Much has happened since our last Religion News Summary. Most notably, the Supreme Court of the United States heard two cases related to marriage equality that have the potential to change the national landscape for lesbian and gay couples. Faith leaders from around the country—representing multiple religious traditions—gathered in Washington D.C. to show their support, and held an interfaith service before rallying before the court to make clear their support for marriage equality, and the support of the communities they lead. Bishop Gene Robinson wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post about the significance for the Christian community of these events happening during Holy Week.
Read more about the interfaith service held in D.C.
The infamous Westboro Baptist Church got a surprise late last month when an LGBT activist purchased a house across the street, painting it the colors of the rainbow flag. He announced that the house would be used as a center for LGBT support and advocacy. Author and gay Christian Jeff Chu, who recently released a book about the struggles faced by LGBT persons in the Christian church, also traveled to Westboro to speak. Jewish rabbis in Minnesota decried Minnesotans for Marriage's use of a holocaust analogy, demanding that more sensitivity be shown for the Jewish community.
Read about Nicholas Coppola, the gay man ousted from his parish after marrying his boyfriend.
Georgetown University, a Jesuit institution in D.C., elected its first openly gay student body president. On Easter, Bishop Timothy Dolan insisted that the Catholic Church is a place for all people, and should do a better job of welcoming LGBT people. The same week, a man in Long Island was ousted from his parish after years of devoted service for marrying his long-time boyfriend. Similarly, two devoted Catholic parents of a gay son left their church after their priest read an anti-LGBT letter from the pulpit.
Read about a Hollywood-based evangelical pastor who was fired for his support of LGBT equality.
Anglican
- Former Oil Executive Welby Enthroned as Anglican Leader
- Bloomberg, March 21, 2013
- Archbishop Justin Welby's olive branch to gay rights groups
- The Telegraph, March 21, 2013
- Justin Welby speaks of same-sex challenges for Church
- BBC News, March 21, 2013
- New Anglican leader calls for courage to tackle world problems
- CNN, March 22, 2013
Atheist
- Demonized and Demonizing No More
- Religion Dispatches, April 2, 2013
- What atheists can learn from the gay rights movement
- The Washington Post, April 3, 2013
Baptist
- Westboro Baptist Church's new neighbor is a rainbow-painted house
- The Los Angeles Times, March 20, 2013
- Man Turns House Across the Street From Westboro Baptist Church Into Gay Pride Flag
- Time, March 21, 2013
- Jeff Chu: "Does Jesus Really Love Me? A Gay Christian's Pilgrimage in Search of God in America
- The Diane Rehm Show, March 21, 2013
Catholic
- Cautions on Pope Francis and recognition of gay unions
- National Catholic Reporter, March 20, 2013
- San Francisco female priest and gay Catholics react to selection of Pope Francis
- San Francisco Bay Guardian, March 21, 2013
- SF Archbishop Cordileone: Same-Sex Marriage "Dehumanizes" Men, Makes Children Suffer
- Queerty, March 22, 2013
- Catholic Conversations: Homosexuality & the Faith
- WNYC, March 22, 2013
- With a 'pragmatist' pope, LGBT hope?
- The Washington Post, March 26, 2013
- Catholic bishops lead prayer march to Supreme Court as justices weigh gay marriage
- The Washington Post, March 26, 2013
- Georgetown elects first gay Student Assoc. president
- USA Today, March 27, 2013
- Parents of gay Catholics struggle with church teachings
- WBEZ, March 27, 2013
- 2 gay students at NY Catholic school allowed to attend dance
- Utica Obsercver-Dispatch, March 28, 2013
- The Catholic activists behind the Supreme Court DOMA fight
- National Catholic Observer, March 28, 2013
- WATCH: Cardinal Dolan Says Gays Entitled to Friendship, Happiness, But Not Marriage
- The Advocate, April 1, 2013
- Analysis: Is Catholic shift on gays substance or style
- USA Today, April 2, 2013
- A softening in the Catholic line on gays?
