gay marriage
Parliament bars Church of England from hosting gay weddings
CANTERBURY, England (RNS) The British government unveiled a proposal on Tuesday (Dec. 11) that excludes the Church of England and the Church in Wales from planned legislation to allow same-sex couples to marry in churches. By Trevor Grundy.
Both sides brace for Supreme Court battle on gay marriage
WASHINGTON (RNS) The Supreme Court's long-awaited decisions to hear challenges to the federal Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage move the issue to the top of the national agenda following a year in which advocates scored major legal and political victories. By Richard Wolf / USA Today.
Polls: Americans’ views on gays and lesbians shifting fast
(RNS) In the wake of historic victories for gay rights supporters in last month's elections, a pair of USA Today/Gallup Polls find growing acceptance among Americans toward gay men and lesbians -- and soaring optimism among gay Americans that issues involving homosexuality will one day no longer divide the nation. By Susan Page/USA Today.
Vatican says it hasn’t lost the gay marriage fight
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Despite recent setbacks in the U.S. and Europe, the Catholic Church is not losing its fight against gay marriage. On the contrary, according to the Vatican newspaper, its resistance is alerting many to the dangers of threatening the "foundation" of human society. By Alessandro Speciale.
Oregon may be next state for gay marriage ballot battle
PORTLAND, Ore. (RNS) After a string of victories for gay rights at the ballot box this year, gay rights groups here are positioning for a 2014 battle to try and become the first state to overturn a 10-year constitutional ban on gay marriage. By Harry Esteve.
2012 shows a social sea change on gay marriage
(RNS) Gay rights supporters are marking Election Day 2012 as a turning point in their quest for marriage equality as opponents deny a cultural shift in American attitudes. By Lauren Markoe.
What’s next for religious conservatives?
What won, what lost on 2012 state ballot measures
(RNS) Here's a quick tour of selected state ballot measures from the 2012 elections. By Jeanie Groh.
Catholic bishops make last-minute pitch for Romney
(RNS) A number of Roman Catholic bishops are making forceful appeals to their flock to vote next Tuesday, and their exhortations are increasingly sounding like clear calls to support Republican challenger Mitt Romney. By David Gibson.
Lesbian answers bishop’s call for dialogue on gay marriage
SPOKANE, Wash. (RNS) The Catholic bishop here has asked for an honest dialogue about same-sex marriage, so Charlene Strong was happy to take him up on his offer, telling a Catholic campus why the state's domestic partnership law was insufficient when her partner of 10 years was dying. By Tracy Simmons.
Obama endorses gay marriage push in Washington, Maine
(RNS) President Barack Obama on Thursday (Oct. 25) endorsed the same-sex marriage referendum on the Washington state ballot and also formally backed a similar measure on the ballot in Maine. By Jeff Mapes.
Washington gay marriage fight has money, ‘daunting’ odds
SEATTLE (RNS) With its relatively low churchgoing population and social libertarianism, Washington may be the state where voters are most likely to approve gay marriage next month. But opponents say the early polls are deceptive. By Jeff Mapes.
Episcopal bishop says he was denied entrance to Catholic archbishop’s installation Mass
(RNS) What started off as a rocky relationship between the Episcopal and Roman Catholic bishops of San Francisco got even worse on Thursday (Oct. 4) when Episcopal Bishop Marc Andrus said he was denied entrance to the installation Mass of the new Roman Catholic archbishop. By Kevin Eckstrom.
From Roman perch, American Cardinal Raymond Burke sparks controversy, exerts influence
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Cardinal Raymond Burke isn't shy about speaking his mind, but the former archbishop of St. Louis has quietly become an influential player in Rome since Pope Benedict XVI named him the Vatican's top legal authority. By David Gibson.
Democrats add support for gay marriage to convention platform
CHARLOTTE (RNS) On the night the Democrats became the first major U.S. political party to endorse gay marriage, some convention delegates remembered how it used to be — back in high school, back in the closet, back in the days when, as one said, "you're scared because it's not OK to be who you are." By Rick Hampson.