http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/homosexuality/ en-us Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:59:22 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049260/posts Dr. James Innell Packer, a noted Canadian theologian, author and a Board of Governors Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, as well as an executive editor of Christianity Today, recently addressed the contentious problem of homosexuality and same-sex unions in the Anglican church. The Anglican Church has come to a cross-roads because of the issue of same-sex "marriage," with a massive split in the Global Communion looking increasingly inevitable. Dr. Packer opened his remarks with a statement explaining why this issue is of such great importance in the Anglican Church today. "In brief," he said, "because it involves... Catholic Online http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2049260/posts#comment Tue, 22 Jul 2008 10:59:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2048636/posts At 15, Lawrence King was small—5 feet 1 inch—but very hard to miss. In January, he started to show up for class at Oxnard, Calif.'s E. O. Green Junior High School decked out in women's accessories. On some days, he would slick up his curly hair in a Prince-like bouffant. Sometimes he'd paint his fingernails hot pink and dab glitter or white foundation on his cheeks. "He wore makeup better than I did," says Marissa Moreno, 13, one of his classmates. He bought a pair of stilettos at Target, and he couldn't have been prouder if he had on a... Newsweek http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2048636/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:25:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2048634/posts Trading Post 13 last Tuesday, a sweltering morning during the 15th Boy Scouts Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill near Fredericksburg, Va. Despite the heat wave, over the next 10 days they would help 32,000 other Scouts burn through 76,000 hamburgers, 479,000 eggs, 10 tons of beef stew--and countless hours energetically addressing a controversy that will not fade. "In the Bible, it's a sin to be gay," said Moran, 15, as the sun glinted off his dyed blue hair. Keep them out of scouting? "Exactly," he declared. Fifteen-year-old Greg Gutta Jr. was sympathetic. "They say everybody should have the right to... Newsweek http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2048634/posts#comment Mon, 21 Jul 2008 04:21:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048135/posts “Annoying and misleading” is what Sulpician ethicist Fr. Gerald Coleman has called a retired Australian bishop’s attempt to link celibacy with clergy sexual abuse of children. Writing in the July 11 San Francisco archdiocesan Catholic San Francisco, Coleman, the former rector of St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park and currently the vice president for ethics for the Daughters of Charity Health System, challenged Geoffrey Robinson, a former auxiliary bishop of Sydney, Australia. In May, Cardinal Roger Mahony forbade Robinson to speak in the Los Angeles archdiocese, as did Bishop Tod Brown in the Diocese of Orange and Robert Brom of... California Catholic Daily http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2048135/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:39:16 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2046181/posts Tonight the London Literature Festival at the Southbank Centre featured the UK premier of For The Bible Tells Me So, “a provocative documentary about the chasm that separates gay life and Christianity today,” produced by Dan Karslake. It was followed by a conversation and Q&A with the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson and Sir Ian McKellen, Shakespearean actor and star of The Lord of the Rings. The evening started with a beautiful bass voice giving the standard instructions for everyone to turn off their cell phones and pagers. Turns out it was Sir Ian, who arrived on stage a few minutes... Integrity USA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2046181/posts#comment Wed, 16 Jul 2008 06:04:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045241/posts Whither The Secular State?Brucelewis.com 20080714 A Christian registrar who refused to carry out gay 'weddings' won a landmark legal battle yesterday. Lillian Ladele, 47, was threatened with the sack [being fired], bullied and 'thrown before the lions' after asking to be excused from conducting civil partnerships for same-sex couples because of her religious beliefs. But yesterday a tribunal agreed that her faith had been ridden roughshod over by equalities-obsessed Islington Council, which had sought to 'trump one set of rights with another'. The groundbreaking decision could lead to firms facing 'conscience claims' from staff who say their own beliefs prevent... brucelewis.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2045241/posts#comment Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:41:31 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043058/posts Anti-Civil Liberties Union by: Malcolm A. Kline, July 09, 2008 The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has sold many college students on the notion that the group defends the downtrodden against the powerful. In reality, the ACLU bears a closer resemblance to the insulated plutocrats it inveighs against than it does to any underdog that you can think of. “The ACLU forced a Catholic charity to pay for an employee’s abortion and an Orthodox Jewish charity to provide housing for an avowedly lesbian employee and her lover,” Steve Aden of the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) said at a seminar on... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043058/posts#comment Wed, 9 Jul 2008 19:55:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2040766/posts The founder of the American Family Association (AFA) says the McDonald's Corporation's refusal to be neutral in the cultural war over homosexuality has resulted in their declaration of a boycott against the popular fast-food chain. AFA founder Don Wildmon says they went to McDonald's after learning several months ago that the company had joined the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. And following a $20,000 donation to that group, one of McDonald's executives was placed on the Chamber's board of directors. "We contacted McDonald's and showed them what they were doing -- that is, helping to support the homosexual... OneNewsNow http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2040766/posts#comment Fri, 4 Jul 2008 16:38:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039850/posts House Committee Holds She-Male Hearing: Why? Unreported in most of the media last week was the first congressional hearing ever held on alleged "transgender discrimination" in the