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Content about Homosexuality and Catholicism

April 18, 2013
Church of Scotland may let gay ministers have sex

Scotland's largest protestant church already allows gay and lesbian ministers, but they must be celibate

The Church of Scotland is going to debate allowing gay ministers to have sex.

A theological commission has produced a report on the issue of whether the church should ordain ministers who are in same-sex relationships.

Put forward by seven members of the commission, a spokesman told the BBC the report included a broad spectrum of the Scottish Church views.

March 29, 2013
US Catholic school allows gay couple to attend school dance together

Two gay students at an all boys New York state Catholic school have been allowed to attend their school dance as a couple – despite the school’s opposition to same-sex sexual activity

Two students at New York state’s McQuaid Jesuit High School have been given permission to attend a school dance as a couple despite the Catholic Church’s teachings on homosexuality.

School president Father Edward Salmon allowed the pair to attend after they sought his permission to attend the school’s Junior Ball together and other students started an online petition in support of the couple.

March 7, 2013
Catholic priest says next pope should be gay

To avoid links with pedophilia, Italian LGBT rights campaigner and priest Don Andrea Gallo has said a gay pope would be 'wonderful'

Don Andrea Gallo, a religious LGBT advocate in Italy, has said a homosexual pope would be ‘wonderful’.

‘A homosexual pope would be a wonderful thing,’ he told Italy’s Radio 24. ‘There is equality of the children of God. It is the essence of the Gospel, we are all sons and daughters of God.’

Gallo added: ‘A homosexual priest should be free to express his or her identity and her sexuality, otherwise it represses and becomes pedophilia.’

February 20, 2013
Pope favorite blames church pedophilia on gay priests

Cardinal Peter Turkson, one of the top contenders to take over for Pope Benedict XVI, has said gay people are to blame for child sex abuses

The African cardinal widely tipped to be the next pope has blamed the Catholic Church’s pedophilia on gay priests.

Cardinal Peter Turkson, from Ghana, said the sex abuses would never happen in Africa because the culture is against homosexuality.

Speaking to CNN, the 64-year-old said: ‘African traditional systems kind of protect or have protected its population against the tendency.

February 18, 2013
Last mass for gay Catholics held in Soho, London

Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, scrapped the services for being 'inconsistent' with Catholic teaching

The last gay mass for gay and lesbian Catholics was held for the last time in London’s Soho area yesterday (17 February).

Vincent Nichols, the Archbishop of Westminster and leader brought an end to the services, saying they were ‘inconsistent’ with Catholic law.

The leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales has instead asked organizers of the religious service to move out of the ‘gay area’ of London and into Farm Street, Mayfair.

February 13, 2013
Illinois Bishop: Catholics backing gay marriage are destroying the family

The Bishop of Springfield Illinois said being gay is a 'condition' needing celibacy and Catholics who support marriage equality are destroying the family

Thomas Paprocki, Catholic Bishop of Springfield, Illinois slammed Catholics supporting marriage equality, saying they are helping to destroy the family.

In a special speech to honor Valentine's Day and discuss the meaning of love, the Bishop also said that being gay is a 'condition' that can be dealt with through a 'life of chastity'.

The speech was timed ahead of tomorrow's planned debate of Illinois Senate that is tipped to approve marriage equality legislation

February 11, 2013
Pope favorite has defended African ‘Kill the Gays’ laws

After Pope Benedict XVI's shock resignation due to his ill health, one of the top contenders for the post is Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson

The top three candidates for Pope are all vehemently anti-LGBT, with one defending African laws punishing gay people with death.

Pope Benedict XVI resigned earlier today (11 February), with the 85-year-old citing ill health and his advancing age.

Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, has said many of the laws imposed on gay people in Africa are an ‘exaggeration.’

January 28, 2013
Priest stops having sex with wife over gay rights

An American, who has been an Episcopalian priest for 20 years and married for 33, has promised to become celibate after becoming Catholic

An American priest has stopped having sex with his wife after his own sect had become too accepting of gays.

Deacon John Cornelius, who has spent 20 years as an Episcopalian preacher, was ordained as a Roman Catholic priest yesterday (27 January).

As part of the deal of becoming Catholic, the 64-year-old and father of three agreed to become celibate.

Sharyl, his wife of 33 years, is reportedly happy with the new arrangement.

January 5, 2013
Fury and praise over Church of England allowing gay bishops

Liberals and Conservatives have weighed in on the announcement gay men will be allowed to become bishops, as long as they remain celibate

The Church of England has created further divisions in their ranks in their announcement over gay bishops yesterday (4 January).

As long as they remain celibate in a civil partnership, any gay man will be allowed to become a bishop without fear of being forced to step down.

Conservative evangelicals have called it ‘divisive’, but several liberal groups have welcomed the move.

January 4, 2013
Church of England to allow gay clergy to become bishops

A decade after gay cleric Jeffrey John was forced to step down as a bishop by traditionalist Christians, the CoE have said they have evolved on allowing gay bishops

The Church of England has dropped its ban on gay clergy becoming bishops.

This announcement, from the Church’s House of Bishops, would allow clergy in civil partnerships to become bishops if they promised to be celibate, the BBC reports.

In 2003, the issue split the church when gay cleric Jeffrey John, who has always maintained his celibacy, became a Bishop of Reading.

John, now Dean of St Albans, was forced to step down from the role after protests from traditionalists.

January 2, 2013
Catholic Archbishop scraps gay Soho masses

Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols says LGBT services in London's gay village went against the Church's teachings

Masses for gay Catholics in London's Soho area will be scrapped after the Archbishop of Westminster deemed them 'inconsistent' with the Church's teachings.

The services at the Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Warwick Street were started six years ago to 'welcome lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Catholics, their parents, friends and families.'

However, Archbishop Vincent Nichols announced today (2 January) that the 'Soho masses' were to end during the Lent period this year, claiming it was against the Catholic Church's beliefs.