Gender & Sexuality

Spain approves plan to compensate victims of Catholic Church sex abuse. Church will be asked to pay

By Associated Press — April 24, 2024
MADRID (AP) — The project will include free legal assistance for all victims of sexual abuse and it will reinforce the prevention supervision in schools.
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After traditionalist churches left, UMC may be more — not less — diverse

By Yonat Shimron — April 16, 2024
(RNS) — Even after the departures, 24% of North Carolina clergy remaining in the denomination disagree with allowing LGBTQ people to get married and ordained within the denomination.

The perils and necessities of saying ‘I don’t know’

By Thomas Reese — April 15, 2024
(RNS) — In political, academic and ecclesial life, expressing uncertainty is the equivalent of committing professional suicide.

As a landmark United Methodist gathering approaches, African churches weigh their future.

By Peter Smith — April 15, 2024
(AP) — Today, members from four continents vote at legislative gatherings, serve on boards together, go on mission trips to each others’ countries and are largely governed by the same rules.

US Catholics more polarized than ever about still-popular Pope Francis, survey says

By Aleja Hertzler-McCain — April 12, 2024
(RNS) — The Republican and Republican-leaning favorability rating represents a decline, creating the largest partisan gap in approval of Francis since his papacy began.

Transgender inclusion? World’s major religions take varying stances on policies toward trans people

By David Crary, Mariam Fam, and Deepa Bharath — April 10, 2024
(AP) – Around the world, major religions have diverse approaches to gender identity, and the inclusion or exclusion of transgender people. Some

A dramatic schism over social issues? The United Methodist Church has been here before – but this time, America’s religious landscape is far different

By Christopher H. Evans — April 9, 2024
(The Conversation) — The United Methodist Church will hold its General Conference, delayed several years by the pandemic, in April 2024. The meeting comes amid a dramatic divide over LGBTQ+ rights.

Conservative Christians praise Trump’s anti-abortion record but say he’s stopped short of the goal

By Holly Meyer and Tiffany Stanley — April 9, 2024
(AP) — As Republican-led states have outlawed or further restricted abortion, Democrats believe the fight over abortion rights helps them at the polls.

Transgender Catholics say new Vatican document shows no understanding of their lives

By David Crary — April 9, 2024
(AP) — The dismay was heightened because recent moves by Pope Francis had encouraged some trans Catholics to hope the church might become more accepting.

Latter-day Saints leader addresses congregants without a word on racial or LGBTQ+ issues

By Hannah Schoenbaum — April 8, 2024
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Russell M. Nelson announced the planned construction in a pre-recorded closing speech at the twice-annual Salt Lake City conference. It's traditionally watched by millions worldwide.

Ahead of General Conference, queer United Methodist delegates organize a caucus

By Yonat Shimron — April 4, 2024
(RNS) — After a four-year COVID-19 delay, and the departure of about 25% of its U.S. churches, the United Methodist Church is meeting again and the issue of human sexuality is back on the agenda.

Vatican to publish document on gender, surrogacy and human dignity next week

By Nicole Winfield — April 2, 2024
ROME (AP) — Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, will hold his first news conference to present the document “Infinite Dignity, on human dignity,” on April 8, the Vatican announced Tuesday.

LGBTQ-inclusive church in Cuba welcomes all in a country that once sent gay people to labor camps

By Luis Andres Henao — April 1, 2024
MATANZAS, Cuba (AP) — Cuba repressed gay people after its 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro and sent many to labor camps. But in recent years, the communist-run island barred anti-gay discrimination.
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