A new Pew Research Center survey of American LGBT people and their responses to religion deserves close reading, for its extensive analysis of our community’s experience of the churches, and how it has influenced our responses to religion. For Catholics…Read more →
Just one of the many problems underlying the opposition to marriage equality, and more broadly the theology of sexuality, is a simplistic assumption that humans divide neatly into two biological sexes, and two genders to coincide with them. It just…Read more →
Once upon a time, I tried lawsuits for a living. “Plaintiffs,” “defendants,” “negligence,” “foreseeability,” “standard of care,” and “reasonable man” were the jargon of the litigation attorney. Many of my cases fit the category of “professional liability,” aka malpractice. I served as attorney, on both sides, in professional liability cases against engine […]
Ever since the Roman Inquisition decreed that Galileo was “vehemently suspect of heresy” for suggesting the sun stood still while the earth revolved around it, the interplay of science and religious belief has been problematic for the church. In the ensuing centuries as the age of reason, of enlightenment, and of rationalism dominated western thought, [...] […]
Greetings to all others who grace these pages! Thank you for stopping by. If you still have a reader pointed here, this blog no longer publishes in this location, but can be found at this new link. Please subscribe to the new feed, get the new blog via email or read us by liking us on Facebook or by following me on Twitter. If you want more, please feel free […]
What I've learned from Poldark about the promise(and complexity) of relationship.Angharad Rees and Robin Ellis as Demelza and Ross Poldarkin the BBC television series Poldark (1975-1977)Winston Graham's Poldark series of books is comprised of twelve "novels of Cornwall" set in the years 1783-1820. Throughout the series the relationship be […]
The core problem with Catholic bishops’ pronouncements on gay marriage, and on human sexuality more generally, is that they are usually based entirely on speculation and supposition, made with little or no recourse to evidence – and none at all to the real-life experience of loving, committed sexual relationships, of which they have none themselves.That is w […]
Meanwhile (and this relates to the two pieces I've just posted about LGBT folks and Catholic, Inc., and about how Pope Francis is being perceived), isn't it interesting how very little notice the finding of that recent Pew study that most gay Americans see the Catholic church as conspicuously unfriendly to us is getting in the media? It has been mo […]
It's interesting to see glimmers of a meme now developing in the secular media regarding Pope Francis. A few days ago, at the Talking Points memo site, Sahil Kapur posted an article about why liberals are enchanted with the new pope. Here's how Kapur sums up the case:In a way, Pope Francis is a progressive’s dream-come-true — a devout figure with e […]
Pope Francis was elected to perform this task. Perhaps any other initiative should wait lest the stench from this pile corrupt everything else. In a meeting with members of the ordinary council of the Synod of Bishops Pope Francis had some thoughts on collegiality and the further use of bishops in the structure of the Church. He even said the furtherance of […]
Both the glorious city of Prague and its majestic, serene river, the Vltava or Moldau (take your pick), have returned to some semblance of normal. The flood waters are receding - slowly - having caused far less damage than the 2002 floods. The beautiful, wide embankments which are such a pleasure to walk upon, are still under water, about four feet. But the […]
Terrible floods in Central Europe, at the moment, with flooding in the south of the country and the historic center of Prague threatened by rising river waters. We're all hoping and praying this is not a repeat of the 2002 disaster, which caused two billion dollars damage and was a terrible blow to the Czech economy. But it's already bad. Forecaste […]
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Claire Bangasser’s blog, which re-imagines a Church engaged in dialogue with people at the margins, inviting everyone at the table, with a thirst for social justice and gender equality.
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This blog is me on pilgrimage, sharing my journey with companions who want to walk along–towards truth that needs to be told but doesn’t get spoken, towards whatever and whoever draws us along to the horizon of hope.
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A blog maintained by writer Phil Ewing of Cornwall, England, with a focus on spirituality, social justice, and poetry, among other matters
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An Irish blog seeking to give the uncomfortable truth and news from the inside of the Irish Catholic church.
Confessions of a Liturgy Queen
Ross Lonergan’s blog, focusing on Catholic issues and writers, as well as the experience of being gay and Catholic.
Enlightened Catholicism
A place for Catholics who don’t find their Catholic identity in the standard definitions. “He drew a circle that shut me out. Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout. But Love and I had the wit to win: We drew a circle that took him in.” Edwin Markham
Father Geoff Farrow
A blog of Fr. Geoff Farrow, suspended from active ministry for speaking against proposition 8 in California, and an advocate for the rights of LGBT persons.
Following the Voice Within
A blog by a gay believer seeking to hear the Voice within and share his spiritual journey with others.
Gay Mystic
A blog dedicated the future of a renewed, inclusive, fair and open Roman Catholic tradition, in the spirit of Pope John Paul I, and maintained by Jayden Cameron.
J. S. O'Leary
A personal blog, which features “Essays on literary and theological themes”.
James Alison
A website collecting the works of Rev. James Alison, a Catholic theologian whose work explores gay themes from a Catholic standpoint,
John McNeill Website
Website of the pioneering (and prolific) theologian John McNeill, exploring gay themes in light of Catholic theology.
