Study: Homosexuality Not Factor in Abuse by Catholic Priests

A $2 million study commissioned by Roman Catholic Bishops at the height of the Church's sexual abuse scandal has found no connection between sexual orientation and abuse of children by clergy, the AP reports:

"The full report by researchers at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice won't be completed until the end of next year. But the authors said their evidence to date found no data indicating that homosexuality was a predictor of abuse. 'What we are suggesting is that the idea of sexual identity be separated from the problem of sexual abuse,' said Margaret Smith of John Jay College, in a speech to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. 'At this point, we do not find a connection between homosexual identity and the increased likelihood of subsequent abuse from the data that we have right now.' The question has been raised repeatedly within and outside the church because the overwhelming majority of known victims were boys. As part of the church's response to the crisis, the Vatican ordered a review of all U.S. seminaries that, among other issues, looked for any "evidence of homosexuality" in the schools."

According to the AP, almost 14,000 sexual molestation claims have been filed in the past 60 years against Catholic clergy.

700 Clergy and Lay Leaders Call on NY Senate to Pass Marriage Bill

The Empire State Pride Agenda today released a list of 700 clergy and lay leaders from across New York state who are in support of the legislature passing a marriage equality bill.

Read the full list, AFTER THE JUMP...

ESPA writes: "The geographic list of clergy and faith leaders in support of New York State allowing same-sex couples access to marriage includes a number of denominations including Lutheran, Episcopalian, Methodist, United Church of Christ, American Baptist, Reformed Church in America and Reform and Conservative movements of Judaism. It also includes influential leaders like Bishop Prince Singh of the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, Bishop Robert Rimbo of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President of Union Theological Seminary."

Said executive director Alan van Capelle in a statement: "This list represents a diverse group of faith traditions and congregations from all corners of our state. The leaders of these religious institutions understand the spiritual value of respecting all members of their community, including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. These faith leaders—a number of which are not allowed to perform marriages of same-sex couples themselves because of their faith traditions—consider this to be an issue involving the rights and protections of civil marriage, not the traditions and ceremonies of a religious marriage. Their commitment at this important moment in New York demonstrates that there is no one group that owns the pulpit when it comes to whether the state should be treating all families equally by providing same-sex couples access to marriage and the many hundreds of rights and responsibilities New York provides with a marriage license.”

Read the full list, AFTER THE JUMP...

And use this tool to call your Senator now.

Ted Haggard Starting New Church in His Living Room

Ted Haggard is back in the church business:

"Haggard will hold his first gathering at 7 p.m. Nov. 12 at his house at 1865 Old Ranch Road. He referred to it as a 'prayer meeting,' but said it would also be correct to call it a church. The gathering will include music and an offering to New Life Church. Haggard also will give a talk about the power of prayer. Although Haggard said just recently he had no plans to start a church, he changed his mind two weeks ago after talking to a friend in Florida who was involved in prayer meetings. Haggard anticipates that 10 to 20 people will show up, and said he has no expectations of building his new enterprise into something on the scale of New Life. 'For this prayer meeting, I have no goals,' he said. 'I have no secret hope that more people will come. I am not driven as I was. Before I focused on the Great Commission. Now I focus on helping other people.'”

Flashback...
Evangelical Leader Ted Haggard Steps Down After Gay Escort Claims [tr]
Ted Haggard Voicemails Analyzed; Pastor Admits to Indiscretions [tr]
Mike Jones Fails Lie Detector Test on Ted Haggard [tr]
Ted Haggard: Bought Meth, Didn't Use It; Received Massage, No Sex [tr]
Ted Haggard Letter: "I am Guilty...a Deceiver and a Liar" [tr]

Mormons Play Victim, Claim Threats by Gays Like Treatment of Blacks in the South During Civil Rights Movement

Elder Dallin Oaks, a high-ranking Mormon, delivered a speech on Tuesday at Brigham Young University claiming that backlash by gays against the Church of Latter Day Saints following the passage of Proposition 8 was like the treatment of Blacks in the South during the civil rights movement.

Watch a FOX 13 report and interview with Equality Utah and Mormon Elder Dallin Oaks, AFTER THE JUMP...

FOX 13 reports:

"Elder Dallin H. Oaks refers to gay marriage as an 'alleged civil right' in remarks prepared for delivery at Brigham Young University- Idaho, a speech church officials describe as a significant commentary on current threats to religious freedom. In an advance copy provided to The Associated Press, Oaks suggests that atheists and others are seeking to intimidate people of faith and silence their voices in the public square...In an interview Monday before the speech, Oaks said he did not consider it provocative to compare the treatment of Mormons in the election's aftermath to that of blacks in the civil rights era, and said he stands by the analogy. 'It may be offensive to some -- maybe because it hadn't occurred to them that they were putting themselves in the same category as people we deplore from that bygone era,' he said."

