settings are to be unveiled by the Coalition Government at Westminster later this week. Photo
But a spokesman for the Catholic Church in Scotland said yesterday that such a ceremony “would never take place” in a Catholic church.
Others expressed fears that although churches would not be forced to offer same sex ceremonies they could be accused of discrimination and face lawsuits if they did not.
But the plans were welcomed by campaigners and politicians, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who claimed that they were long overdue…
…John Deighan, parliamentary officer for the Catholic Church in Scotland, said: “This will never happen in a Catholic church. It attempts to change our entire definition of family life.
“We are getting to the point where the argument is that it will be seen as intolerant not to marry two men in the church.
“But people have to understand that teaching is handed down – it is not something that is malleable and can be changed.”
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Pope Blasts U.K. Anti-Discrimination Laws
AP – February 2, 2010
CBS News
In Speech, Benedict Raises Fears that Vatican Could Be Prosecuted for Stances Against Gay
(AP) Pope Benedict XVI weighed in against anti-discrimination laws, which have raised fears at the Vatican that the Catholic Church could be prosecuted for refusing, for example, to hire gays or transsexuals.
Benedict blasted proposed laws before the British Parliament that are intended to prevent employers from denying jobs to applicants on the grounds of gender, sexuality, age or race. Current legislation exempts religious organizations, but the planned new law would effectively apply to lay people employed by churches…
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Benedict XVI UNSUBSTANTIATED Claims That
same-sex couples violates 'natural law'
Benedict XVI – MUST Provide Documentation
*
Galileo & Gay Marriage
Pope described as …"so averse to anything intellectual that everyone has to play dense and ignorant to gain his favor"
The Trial of Galileo - by Douglas O. Linder
Benedict XVI teaches that homosexual activity is sinful is
– NOT
The Catholic Church Teachngs.
*
"Authoritarian ≠ Authoritative,
Unsubstantiated Antigay Teachings ≠ Well-informed Conscience"
Peter Tatchell
Human Rights, Democracy, Global Justice, LGBTI Freedom
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Vatican blocks gay human rights vote at the UN.
Catechism reviles gays as "debased", disordered" and a "grave depravity".
LONDON – Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor was confronted by gay rights protesters this morning (Sunday 4 April 2004) as the Palm Sunday procession entered Westminster Cathedral in London. The main doors of the Cathedral were picketed by six campaigners from the gay human rights group OutRage!.
Peter Tatchell remonstrated with the Cardinal on the Cathedral steps: “Your church protects paedophile priests, while persecuting gay people in loving relationships. You support legal discrimination against gay people and oppose gay equality and human rights”.
The Cardinal remained impassive and indifferent, as he and his aides pushed through the peaceful protesters.
The protesters were violently manhandled by clergy and congregants, with some being punched and knocked to the ground. Several congregants taunted the gay campaigners as “sick”, and “unnatural”, as they tore placards from their hands.
The placards read: “Vatican blocks gay human rights at UN”, “Catholics! Stop crucifying queers!”, and “Gays are not ‘intrinsically disordered’ – Shame on Catholic Catechism!”.
"We were protesting against the Vatican's blocking of a UN vote last week which would have condemned homophobic discrimination and the imprisonment, torture, murder of gay people", said Peter Tatchell of OutRage!...
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Apple: Stand Strong Against Homophobia and Anti-Gay Discrimination
December 15, 2010 – Change.org News
Heard of the Manhattan Declaration? It's a document and campaign started by Watergate felon Chuck Colson to organize conservative religious leaders in opposition to same-sex marriage. Signers of the declaration, which include prominent conservatives from a broad swath of faiths, say that while they don't intend to inflict violence on LGBT people, they firmly believe that same-sex relationships are "sexually immoral," and that anti-gay activists ought to break laws, if necessary, to keep gays and lesbians from marrying.
Naturally, many people find the premise behind the Declaration offensive. Cloaked in a mantra of "Hey, we're not for discrimination, we're just for Christian principles," the Declaration gives religious cover for the type of stigmatization and anti-gay work that continues to allow LGBT people to be fired from their jobs, denied access at hospitals to see their partners, denied the chance to share health and insurance benefits, and denied the chance to have their relationships recognized…
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Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor.
He is the former Communications Director for the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School, as well as the former Director of Communications for Pax Christi USA, a national Catholic peace and justice organization…
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30 yrs Benedict XVI Silencing Homosexuality.“If you shut up truth and bury it under the ground, it will but grow, and gather to itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through it will blow up everything in its way.” Emile Zola
What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
Luke 12:3
By Shankar Vedantam,
February 11, 2011 – The Washington Post
From the time he was in grade school in his native Jamaica, Andrae Bent was the target of taunts and attacks.
A classmate once stabbed him near his eye with a pencil for being effeminate. Another time, a man pulled a knife on him and asked if he was "one of them," Bent said, meaning homosexual. Fearing for his life, Bent denied his homosexuality. Photo
"I was called faggot, gay, batty man, chichi man," he said. "This would be from classmates, from people on the streets when I was walking home. Wherever I went in Jamaica, it was a nightmare."
Five months ago, Bent, now 24, won asylum in the United States on the grounds that he had credible fear of persecution as a gay man if he were to go back to Jamaica. He joined what has become a small wave of gay Jamaicans fleeing homophobia in the Caribbean nation.