workplace. This hearing was to offset the overwhelming opposition that arose last year from fellow democrats who forced the removal from the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) of language for special rights for she-males, drag queens, cross dressers, and those having sex changes with operations or hormones. This hearing was a charade attempting to show how normal these lifestyles are. Traditional Values Coalition http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039850/posts#comment Wed, 2 Jul 2008 18:56:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039024/posts Why are some people gay? Most researchers who study sexual orientation think that both genetic and environmental factors play a role, but the relative contributions of each remain unclear. A new study of Swedish twins reinforces earlier findings that environmental influences--including the environment in the womb--may play a greater role than genes. Scientists studying complex human behaviors often turn to twin studies. Researchers look at both identical and fraternal twins to see how often they share a trait--a parameter called concordance. The greater the concordance among genetically identical twins compared with fraternal twins--who share only half of their genes--the more... ScienceNOW Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2039024/posts#comment Tue, 1 Jul 2008 06:28:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2038686/posts Homosexual behaviour is largely shaped by genetics and random environmental factors, according to findings from the world's largest study of twins. Writing in the scientific journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, researchers from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, and Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm report that genetics and environmental factors (which are specific to an individual, and may include biological processes such as different hormone exposure in the womb), are important determinants of homosexual behaviour. Dr Qazi Rahman, study co-author and a leading scientist on human sexual orientation, explains: "This study puts cold water on any concerns that we... newsmax.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2038686/posts#comment Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:15:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036333/posts A Yale Tale by: Malcolm A. Kline, June 25, 2008 Under the guise of scholarship, the professoriat would have us “leave them alone” but is the feeling mutual? You can get an insight into the answer to this question not by what they tell the public but what they communicate to each other. Take Yale sociologist Michael Yarbrough. His university web site tells us that he “works in the areas of law and society; family; the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality; and political subjectivity.” His page goes on to note that “He is particularly interested in the role of... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036333/posts#comment Wed, 25 Jun 2008 19:54:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034972/posts As gay couples race to the altar in California this week, scientists may have found an answer to the so-called gay paradox. Studies suggest that homosexuality is at least partly genetic. And although homosexuals have far fewer children than heterosexuals, so-called gay genes apparently survive in the population. A new study bolsters support for an intriguing idea: These same genes may increase fertility in women. Despite some tantalizing leads over the past 2 decades, researchers have yet to isolate any genes directly linked to homosexuality. Nevertheless, a number of studies have shown that male homosexuals have more gay male relatives... ScienceNOW Daily News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034972/posts#comment Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:19:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2034934/posts (In)the last Happenings, the Church article discussed Extremism in the Church and the Mainstream. The argument was made that the universal Church overwhelmingly supports the Biblical standard of marriage between a man and a woman and the sexual ethic that upholds faithfulness in marriage and celibacy in singleness. The view that argues otherwise must be seen not just as a minority view but as an extremist view. It is a recent teaching and stands in opposition to the testimony of the church in all times and in all places. Extremist or not, a number of persons within the United Methodist... Confessing UMC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2034934/posts#comment Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:25:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034674/posts Major U.S. newspapers express misgivings about California Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage decision An analysis of major newspaper editorials published in response to the California Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a ban on same-sex marriages shows that a majority of the editorials opposed the ruling. The analysis, provided by the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy (iMAPP) of Manassas, Virginia, examined 20 of the highest-circulation newspapers in the United States. Twelve of the 20 published editorial reactions to the California court’s decision. Of the twelve editorials, seven were opposed to the decision while only four were in favor. One major paper... calcatholic.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034674/posts#comment Sun, 22 Jun 2008 12:42:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034303/posts Allow me to show you a couple of mental snapshots. First imagine a picture of a family in a modern SUV. Mom and dad up front with three kids in the back, safely secured with their seat belts on. That’s snapshot number one. Now, imagine two men dressed in tuxedos embracing and kissing at their wedding ceremony. Both are wearing flowers in their lapels and a beaming clergyman is standing behind them having just pronounced them “husband and husband.” That’s snapshot number two. Now, hold these pictures in front of you and ask yourself this question: Which of these represents... Townhall.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2034303/posts#comment Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:53:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033949/posts Equality for All by: Melinda Zosh, June 20, 2008 Not all of the gay couples across America flocked to California to tie the knot on Tuesday. Some stayed in Washington, D.C. to lobby for health benefits. Openly gay U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) spoke at the Center for American Progress (CAP) on June 10. Baker supports the Lieberman-Smith Bill, which would give rights to gay partners of federal employees, including her own partner of 12 years. And she is not alone. “216,000 federal employees are denied benefits that others have such as health care and access…to medical leave,” said Winnie... