ReligionDispatches - Dispatches From Sexuality & Gender

Training God’s Rottweiler: Catholic Church Sexual Abuse Must End

Anthea Butler — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:01 PDT

A passionate call for reform from a scholar of religion and cradle Catholic. When does an institutional theology become so rotten that it needs to be taken out at the roots? It's time for a new reformation, with justice for victims of sexual abuse.

Pentecostal Scholars Call for Academic Freedom

Arlene M. Sanchez Walsh — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:00:01 PDT

A scholar of Pentecostalism tells how an academic conference became a culture war battleground, and what she plans to do about it.

Coffeehouse Churches and the ‘Party-on Messiah’: How I Lost One Leper Messiah, and Gained Another, Part 3

Mark Dery — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:01 PST

In this third installment of Mark Dery’s cultural critique-cum-“nonfiction novella” about a born-again teen’s transcendent encounter with Ziggy Stardust in the 1970s, our hero experiences an agape that is equal parts sanctified rapture and endorphin rush at a radical Friday night coffeehouse church. Meanwhile, the hippie Jesus of the Jesus Freaks reaches the big time in mainline protestantism.

Sara Hurwitz’s ‘Rabba’ Title Sparks Orthodox Jewish Condemnation

Rachel Barenblat — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:00:01 PST

Because women aren’t permitted to be rabbis in the Orthodox Jewish tradition, Sara Hurwitz was given the made-up title Mahara”t upon her ordination. A little while later, after she was quietly given the title rabba, the Orthodox Jewish world responded with condemnations.

Anti-Choice Doc Aims to Link Reproductive Rights to ‘Black Genocide’

Michelle Goldberg — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:01 PST

Anti-abortion activists are screening an expertly-made documentary to black audiences across the country. Maafa 21 creates a highly selective, distorted history of the reproductive rights movement and frames abortion as a tool of eugenics and genocide.

Should I Scream and Shout, Should I Speak of Love?: How I Lost One Leper Messiah, and Gained Another, Part 2

Mark Dery — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:01 PST

In this second installment of Mark Dery’s autobiographical essay (a “nonfiction novella”) about a suburban teen’s transcendent encounter with Ziggy Stardust, our hero has his congenitally straight brain blown in a late-night, black and white encounter with the confusingly feminine Ziggy during Bowie’s final appearance as the character.

Should Faith-Based Orgs Be Allowed to Discriminate in Hiring? Introducing: A New Collaboration with Bloggingheads

Peter Laarman — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:01 PST

In this first installment, RD Contributing Editor Peter Laarman debates evangelical professor David Gushee over the Obama administration’s decision to effectively continue to allow recipients of federal faith-based funding to discriminate in hiring. In other clips, the two tangle on gay marriage, whether the Christian Right is dead, and more.

Till There Was Rock You Only Had God: How I Lost One Leper Messiah, and Gained Another, Part 1

Mark Dery — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:01 PST

In this opening episode of Mark Dery's original, autobiographical essay (a “nonfiction novella”) about a suburban teen’s transcendent encounter with Ziggy Stardust, we’re introduced to David Bowie’s astro-hippie alter ego from the early 1970s, a glam-rock deity of Frankensteinian spookiness and ladyboy vulnerability.

Catholic Child Neglect: DC Archdiocese Cuts Adoption Rather Than Abide Same-Sex Parents

Mary E. Hunt — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:01 PST

As DC law changes to require equality for same sex couples seeking to adopt, the Catholic Church (which has been in the adoption business for generations) opts to close up shop rather than to abide by the law and treat gay and lesbian families equally.

Meet the New Haggards—Same as the Old Haggards?

Kathryn Joyce — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:00:01 PST

Ted Haggard, one of America’s most successful megachurch preachers, was officially separated from his church back in 2006. His wife and partner, Gayle, has stuck by his side through it all and has written a new book on the experience. RD spoke with her about their former church, their evolving views on homosexuality, and the future.

An Extravagant Welcome For All: Believe Out Loud, a Faith-Based LGBT Campaign, Launches

Peter Laarman — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:00:01 PST

We know that there is a significant “uncertain middle” of mainline clergy who would show leadership on LGBT issues if they were not afraid of stirring controversy in their congregations. A new campaign aims to jump start this missing conversation and to create space in American Christianity for a true welcoming of LGBT people and their families.

The Abandoned Orphanage: Hillary Clinton’s Mother Teresa Moment

Kathryn Joyce, Jeff Sharlet — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:01 PST

At the National Prayer Breakfast, Hillary Clinton fondly remembered how Mother Teresa—or perhaps God—compelled her to encourage adoption. The behind-the-scenes story of how The Family brokered a truce between the pro-choice Clinton and anti-choice nun, by moving Clinton rightward on reproductive rights.