Asks Dan Savage: "How many Mormons were lynched after Prop 8? how many Temples were firebombed?"

Adds John Aravosis: "It really is the height of arrogance, and rather un-American to boot, for the Mormons to spend their money freely, in state after state, in an effort to force Americans to live under Mormon law, and then suggest that no one in America is permitted to even disagree with what the Mormons are doing, lest we oppress their efforts to oppress."

In related news, Senate Majority Leader and Mormon Harry Reid, who has been surprisingly outspoken as of late in his support for gay rights (he penned a letter publicly endorsing last weekend's National Equality March), struck out at his own church last week, criticizing the LDS for backing Proposition 8, saying they should have stayed out of it.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports: "Three organizers of the past weekend's National Equality March said Reid brought up the topic during a conversation in his office. 'He said that he thought it was a waste of church resources and good will,' said Derek Washington, a Nevadan who worked as the outreach director for the march. 'He said he didn't think it was appropriate.' Reid spokesman Jon Summers would not discuss the private meeting, but he didn't deny the conversation took place. 'While Senator Reid agrees with his church that marriage is between a man and a woman,' Summers said, 'he also believes that the resources that went into the Proposition 8 effort could have been put to better use.' LDS Church officials declined to comment Monday."

Watch a FOX 13 report and interview with Equality Utah and Mormon Elder Dallin Oaks,
AFTER THE JUMP...

800 Pack Kalamazoo, MI Forum on the Bible and Homosexuality

In Kalamazoo Michigan, where an anti-discrimination ordinance based on sexual orientation will go before voters in November, 800 people packed the Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites for a forum with six local pastors about the Bible and homosexuality:

"A panel of six area pastors — three who believe same-sex relationships violate biblical teaching and three who say Scripture does not support that conclusion — spent two hours giving their perspectives and answering questions posed by the audience and each other. The Rev. Matthew Laney, pastor of Kalamazoo’s First Congregational United Church of Christ, said the scriptural debate on homosexuality focuses primarily on seven passages of the Bible’s 31,000 verses. 'It’s only .002 percent of the entire Bible, an incredibly small slice,' Laney said. 'Sexual orientation is not a choice; it’s not a disorder. It’s part of God’s diverse creation.' The Rev. Dr. Douglas Vernon, senior pastor of Kalamazoo’s First United Methodist Church, agreed, saying the Bible may be taken 'very seriously' but not always literally. 'We believe there is no one right way to interpret Scripture,' Vernon said. The Rev. John Byl, pastor of Immanuel Fellowship Church, and the Rev. Dr. Paul Naumann, of St. Michael Lutheran Church, disagreed, saying the literal words are relevant and timeless. But all three ministers who argued homosexuality is a Biblical violation called for, as Byl put it, 'a church that doesn’t shut down those who struggle with this sin.' .. 'God is grieved by how the Christian church has handled this issue,' said the Rev. Dr. Jeff Porte, of Kalamazoo’s Third Reformed Church. 'We’re sorry for the way we have treated the gay community and people who find themselves challenged.' But Porte said he also is obliged to “speak the truth” and call homosexuality a sin."

The forum was privately sponsored by Kalamazoo business owners and Republican activists Lorence and Nancy Wenke, M Live reports:

"Wenke is a Republican and former Michigan House member who is running for the state Senate in 2010. Wenke said that sponsoring Monday’s forum — at a cost of about $3,500 for the venue, advertising and materials — probably cost him some conservative votes."

Poor thing. Fortunately he's not worried about being kicked out of his job or his housing because he's gay.

Florida Megachurch Dumps Pepsi Over its Positions on Gay Issues

The Bell Shoals Baptist megachurch in Brandon, Florida is making headlines for carting 10 Pepsi machines out of its premises and replacing them with machines from Coca-Cola, because, they say, Pepsi donated to Prop 8, sponsors Gay Pride parades, and runs ads that cater to homosexuals.

10 Connects reports: "'We would like to send them a message,' said Terry Kemple, President of the Community Issues Council that is organizing a boycott of Pepsi products because he says it 'advocates the acceptance of the homosexual lifestyle.' ... 'They (have) begun to utilize the money we've helped them build up to trample on what we consider family values,' said Kemple of Pepsi. He said the company donated more than a million dollars to organizations that fought California's gay marriage-banning Proposition 8. He also says the Pepsi Corporation has sponsored gay pride events and commercials that accept cross-dressing and homosexuality. 'We're concerned about that diminishment of the ability of Christians to speak what the Bible says,' Kemple said. But Nadine Smith, the Executive Director of Equality Florida, called the boycott offensive to her and embarrassing to those who participate. 'The irony is that - in moving from Pepsi products to Coke products - they actually switched from one company that supports full-equality to another company that supports full-equality,' Smith said."

Watch a video report on the Coke-drinking Christians, AFTER THE JUMP...