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Vatican polls parishes on birth control, same-sex marriage
NEW YORK — The Vatican is taking the unusual step of conducting a worldwide survey on how parishes deal with sensitive issues such as birth control, divorce and gay marriage, seeking input ahead of a major meeting on the family that Pope Francis plans next year.
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Ark. teacher fired from Catholic school after marrying same-sex partner
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An Arkansas teacher has been fired from a Catholic school after she married her same-sex partner in a ceremony in New Mexico.
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Hawaii lawmakers, church leaders meet on exemptions in gay marriage bill
HONOLULU — Religious leaders in Hawaii have been meeting with state lawmakers about a religious exemption in pending gay marriage legislation, balancing their opposition to the bill with trying to protect their interests as much as possible should it pass.
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Minn. Catholic schools continue to grapple with how to approach gay rights
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Recent remarks about inclusiveness by the new president of the University of St. Thomas have heartened gay and lesbian advocacy groups on the Roman Catholic campus, but recent departures of gay employees from a suburban Catholic high school left a different impression.
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Catholic priest excommunicated over support for women priests, gay marriage
Just one day before Pope Francis criticized the Catholic Church over its obsession with gays, an Australian priest learned he had been both defrocked and excommunicated over his support for women priests and same-sex marriage.
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R.I. Catholic college cancels philosophy professor’s talk on same-sex marriage
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Providence College, a Roman Catholic school, canceled a talk on gay marriage by a philosophy professor who has spoken and written extensively in favor of it, prompting concerns about academic freedom from some students and faculty members.
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Catholics cheer Pope Francis’ remarks on gays, abortion
NEW YORK — Catholics attending Sunday services around the globe said they were heartened by Pope Francis’ recent remarks that the church has become too focused on “small-minded rules” on hot-button issues like homosexuality, abortion and contraceptives.
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Pope’s blunt remarks on gays, abortion pose challenge for outspoken bishops
NEW YORK — In recent years, many American bishops have drawn a harder line with parishioners on what could be considered truly Roman Catholic, adopting a more aggressive style of correction and telling marriage equality and abortion rights supporters to stay away from the sacrament of Communion.
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Despite Pope’s message, R.I. bishop to continue to speak against gay marriage
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Bishop Thomas Tobin of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, known for his activism against legalizing same-sex marriage, struck a conciliatory tone Friday after Pope Francis criticized the Catholic Church for being too obsessed with gays and abortion, but signaled little change in his anti-gay activism.
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Wis. Catholic church reconsiders, will not kick out local Boy Scout troop
ALTOONA, Wis. — A Boy Scout troop will be able to keep its home base at a Catholic church in Altoona. Catholic leaders have reconsidered a tentative decision to have Troop 90 look elsewhere for a place to meet after the Boy Scouts revised a membership policy to allow openly gay boys to join the scouting program.