New Report: More Sex in the Pulpit

Jeanne Carstensen — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:00:01 PST

While religious conservatives are vocal on issues of sexuality—from pre-marital sex to masturbation to abortion—progressive religious leaders have largely ‘abstained’ from discussing these matters in the pulpit. A new report urges more clergy education and openness on sexuality issues.

Religious Leaders Urge Obama to Condemn Ugandan Anti-Gay Bill at Prayer Breakfast

Sarah Posner — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:00:01 PST

Obama is scheduled to address the National Prayer Breakfast, organized by ‘The Family,’ which has ties to the ‘kill-the-gays’ bill in Uganda. Religious leaders, including a member of the president's faith-based Advisory Council, are calling on the president to condemn homophobia and offer an alternative, inclusive prayer event.

When Mormons Mobilize: Anti-Gay Marriage Prop. 8 Effort ‘Outed’?

Joanna Brooks — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 17:00:01 PST

New documents introduced in the challenge to Prop. 8 reveal that the LDS Church sought to create “plausible deniability” in its role in supporting the Yes on 8 campaign. Why would the LDS hierarchy want to deny Mormon involvement?

Speaking of Family: When Children of Queer Families Talk About Their Lives

John Blevins — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:00:01 PST

The New York Times has reported that almost a quarter of a million kids are being raised by gay parents. What does their testimony mean for the state of the national (and international) discussion on same-sex marriage?

Angry Voters, Right-Wing Populism, & Racial Violence: People of Faith Can Help Break the Linkages

Chip Berlet — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:00:01 PST

We are in the midst of one of the most significant right-wing populist rebellions in US history as illustrated by the Tea Party and Patriot movements. Will religious and progressive activists provide a voice and outlet for populist fear and anger or will these dispossessed voices find a home among the potentially violent elements of the far right?

‘Traditional’ Christianity vs. ‘Liberals’? It’s Not That Simple

Mark D. Jordan — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:00:01 PST

From abortion to homosexuality to stem cells, you’ve heard time and again that what we are living through is a fight between religious conservatives and activist liberals. It’s not. It is a deep disagreement inside Christianity over what conserving faithfulness means.

Population Growth Divides Climate Change Advocates

Brentin Mock — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:01 PST

As religious groups advocate for urgent measures to address climate change in poor nations, the role of reproductive justice gets swept under the rug.

Military Abortion Ban: Female Soldiers Not Protected by Constitution They Defend

Kathryn Joyce — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:01 PST

Unable to get an abortion during a tour of duty in Iraq, a soldier is left with no option but to do it herself—a humiliating but not uncommon dilemma. Women in the military are forced to obtain a leave to get the care they need; but if they’re honest about why, they put their military career in jeopardy. If they’re not, they put their military career in jeopardy.

Election of New Lesbian Bishop Reveals Tensions in Anglican World

Jeanne Carstensen — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:00:01 PST

Conservative Episcopalians have denounced the election of only the second openly gay bishop, and the Archbishop of Canterbury has urged bishops to not seat her. But others, like one of the first women priests, aren’t worried about the well loved bishop-elect who remains focused on her duties.

‘Calling’ Rick Warren to Task on Anti-Gay Ugandan Law

Candace Chellew-Hodge — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:00:01 PST

RD speaks with filmmaker Lisa Darden who helped to alert Pastor Rick Warren to the dangers of remaining silent.

From Right-Wing to Pro-Choice: The Shifting Goalposts of “Abortion Neutrality”

Frederick Clarkson — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:00:01 PST

The principle of the Hyde Amendment, which restricted federal funds from paying for abortion, is now seen as an acceptable, “abortion-neutral” position for the pro-choice party. How did the most significant anti-abortion legislation in history become a moderate compromise?

Uganda’s Radical Anti-Gay Measure and the American Religious Right

Michelle Goldberg — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 01:00:01 PST

A proposed measure in Uganda would make repeated homosexual activity punishable by death. Anti-gay activists in the United States may think that it goes too far, but they laid the groundwork for it.

The Anti-Gay Highway: New Report Details Mutually Beneficial Relationship Between US Evangelicals and African Antigay Clergy

Kathryn Joyce — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:00:01 PST

A new report documents the trend of evangelicals like Rick Warren exporting sexuality issues to Africa, whose clergy, in turn, support the minority antigay view in mainline denominations, weakening them. The author of the report speaks with RD at length about what he found.