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2033949/posts#comment Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:12:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2033815/posts A friend recently asked: “How long do we have left as a society?” In answer to that question I informed her about an interesting and comprehensive study that a renowned British anthropologist, Joseph Unwin, PhD., presented to the British Psychological Society in 1935. Unwin sought to prove that the traditional monogamous model for marriage was not essential to the maintenance of a healthy society. After studying 86 different cultures, across time and continents –and much to his surprise — he came to the inescapable conclusion that the traditional male-female monogamous model for marriage was indeed the best foundation for a... Catholic Exchange http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2033815/posts#comment Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:34:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2032066/posts President Bush may follow in the footsteps of his brother Jeb and convert to Catholicism, several European papers are reporting. In the wake of the president’s visit to see Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, Italian newspapers, citing Vatican sources, said Bush was open to the idea of converting to Catholicism. The Italian newspaper Il Foglio referred to such talk about Bush’s possible conversion and stated that “anything is possible, especially for someone reborn like Bush.” Noting that Tony Blair converted to Catholicism after leaving office as Britain’s prime minister last year, the paper also stated that “if anything happens,... Newsmax.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2032066/posts#comment Tue, 17 Jun 2008 01:17:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030033/posts Thursday, June 12, 2008 YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK WorldNetDaily Exclusive Biblical message now criminalized Penalties created for those criticizing homosexuality outside church walls Posted: June 12, 2008 12:45 am Eastern By Bob Unruh WorldNetDaily A new Colorado law is helping homosexual activists achieve their goal of forcing Christians to teach biblical condemnation of homosexuality only behind the closed doors of their sanctuaries. The as-yet untested state law promotes sexual identity "perception" to the level of skin color under state discrimination laws. Some opponents are calling it a "bona fide censorship law," and top analysts for Focus on the Family, the... Worldnetdaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030033/posts#comment Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:51:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028670/posts The Canadian government has ordered a Christian pastor to renounce his faith and never again express moral opposition to homosexuality, according to a new report. In a decision handed down just days ago in the penalty phase of the quasi-judicial proceedings run by the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal, evangelical pastor Stephen Boisson was banned from expressing his biblical perspective of homosexuality and ordered to pay $5,000 for "damages for pain and suffering" as well as apologize to the activist who complained of being hurt. According to a report from Pete Vere at the Catholic Exchange, the penalty could foreshadow the... worldnetdaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028670/posts#comment Tue, 10 Jun 2008 03:26:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028062/posts 'Gay counselling' call rejected Iris Robinson said gay people should seek counselling A gay rights campaigner has rejected a Northern Ireland assembly member's call for homosexuals to seek psychiatric counselling.David McCartney from the Rainbow Project was responding to comments from Iris Robinson, who is the chair of the Stormont health committee. Mrs Robinson said with help, gay people could be "turned around". Mr McCartney said there was "no body of evidence" to support this and asked to meet the MP. Mrs Robinson made her comments on BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show on Friday. She said she would defend her... The BBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2028062/posts#comment Sun, 8 Jun 2008 23:10:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2024934/posts Valley of the Diverse by: Malcolm A. Kline, June 02, 2008 In a recent essay, English professor David Trinidad shows us how the teaching of literature has evolved using Jacqueline Susann’s 1967 novel Valley of the Dolls as a window on the culture. “What would an academic have said, then, about Valley of the Dolls?” he posits in the May 30 issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education. “It has no literary merit,” is the reply he envisions. By way of contrast, Trinidad suggests, pedagogues can now say, “It’s trash, and I love it. And I’m going to teach a... Campus Report http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2024934/posts#comment Mon, 2 Jun 2008 19:48:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2022234/posts The “Last Lion” of Abortion May 27th, 2008 by Fr. Thomas Euteneuer Sen. John McCain responded to the news of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s brain tumor saying that Ted Kennedy was the “last lion of the Senate.” Nice words, but hollow. Clearly Kennedy has been a forty-year force to reckon with in the US Senate, but lionizing him for his headstrong political partisanship over four decades is a little like saying that sticking around for a long time and being opinionated qualifies as a “legacy.” That very record of anti-life advocacy is the measure by which his soul will be judged.While... Catholic Exchange.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2022234/posts#comment Wed, 28 May 2008 01:48:30 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021107/posts A half-dozen national Protestant denominations are supporting the Episcopal Church in a multimillion-dollar Virginia property dispute, saying a state law at the heart of the case could threaten them, too. The United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA), among others, have filed court briefs in the past few weeks supporting the Episcopal Church, which is fighting 11 breakaway Virginia congregations that say the national church has become too liberal on issues from salvation to sexuality. Majorities of those congregations voted to leave and are now in Fairfax County Circuit Court over who gets to keep the property. Experts say... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021107/posts#comment Sun, 25 May 2008 18:35:36 GMT