Pigs flying overhead, hell freezing over and any other clichés you can come up with to describe shock, incredulity or even horror
UK: Prison chaplains ‘routinely hand out anti-gay leaflets’ to inmates
A review has found that government-appointed prison chaplains have routinely distributed homophobic literature to prisoners. The review was ordered last year by Secretary of State for Justice Michael Gove over concerns surrounding Muslim chaplains in UK prisons.
The Times newspaper reports that “it uncovered misogynistic and homophobic leaflets, hate tracts encouraging the murder of apostates and ultra-conservative Islamic literature preaching contempt for basic British values”.
It also found that the literature made available to inmates went through little or no scrutiny for suitability, meaning that potentially extremist material was able to be included. Read more via Pink News
Norway: Bishop says to avoid same-sex marriage, no more civil weddings
A Norwegian bishop said the country's clergy will no longer officiate at civil weddings, after the predominant Lutheran Church's governing synod voted to conduct gay marriages in Norway.
Bishop Bernt Eidsvig of Oslo told Catholic News Service that he would have to seek permission from the Vatican, but added, "It's clear we must distinguish our own church marriages from others."
"This is a matter of liturgy, so it doesn't necessarily reflect roader change in our society's moral values. But politicians may now get aggressive toward churches who resist these weddings, so the best option is for us to stop conducting marriages on the state's behalf." Read more via Boston Pilot
Australia: Gay CEOs unmoved by church pressure on marriage equality
Fairfax Media reported that the Archdiocese contacted Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce and SBS chief executive Michael Ebeid, urging them to reconsider their public endorsement of same-sex marriage.
Both companies were among hundreds of Australian corporations to pledge their support for the Australian Marriage Equality campaign last year, and both chief executives addressed a high-profile breakfast hosted by the AME in May.
Shortly after the AME campaign was launched, the Archdiocese addressed letters to many of the organisations involved, including Qantas, SBS, Telstra, the Football Federation of Australia and law firm Maurice Blackburn.
"I wonder whether you have questioned whether it is the role of a corporation such as yours to be participating in such an important matter that impacts all of Australian society now and into the future," wrote Sydney Archdiocese business manager Michael Digges.
‘Amoris Laetitia’ and gay marriage: a closer look
Despite gains for LGBT Jews, frum families still feeling alienated
A pioneering survey of Orthodox parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children released last week found that many families remain closeted in their communities because of disapproval from rabbis or other community leaders.
Of the over 100 parents surveyed from across the country, nearly a third of respondents (27 percent) said they viewed their rabbi or community as homophobic, and over 73 percent of parents said there have been no public forums or classes on the topic of LGBT Jews in their community. According to the study, Orthodox day schools do not make public policy statements about the treatment or admission of LGBT students or staff or about teacher training on the subject.
Among the survey’s other key findings was that synagogue rabbis are among the last resources parents seek out for help when their child comes out, despite an increased focus on counseling across rabbinic school curricula. Read more via the Jewish Week
Dominican Republic: Gay Pride and Prejudice
Shortly after taking up his post as American ambassador to the Dominican Republic in November 2013, Wally Brewster got a bit of unsolicited advice from the Vatican’s envoy to the Caribbean nation.
“If you keep your private life behind the walls of your embassy, you’ll be O.K. here,” Nuncio Jude Thaddeus Okolo told Mr. Brewster. He meant that Mr. Brewster, to be an effective diplomat, would be wise to keep his husband, Bob Satawake, out of sight in a country where prejudice against gay people remains widespread.
The advice went unheeded. Mr. Brewster and Mr. Satawake, who have been together for nearly 28 years, have been out and proud in Santo Domingo, sparking a spirited debate that has galvanized the nation’s fledgling gay rights movement and outraged local leaders of the Catholic Church.
The attacks against Mr. Brewster, a Chicago businessman who raised money for President Obama’s re-election campaign, began just days after the White House nominated him for the post. Read more via New York Times
France: Surrenders to the Vatican over plans for gay ambassador
France has finally backed down following a stand-off with the Vatican over the nomination of a gay ambassador. More than a year ago, in January 2015, the French government selected openly gay diplomat Laurent Stefanini to head to the home of the Catholic Church.
It usually takes just weeks for a nomination to be approved – but it became clear in April 2015 that the Vatican was ‘freezing out’ the country’s selection of ambassador, refusing to respond to the nomination at all.
French President François Hollande had initially stood firm in the dispute rather than be seen to discriminate against his own diplomat. However, after over a year-long stretch of silence from the Vatican, France surrendered today. Read more via Pink News
Norway: Bishops to allow gay church weddings
The Bishops’ Conference (Kirkemøtet) of the Church of Norway (Den Norske Kirke) approved new marriage ceremony rules that will allow homosexuals to be married within the church.
As part of the church officials' historic decision, bishops and other church officials were granted the right to refuse to officiate homosexual marriages. However, gay couples are ensured the right of being married in their local church even if the officials decline to carry out the service. Read more via the Local
Pope Francis's family values message falls short, say LGBT groups in US
Pope Francis’ Message Calls on Church to Be Inclusive
UK: Archbishop of Wales apologises for gay prejudice
The head of the Church in Wales has apologized "unreservedly" to gay couples for prejudice in the church. Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan spoke at a meeting of the governing body in Llandudno.
The church tweeted "Archbishop of Wales offers a pastoral letter on same-sex relationships apologizing unreservedly for prejudice within the church."
Last year, r Morgan said it would be "foolish" to bring forward a bill for same-sex marriages in church. A statement released by the church said although it was not ready to allow or bless same-sex marriages, "the debate is not over". Read more via BBC