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Drawing on spirituality, psychotherapy, and theology, as well as his lifelong experience as a spiritual director, John McNeill offers guidance for those seeking spiritual transformation.
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Examines public statements and letters of church officials and concerned Catholics in light of Christ’s ministry of justice and inclusion.
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“Towards Reality Based Theology”: Faith from a queer perspective, but also progressive Catholicism, Queer history, and the progress towards equality
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Regina Colleen Heater’s sacredfisher.com is blog site is born out of the desire to reach people in both their hearts and their heads as they consider their lives in faith. The idea comes from Jesus’ call to make the apostles “fishers of men.”
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The website of Deacons Eric Stoltz and Vince Tomkovicz.
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A blog exploring implications of the Christian belief in the common good for contemporary culture and political life.
The Wild Reed
Thoughts and reflections from a progressive, gay, Catholic perspective by blogger Michael Bayly.
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Reflections about religion, life, food, faith, culture, theology, sometimes politics and more by Fran Szpylczyn.
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Inside perspectives on matters Catholic (particularly institutional matters) by U.S. journalist Rocco Palmo.
Organizations & Resource Websites
Association of Rights of Catholics in the Church
An association whose aim is “To bring about substantive structural change in the Catholic Church”, and “to institutionalize a collegial understanding of Church.”
Bishop Accountability
A website documenting the abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.
Call to Action
Catholics working together for justice and action.
Catholic Association for Lesbian and Gay Ministries
The website of the National (U.S.) Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries (NACDLGM), fostering ministry to the LGBT community and providing educational resources.
Catholics United
Promoting the message of justice and the common good found at the heart of the Catholic Social Tradition.
Center for Social Inclusion
The Center for Social Inclusion identifies causes of racial inequity growing out of public policy.
DignityUSA
DignityUSA envisions and works for a time when Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality, and as beloved persons of God participate fully in all
Future Church
FutureChurch seeks changes that will provide all Roman Catholics the opportunity to participate fully in Church life and leadership.
Institute for Progressive Christianity
An ecumenical organization seeking to further awareness and understanding that the progressive tradition is rooted in core Christian gospel values, and to relate that tradition to personal faith, public policy, family, and the common good.
Mount St. Agnes Theological Center for Women
A theological center for women founded to commit its resources in solidarity with women seeking fullness of life and equality in church and society.
New Ways Ministry
A gay-positive ministry of advocacy and justice for lesbian and gay Catholics and reconciliation within the larger Christian and civil communities.
Roman Catholic Women Priests
An international initiative within the Roman Catholic Church spiritually preparing, ordaining, and supporting women and men from all states of life, who are theologically qualified, committed to an inclusive model of Church, and called by the Holy Spirit
Saint Mychal Judge
A blog devoted to encouraging greater faith, hope, and love through discussion of Father Mychal Judge, OFM, the saint of 9/11.
Soulforce
Guided by principles of nonviolent resistance, Soulforce works to end the religious and political oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people.
Stand up For Vatican II
A campaign designed to involve the whole Church, Catholic organisations and individuals, who recognise the benefits the Second Vatican Council brought to the Church.
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
A support network for women and men wounded by religious authority figures (priests, ministers, bishops, deacons, nuns and others).
Talk to Action
“Reclaiming Citizenship, History and Faith”, Talk to Action aims to counter the religious right.
Voice of the Faithful
An organization seeking to provide a prayerful voice, attentive to the Spirit, through which the Faithful can actively participate in the governance and guidance of the Catholic Church.
We Are Church
An international movement committed to the renewal of the Roman Catholic Church on the basis of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the theological spirit developed from it.
Young Adult Catholics
A blog dedicated to the progressive, faithful, Catholic voices of 20- and 30-year-olds and sponsored by Call to Action.
Other Christian Websites &Blogs
Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists
A website of churches, organizations, and individuals on record as welcoming and affirming all persons without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity, who have joined to advocate for full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender person
Cross Left
The online enagement organization of the Institute for Progressive Christianity and its strategy clearing-house and central hub for grassroots activism among progressive Christians.
Ekklesia
An ecumenical religion and society think-tank at the cutting edge of culture, spirituality and politics.
Faith in America
The mission of Faith In America is to educate the public about the harm caused to gay Americans when religion-based bigotry and prejudice is used to justify condemnation, discrimination and violence toward this minority population group.
Goodsoil
Goodsoil is a collaboration of organizations working for the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families in the full ministerial and sacramental life of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
Jesus in Love
Jesus in Love serves gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people who have spiritual interests, and their allies, with a focus on spirituality, books and arts.
Lutheran News
A website providing Lutheran news of interest.
Lutheran News
Aggregates news and blog comments on Lutheran and other churches.
Reconciling Ministries Network
A movement of United Methodist individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and other groups working for the full participation of all people in the United Methodist Church.
Religion Dispatches
A daily online magazine dedicated to the analysis and understanding of religious forces in the world today, highlighting a diversity of progressive voices and aimed at broadening and advancing the public conversation.
Street Prophets
A blog about faith and politics sponsored by Daily Kos.