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‘Barbaric’ v ‘Progressive’ Islam; Catholic Church Objects to Mexican Court OK For Gay Adoption; Malaysian Court Weighs Boundaries Of Civil and Shariah Law; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…upported by US while American evangelicals promote homophobia U.S. embassy officials took part in Pride activities in Kampala last week and last weekend, reports the Washington Blade’s Michael Lavers. Activist Richard Lusimbo praised the Obama administration’s “very beneficial” diplomatic efforts promoting LGBT human rights and slammed American evangelicals who continue to promote anti-gay attitudes and policies. The U.S. last summer cut aid to Ug…

The Politics of Anti-Gay Persecution: Gambia, Egypt, Jamaica, Russia, with a Helping Hand from US Religious Conservatives; Global LGBT Recap

By Peter Montgomery

…from church groups and conservatives, the planned charter was postponed indefinitely.” New Zealand: first gay judge on high court Matthew Muir has become the first openly gay member of the country’s highest court. Australia: Gay man becomes chief minister of capital territory Andrew Barr was appointed Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, making him the country’s first openly gay government leader. …

Scope Bacon, Twttr Hoaxes & Joel Osteen’s Big Reveal

By Deborah Whitehead

…this product launch, complete with Facebook ad campaign and promotional website including a promo video that went viral, that a number of customers were disappointed and angry to find out that it was a fake. Part of the confusion seems to have been that the launch occurred on March 28, not the customary April 1. But just as important was consumer demand. Enough people were convinced by the slick product rollout that they actually wanted to try it….

The “Obamosque” Smears and the Money Fueling Them

By Sarah Posner

…ds about Democratic candidates. Currently, according to the Special Guests site, “he is preparing to spend millions of dollars for TV ads between now and the November elections to force elected officials to take a public stand on the building of the Mosque.” After House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for an investigation into the money behind the Islamophobic fervor, Wheeler said, according to the Special Guests site, “Pelosi’s Stalinist tactics will…

Rev. Smith Goes to Washington

By Frederick Clarkson

…ians are right-wing fundamentalists, but I also recognize that for a small number of people my beliefs disqualify me as a candidate. Two recent examples come to mind that illustrate the concerns that have been voiced. At a recent candidate forum, I was introduced as being a “moral figure in the community.” That prompted one of the other candidates to ask me directly during the Q & A part of the forum if I felt that atheists or other non-believers…

Friending Pope Benedict on Facebook?

By Kate Childs Graham

…n Paul II, Pope Benedict sent the following text message to Italian mobile phone users: “Let us go forth in the joy of the risen Lord and trusting in his permanent help.” JPII had been texting Italians with a “thought of the day” while he was still alive, so Benedict was simply carrying on this tradition. Pope Benedict has more recently used text messaging to communicate with attendees throughout this year’s World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. H…

Condoms and Common Sense

By Frances Kissling

…ocked by the public reaction as well as the dissent by high-ranking Church officials. Early in his papacy, Benedict established a theological commission to explore clarifying the question. After all, as Rhonheimer notes, there is no official teaching on condoms per se. By 2008, hope that the commission would move the church toward open acknowledgement that condoms to prevent the transmission of AIDS was permissible faded and no report was ever iss…

Wherein An Elected Official Gets His Holiday Miracles Mixed Up

By Sarah Posner

Here’s a heartwarming holiday story from Springfield, Massachusetts, where city councilor Bud Williams said at a Chabad Lubavitch-sponsored Chanukah menorah lighting ceremony, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Williams pointed the finger at the Chabad rabbis for his blunder: The city councilor said he referenced Jesus Christ, whose birth is celebrated every Dec. 25 by Christians worldwide but not by Jews, after participants in the ceremony me…

#SorryNotSorry: What U.S. Christian Denominations Teach About Homosexuality

By Stephanie Russell-Kraft

…(Historically Black Protestant) Members (as of 2010): 5,197,512 On its website, The National Baptist Convention USA Inc. says it has no “official” position on any issues with regards to homosexuality, in keeping with the polity’s mission not to make any authoritative statements on behalf of its constituency. However, it states: “if you were to take a poll of traditional, missionary Black Baptist Churches, it is very safe to say that you will find…

‘Cru’ Official Demoted for Refusing to Let Women Teach the Bible to Men

By Peter Montgomery

…an said they could not. The exchange came to the attention of regional Cru officials, who met with Harman and reiterated Cru’s policy of “men and women leading together.” They gave Harman three weeks to reconsider his position, and said that if he remained “dogmatic” about the issue, he could no longer serve as Missional Team Leader. Harman decided that he would not change the practice, and Cru demoted him. As campus director at Louisville, Harman…