Religion

E. W. Jackson, the Republican candidate for Lt. Governor in Virginia, on Monday stood by his anti-gay and anti-abortion views and suggested that efforts to hold him accountable for his previous statements now that he is running for office was somehow an unconstitutional religious test. [ Read more → ]

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis waded diplomatically into the gay marriage debate Friday, telling the Archbishop of Canterbury he wants to work together to promote family values "based on marriage." [ Read more → ]

VATICAN CITY -- Pope Francis lamented that a "gay lobby" was at work at the Vatican in private remarks to the leadership of a key Latin American church group - a stunning acknowledgment that appears to confirm earlier reports about corruption and dysfunction in the Holy See. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Catholic Diocese of Columbus has again upheld its dismissal of Carla Hale, the 19-year Bishop Watterson High School teacher fired during Holy Week because she mentioned her partner in a newspaper obituary. [ Read more → ]

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — A New Mexico school principal has filed a discrimination complaint with Wisconsin state regulators against Regis Catholic Schools, contending it rescinded an offer to be its president because of unfounded speculation that he is gay. [ Read more → ]

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Franklin County Commissioner John O’Grady has been in the Catholic youth ministry, and he has hosted leadership retreats for young Catholics. He has spoken at Catholic schools and has sponsored ball teams throughout the Diocese of Columbus. [ Read more → ]

LONDON -- The Church of England on Wednesday signaled it would no longer fight against the government's plans to legalize same-sex marriage in England and Wales. [ Read more → ]

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. — Two more churches in central Kentucky say they are cutting ties with the Boy Scouts of America over the organization's decision to allow gay youth. [ Read more → ]

Frank Ferri made peace with God years ago. Last month, Ferri defeated the Roman Catholic Church. The openly gay state representative led the fight to legalize same-sex marriage in what may be the most Catholic state in the nation's most Catholic region. [ Read more → ]

LOS ANGELES — The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America has elected its first openly gay bishop. [ Read more → ]

And so it begins -- the abandonment of the Boy Scouts of America by churches of the Southern Baptist persuasion, for the lifting of the longtime national ban on admitting openly gay Scouts. At the end of the day, who really suffers here? The Southern Baptist Convention? The Assemblies of God? The Southeast Christian Church? No, of course not. These churches will continue to preach their version of the Bible and continue to discriminate and alienate. And they will do it all in the name of their so-called “loving” God. [ Read more → ]

Rick Perry, who has equated the fight against gays in the Boy Scouts to the fight to abolish slavery, told Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council on Friday’s edition of Washington Watch that the Boy Scouts of America’s delegates bowed to “political correctness” and “money” in ending the ban on gay members under the age of 18. [ Read more → ]

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Some Alabama pastors say Boy Scout troops will no longer be allowed to meet in their churches after the Boy Scouts of America voted to allow openly gay scout members. [ Read more → ]

ST. LOUIS — A Roman Catholic priest in St. Louis has written a book about his life as a gay priest, a move that could risk his priesthood. [ Read more → ]

PHOENIX -- The Arizona Senate on Wednesday passed a trio of bills that seek to lower property taxes for religious institutions and make it easier for some people to sue over the First Amendment, much to the chagrin of civil liberties and secular groups who claim Arizona lawmakers are violating the U.S. Constitution by favoring the faithful over non-believers. [ Read more → ]

LONDON — Senior members of the Church of Scotland voted Monday to let some congregations choose ministers who are in same-sex relationships — an important compromise that must still pass further hurdles before it can become church law. [ Read more → ]

PHOENIX — An effort to allow people to sue over potential violations of religious liberty cleared the Arizona House of Representatives on Wednesday despite opposition from civil liberties groups who warn the measure will inspire waves of lawsuits over alleged First Amendment violations. [ Read more → ]

VATICAN CITY --- The Scottish cardinal who resigned as archbishop after admitting to sexual misconduct will leave Scotland for months of prayer and atonement, the Vatican said Wednesday in a rare sanction. [ Read more → ]

Ken Hutcherson, pastor of the Antioch Bible Church in Kirkland, Wash., is very angry that a fellow Christian Post contributor, Dave Thompson, lauded Jason Collins for coming out and is lamenting that many church leaders “have denied the grace of Christ for gay couples.” [ Read more → ]

Today on the 700 Club, Pat Robertson insisted that gays and lesbians can “change their sexual preference” just like murders, rapists and thieves can change themselves. He later warned that the U.S. is on the verge of adopting hate speech laws. [ Read more → ]