The Catholics stole the media show this week. When news broke on Monday that Pope Benedict XVI will retire at the end of the month, writers from across the country began speculating about what the change might mean for LGBT Catholics. The announcement came alongside Vatican-issued retreat from their hopeful statement last week about support for lesbian and gay couples. At the same time, the much less famous principal of a Catholic High School in Ohio was fired for posting a blog supporting gay marriage. Catholic Bishops continue to be conflicted over issues of LGBT inclusion and immigration.
Read more about the Catholic principal fired for his views on marriage equality.
Aside from the Papal surprise, the biggest religious curveball this week was the apology given by two granddaughters of Westboro Baptist Church's founder Fred Phelps. The women talked about the guilt they felt for supporting an organization for so long that hurt people so deeply. They left the church in November of 2012.
Read our religion director's thoughts on the Papal resignation and its implications for LGBT people.
There's a considerable amount of clergy support for the upcoming marriage equality vote in Illinois, which always makes us smile. A Liberty University graduate shared about his experience as a gay orthodox Christian on the Huffington Post, and a man spoke with Chicago Pride about what it's like being an old, gay Jew (his words, I promise).
Read about the Vatican's major LGBT-support flip-flop.
Atheist
- Why is a Queer Atheist Spending All His Time on Interfaith Activism?
- Buzzfeed, February 13, 2013
Boy Scouts
- Deferred Boy Scout decision forces churches to make choice of their own
- Houston Chronicle, February 6, 2013
- BSA Gay Okay?—Delay.
- Religion Dispatches, February 7, 2013
- Delayed equality for Boy Scouts
- The Washington Post, February 8, 2013
Catholic
- Catholic Bishops Conflicted Over Gays, Immigration
- Associated Press, February 6, 2013
- Bishops Cite Flawed 'Gay Parenting' Study in Prop. 8 Brief
- Religion Dispatches, February 6, 2013
- Vatican Backtracks on support for gay couples
- The Washington Post, February 7, 2013
- PHOTOS: Equality Activists Protest Cardinal George Outside Chicago Cathedral
- Queerty, February 11, 2013
- Pope Benedict XVI Resigning February 28
- Towleroad, February 11, 2013
- LGBT Communities of Faith Respond to News of Pope Benedict's Retirement
- Queerty, February 11, 2013
- Pope Benedict XVI Announces Resignation
- Box Turtle Bulletin, February 11, 2013
- Updated: Hopeful Gay Catholic Groups Respond to Pope Benedict Resignation
- The New Civil Rights Movement, February 11, 2013
- Gay Catholics: Opportunity in Pope's resignation
- Wisconsin Gazette, February 11, 2013
- Ohio Catholic High School Principal Fired For Blog Post Supporting Gay Marriage
- Towleroad, February 11, 2013
- Analysis: A pro-gay Catholic Church leader? Don't get your Popes up
- Pink News, February 11, 2013
- Pope Benedict is Leaving, But the Homo Hatred Will Live On
- Queerty, February 12, 2013
- With Pope Resignation, Gay Rights Advocates Hope for Change
- The Huffington Post, February 12, 2013
- Polish Movie About Gay Catholic Priest Stirring Controversy
- The Christian Post, February 12, 2013
Christian
- Are radical Christians finally ceding on gay marriage?
- Salon, February 10, 2013
- (Not) Belonging: A Gay Christian Who Refuses to Take Sides
- The Huffington Post, February 10, 2013
- Speaking Up against Ex-Gay Kent Paris at Summit Christian Church
- Canyonwalker Connections, February 13, 2013
Episcopal
- National Cathedral's Gay Marriage Stance Sparks Calls for Defunding
- The Huffington Post, February 12, 2013
Evangelical
- Anti-gay evangelical group receives funding from the Canadian government
- Pink News, February 11, 2013
- Canadian Government Pulls Funding from Evangelical Group with Anti-Gay Message
- Queerty, February 11, 2013
Jewish
- You're Right: I'm Gay, Jewish, & Old
- Chicago Pride, February 6, 2013
- LGBT Jewish group celebrates Purim
- The Washington Blade, February 6, 2013
- 'The Sexuality of Spectrum' – is it good for the Jews?
- The Times of Israel, February 11, 2013
Marriage Equality
- Large Number of Clergy Voice Support for Marriage Equality in Illinois
- Lez Get Real, February 6, 2013
Muslim
- The Muslims Who Love The Gays
- Box Turtle Bulletin, February 11, 2013
Presbyterian
- Minister Once Defrocked For Marrying Gay Couples Joins Lake Street Church
- Evanston Patch, February 7, 2013
Politics
- Gay Controversies Tempered as National Prayer Breakfast Returns
- Time, February 6, 2013
- Granddaughters of Westboro Baptist Church founder quit church, apologize for 'hurt'
- The Washington Post, February 7, 2013
- Two of Fred Phelps' Granddaughters Leave Westboro Church of Hate
- Religion Dispatches, February 7, 2013
Unitarian Universalist
- Beyond the Gender Binary—A Day without Pronouns
- Standing on the Side of Love, February 4, 2013
- Gay Atlanta men reach out to hate crime victims
- Project Q Atlanta, February 5, 2013
- One local congregation's unique stand on same-sex marriage
- Santa Fe Reporter, February 5, 2013
- Marriage Equality leader to be installed as social justice minister at First Unitarian Church
- Providence Journal, February 7, 2013
United Church of Christ
- Texas UCC celebrates Freedom to Marry Week with LGBT commitment ceremony
- UCC News, February 8, 2013
- Indiana's delay on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage met with optimism by UCC LGBT advocates
- UCC News, February 8, 2013