Despite its image as a laid-back island paradise for American tourists, Jamaica still criminalizes sodomy and has long been regarded by human rights activists as virulently anti-gay…
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JAMAICA
The Most Homophobic Place on Earth?
April 12, 2006 – TIME
Brian wears sunglasses to hide his gray and lifeless left eye—damaged, he says, by kicks and blows with a board from Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton. Brian, 44, is gay, and Banton, 32, is an avowed homophobe whose song Boom Bye-Bye decrees that gays "haffi dead" ("have to die"). In June 2004, Brian claims, Banton and some toughs burst into his house near Banton's Kingston recording studio and viciously beat him and five other men. After complaints from international human-rights groups, Banton was finally charged last fall, but in January a judge dismissed the case for lack of evidence. It was a bitter decision for Brian, who lost his landscaping business after the attack and is fearful of giving his last name. "I still go to church," he says as he sips a Red Stripe beer. "Every Sunday I ask why this happened to me." Photo
Though familiar to Americans primarily as a laid-back beach destination, Jamaica is hardly idyllic. The country has the world's highest murder rate. And its rampant violence against gays and lesbians has prompted human-rights groups to confer another ugly distinction: the most homophobic place on earth.
In the past two years, two of the island's most prominent gay activists, Brian Williamson and Steve Harvey, have been murdered — and a crowd even celebrated over Williamson's mutilated body. Perhaps most disturbing, many anti-gay assaults have been acts of mob violence. In 2004, a teen was almost killed when his father learned his son was gay and invited a group to lynch the boy at his school. Months later, witnesses say, police egged on another mob that stabbed and stoned a gay man to death in Montego Bay…Read complete report:
Is Homophobia Associated With Homosexual Arousal?
Four acrobats have taken their circus act to the Vatican, performing shirtless for Pope Benedict XVI during his weekly general audience.
The men took off their shirts as they came on stage Wednesday to begin their show, which lasted a few minutes. They lifted each other in acrobatic poses, keeping balance with their bodies supported only by their arms, at one point creating a human tower.
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A standard weekly papal audience got weird this week when a troupe of acrobats in snug white pants and jackets approached Pope Benedict XVI and ... stripped themselves shirtless. Then they performed a brief but sensual feat of strength, while the synth chords of some ELO knockoff band blasted through the hall…
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Andrew Sullivan/Atlantic – view video:
Vatican Asking For Male Prostitutes“Naturam expellas furca, tamen usque recurret.”
(Though you drive Nature out with a pitchfork, she will still find her way back.)
The Vatican was today rocked by a sex scandal reaching into Pope Benedict's household after a chorister was sacked for allegedly procuring male prostitutes for a papal gentleman-in-waiting... Photo
Iowa’s Catholic Bishops urge legislators to Discriminate Against
Adults and Children Who Are Gay -
Bishops Lack Substantiating Evidence To Support Claim,
February 9, 2011
by Roger Boyes, Berlin,
March 25, 2010 – The Times
Despite outrage, little progress in church scandal
By Robin Washington,
January 2, 2011, Duluth News Tribune
Gay rights groups attack iPhone confession app for Roman Catholics
February 13, 2011 – guardian.co.uk
The launch of an iPhone app that guides Catholics through confession has prompted a furious response from gay rights groups, who accuse it of "promoting anti-gay spiritual abuse"…
…A spokesman for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales said it was a "useful tool to help people prepare for the sacrament of reconciliation". Among the questions users are asked is: "Have I been guilty of any homosexual activity?"
Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, a group that campaigns on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people, accused the app of "helping to create neurotic individuals who are ashamed of who they are".
"This is cyber spiritual abuse that promotes backward ideas in a modern package," said Besen. "Gay Catholics don't need to confess, they need to come out of the closet and challenge anti-gay dogma. The false idea that being gay is something to be ashamed of has destroyed too many lives. This iPhone app is facilitating and furthering the harm."…
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Caitlin Ryan, PhD
Non-profit organization that defends the GLBT community against anti-gay misinformation campaigns through media advocacy and university outreach.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS that gay and lesbian relationships are SINFUL or INFERIOR to heterosexual relationships HARM gays and lesbians. Judge Vaughn Walker Ruling PhotoCalifornia Prop 8. August 4, 2010
GAY YOUTH SUICIDE | BENEDICT XVI & BISHOPS Child Sexual Abuse Cover-ups – Negligence Protecting (1) Children & (2) LGBT Children | Family of Rutgers suicide victim lends name to bill – November 19, 2010 – CNN
Nothing in life is more precious than the intimate relationships we have with love ones. Healthy love relationships delight us give us confidence to take on challenges and support us in difficult times. Photo
"Hope of Love"
To Children In Early Childhood
March 23, 2010 – by Fr. Marty Kurylowicz
Marriage Equality, like Galileo, is the truth about the facts of growing up gay. Marriage Equality will not become a reality until people learn that its most vital purpose is that it restores the “hope of love” to children in early childhood – essential to their development and well-being for life. Without Marriage Equality we teach children how to hate love and how to be mean and indifferent to people as adults. With all due respect, without Marriage Equality we would teach them in much the same way as has been shown by Benedict XVI and the hierarchy, especially in their lack of care and protection of children for decades.
Kids Are Being Hurt!!!
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