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Another Judge Rejects Religious Arguments Against Marriage Equality

…ld prohibit the Internal Revenue Service from denying or revoking a church’s tax-exempt status for its opposition to same-sex marriage. That may be a solution in search of a problem, but it’s a sign of how the conservative campaign for its version of religious freedom isn’t going to be quelled by the actions of so-called “activist” and “arrogant” judges….

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The Agenda in Making John Paul an Insta-Saint

…h are available, and the response was very clear,” Oder said. “There is no sign of a personal involvement of the Holy Father in this matter.” Supporters of John Paul’s fast-track canonization, like The Vatican Diaries author John Thavis, argue that the sex abuse scandal shouldn’t define the pope’s legacy. “One of the questions here is whether a pope can be a saint and also make managerial mistakes, and I think Vatican officials would say yes,” he…

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[This Valentine’s Day] Less Sex is Good Sex!

…a religious point of view, having less sex may actually be a good thing, a sign of maturity, a graduation from those irrational days of childhood when we are barely higher than the beasts. Most of Christian tradition, for example, has seen sex as a necessary evil, presenting marriage as a remedy for those unable to control their bodily urges; even within marriage, some tried to practice continence. In recent years most Christians have cultivated a…

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Global LGBT Recap

…a gesture of solidarity for those desperately under siege in Russia. Such signals will also act as a timely reminder for the global audience of the Winter Olympics of the international pledge, that: “All human beings are born equal in dignity and rights.” NBC also used the Olympics as a hook to review the global anti-gay crusade being waged by American activist Scott Lively. It quotes him telling 1,000 Christians in Novosibirsk, the capital of Si…

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Forget About #HotJesus, Material Objects Speak Loudly in Son of God

…took bread and wine and announced that they were his body and his blood. A sign fastened to the cross declared him “King of the Jews” in various languages.  Jesus and those who killed him were not the only ones focused on material objects. When the devil had come years earlier, he tempted Jesus to change rocks into bread and that if Jesus would bow down, the city and all its materials would be his. The release of Son of God and the exceptionally s…

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What ‘Little Sisters’ Contraception Ruling Gets Wrong

…yer representing the nuns, has repeatedly called the form the sisters must sign to self-certify as exempt from the mandate a “permission slip for abortion drugs and contraceptives.” Becket argues that the form serves as “trigger” for a third-party provider to provide contraceptives so it’s the same as requiring the nuns to provide contraceptives themselves. From a Catholic point of view, this is a neat theological sleight of hand because it collap…

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Giving Up God—Not Just a Spiritual Stunt

…church supported me but the Southern California conference forced me to resign. Technically, I’m still a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and have my ministerial credentials though I suspect they will take them away eventually. In fact, I’ve performed a few same sex marriages since I was asked to leave my position. What happened at Azusa Pacific University and Fuller Theological Seminary? Both institutions basically told me I needed to…

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In Sexual Abuse Hearing UN Calls Holy See on Girls’ Reproductive Rights

…priests in good standing; of mothers of priests’ children being forced to sign confidentiality agreements to get any support at all. These issues—forcing children to bear children, forced child relinquishment, abandonment of children by Catholic priests—were not the main subjects of this hearing, but that they were mentioned is noteworthy because the church’s history of child abuse has taken many forms. And that history is tied intimately to the…

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Global LGBT Recap: Nigeria Jails Gays, Russian Orthodox Spox Calls for Criminalization Referendum

…isappointed human rights activists and drew international condemnation for signing a harsh anti-gay law that calls for long jail sentences for people who join in a same-sex union, participate in a gay organization, or display same-sex affection.  A presidential spokesman defended the signing, saying “”More than 90 percent of Nigerians are opposed to same-sex marriage. So, the law is in line with our cultural and religious beliefs as a people.” Sam…

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Climate Change is a Sin—Here’s How to Repent For It

…and the ecological. The variety of liturgies and rituals for Tu Bishvat is significant, and inspiring. On the other hand, so what? So a bunch of already-converted liberals get together and reaffirm their commitments to what they already believe. A few will decide that being vegan isn’t enough, and that they’ll stop eating honey as well. Some will sign a petition. Meanwhile, nothing will happen to slow climate change, preserve biodiversity, or save…

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