- The Los Angeles Times, April 2, 2013
- Fox News Priest Claims Catholics are Oppressed by Gays: VIDEO
- Towleroad, April 3, 2013
- Gay Man Removed From Catholic Parish Involvement After Marriage
- GLAAD, April 3, 2013
- Gay Man Says Catholic Parish Rebuffed Him After Marriage
- The New York Times, April 3, 2013
Episcopal
- Standing for Marriage Equality: Holy Work in Holy Week
- Huffington Post, March 24, 2013
- The Marriage Equality Debates: The Pastoral in the Political
- The Huffington Post, March 27, 2013
- A Holy Week at the Supreme Court
- The Washington Post, March 29, 2013
Evangelical
- Evangelical Leader Gary Bauer Says 'Skewed' Polls Showing Surge in Support for Gay Marriage are 'Ludicrous': VIDEO
- Towleroad, March 24, 2013
- Loving Uganda to Death: The Global Reach of Far-Right Christian Hatred
- Religion Dispatches, March 24, 2013
- NPR Gives Focus on the Family's Jim Daly a Pass
- Religion Dispatches, March 25, 2013
- How Do Evangelical Churches Talk About Homosexuality?
- Christianity Today, March 25, 2013
- At Jerry Falwell's Christian College, It's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" on Gay Marriage
- New York Magazine, March 28, 2013
- At evangelical colleges, a shifting attitude toward gay students
- CNN, March 30, 2013
- Jeff Chu, Gay Christian, Visits Westboro Baptist Church
- The Huffington Post, April 3, 2013
- Pastor Who Stunned Christians With Gay Marriage Endorsement Explains: Believers Are 'Not Inclusive On This Issue…They Are Homophobic'
- The Blaze, April 3, 2013
International
- British judge upholds ban on Christian group's "gay cure" ads
- Reuters, March 22, 2013
- In Catholic Latin America, Same-Sex Marriage and Gay Rights Lead the Way
- PRI's The World, March 27, 2013
- 'Gay baby Jesus' artwork auctioned
- Stuff New Zealand, April 3, 2013
Jewish
- Gay Orthodox rabbi offers message of inclusion
- Winnipeg Free Press, March 23, 2013
- Marriage Equality Logos Get Jewish Twist
- The Jewish Daily Forward, March 27, 2013
- Jewish leaders upset with marriage group's Nazi references
- Minnesota Star Tribune, March 29, 2013
Marriage Equality
- Who is on God's side of the marriage debate?
- CNN, March 25, 2013
- Gay Marriage Finds Church Support, Religious Foes as Supreme Court Hearings Begin
- Huffington Post, March 25, 2013
- Love is stronger than hate: Why Holy Week is the perfect time for marriage equality
- The Washington Post, March 26, 2013
- On gay marriage, Supreme Court ponders not "if" but "how"
- The Washington Post, March 26, 2013
- Marriage mash-up
- World Magazine, March 26
- Yes, You Can Be Religious AND Support Marriage Equality
- Essence, March 29, 2013
- Marriage Equality: Race, Family, Values, and the 99%
- Religion Dispatches, April 2, 2013
Methodist
- Watch: 'Homosexuals Are Worthy of Death!' Little Boy Preaches to Churchgoers on Easter
- The New Civil Rights Movement, April 1, 2013
- PFLAG Founder Jeanne Manford Honored in Plaque on NYC Church Where Organization Was Born
- Towleroad, April 4, 2013
Metropolitan Community Church
- Hey, Supreme Court Justices, Same-Gender Marriages are Not Experiments!
- The Huffington Post, March 30, 2013
Mormon
- The Curious Case of Mormons and LGBT Rights
- Religion Dispatches, March 26, 2013
Muslim
- Stop trying to split gays and Muslims
- Salon, April 2, 2013
- Gay Muslims—the Elephants in the (Prayer) Room
- SuhaibWebb.com, April 3, 2013
- Guest Column: Standing for marriage equality as a Muslim
- The Daily Northwestern, April 3, 2013
Religious Liberty
- My Take: Will gay rights infringe on religious liberty?
- CNN, March 25, 2013
- Fox News Contributors Say Marriage Equality Would Criminalize Christianity
- Think Progress, March 26, 2013
- KY Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto of Anti-Gay "Religious Freedoms" Bill
- Queerty, March 28, 2013
- WATCH: Ali Forney Center Makes Easter Time Plea For Christians to Acknowledge Religious Intolerance
- Queerty, March 29, 2013
United Church of Christ
- Join UCC in show of support for Marriage Equality
- UCC News, March 21, 2013
- A love offering for marriage equality
- UCC News, March 26, 2013
- LGBT Advocates say 'Time has arrived for marriage equality'
- UCC News, March 26, 2013
- UCC president to visit Rhode Island in support of marriage equality legislation
- UCC News, April 3, 2013