Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a new law Wednesday that will allow public officials in the state to refuse to perform marriages if doing so goes against their beliefs. The measure, HB 878, is less than half a page-long and simply states that public officials “shall not be required to solemnize a marriage.” Those who […]
A Missouri prison worker’s legal fight against on-the-job discrimination this week provided U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito — one of the court’s most conservative members — an opportunity to denounce the landmark decision recognizing same-sex marriage nationwide. Jean Finney had worked as a corrections officer at the Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in […]
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito renewed his criticism Tuesday of the high court’s landmark same-sex marriage ruling, addressing it in a five-page statement as part of an order explaining why the court declined to hear a case involving a Missouri lawsuit. The case in question, the Missouri Department of Corrections v. Jean Finney, involved a […]
Greece has become the first Orthodox Christian country to legalise same-sex civil marriage, despite opposition from Church officials. A cross-party majority of 176 lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament voted late Thursday in favour of the bill drafted by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ centre-right government. Another 76 rejected the reform while two abstained from the vote […]
Activists and LGBTQ+ community members have handed out colourful chocolates for Valentine’s Day in Tokyo, marking the fifth anniversary of the launch of a legal battle to achieve marriage equality for same-sex couples. Japan is the only member of the G7 group of nations that still excludes same-sex couples from the right to legally marry […]
TOKYO (AP) — Activists and LGBTQ+ community members handed out colorful chocolate candy for Valentine’s Day in Tokyo on Wednesday, marking the fifth anniversary of the launch of a legal battle to achieve marriage equality for same-sex couples. Japan is the only member of the Group of Seven nations that still excludes same-sex couples from […]
RICHMOND − Two of the four Republicans representing parts of the Tri-City area in the House of Delegates crossed the aisle Friday to join their Democratic colleagues in voting for a bill that would block marriage licenses from being denied to same-sex couples in the state. Dels. Carrie Coyner of Chestefield County and Kim Taylor […]
The Pope has defended his controversial decision to let priests bless same-sex couples, but admitted that “solitude is a price you have to pay” when you make difficult decisions. Francis doubled down on the decision and insisted that the “Lord blesses everyone” during a Sunday interview with an Italian talk show. But he acknowledged the […]
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Vatican on Thursday moved to calm Catholic bishops in some countries who have balked over last month’s approval of blessings for same-sex couples, telling them that the measure is not “heretical” or “blasphemous”. In a five-page statement, the Vatican’s doctrinal office also acknowledged that such blessings could […]
ROME (AP) — After pushback by some bishops in Africa, Poland and elsewhere, the Vatican on Thursday defended the recent move by Pope Francis to allow blessings for same-sex couples, insisting there is nothing “heretical” involved. In a five-page statement, the Holy See’s office to safeguard doctrinal orthodoxy expressed understanding that some bishops’ conferences need […]
(Reuters) – The head of Ukraine’s eastern-rite Catholic church on Saturday said a document endorsed by Pope Francis this week permitting blessings for same-sex couples did not apply to his church and its teachings. Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said the Vatican document “interprets the pastoral meaning of blessings in the Latin Church” but made no […]
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis urged Vatican bureaucrats Thursday to avoid “rigid ideological positions” that prevent them from understanding today’s reality, an appeal made days after he formally allowed priests to bless same-sex couples in a radical change of Vatican policy. Francis used his annual Christmas greeting to the Holy See hierarchy to encourage the […]