ReligiousLeft.us

Recent Religious Headlines [T11R-4]

Tom@GayTalkRadio.org (Tom) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:43:00 +0000

Gay visitors and locals are carving out a retreat in Siem Reap, where the concept of homosexuality seemed nonexistent until recently.

In Siem Reap, Bon Theorne serves a drink at old-Shanghai-themed Miss Wong. IT was 10 p.m. in Siem Reap , and while most tourists were tucked in after a long, hot day exploring the temples of Angkor, things were just getting going at a bar called Linga . Pairs of European men in their 30s and 40s wearing unbuttoned collared shirts and checkered krama scarves sipped fruity cocktails and jostled ...

Teens walk line between parents' faith, angst in new novels from Austin authors

Lisa Comingore, an assistant attorney general for the state of Florida, knows what it's like to be forced out of a job over sexual orientation. Comingore, 39, took a job as a staff attorney with a state agency Nov. 1, 2006, and by the following February, she'd put in her notice. She'd been told that if she didn't, she'd be fired. The reason why, she says, had nothing to do with job performance ...

About 60,000 homes are without power, trees and signs have blown over and boats have been smashed on the rocks after a massive storm blew across the coast of northeastern Australia.

The Los Angeles Times: A report released Wednesday at a national meeting on aging asks lawmakers to consider changes to Medicaid and Social Security rules that could help gay and lesbian senior citizens.

The pressure is on Fresno City College to resolve the controversy surrounding Professor Bradley Lopez. He's been accused of making anti-gay remarks, and teaching the bible as fact. On Wednesday the school announced it's taking action. Students are sounding off, and so is the professor's attorney. What action do you think Fresno City College should take? Leave us your comments.

A Dallas County jail guard recently fired after allegedly making anti-gay remarks and commenting about religion has said his free speech rights have been violated but he will not seek to regain his job. A sheriff's department review concluded Stephen Johnson, 59, persisted in volunteering his religious opinions and speaking out against homosexuality.

DALLAS (AP) - A Dallas County jail guard recently fired after allegedly making anti-gay remarks and commenting about religion has said his free speech rights have been violated but he will not seek to regain his job.

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From both sides (T12R-5)

Tom@GayTalkRadio.org (Tom) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 05:32:00 +0000

Student Group Seeks to Bar LGBT Members
ToTheCenter.com (blog)
In order to stop gays and lesbians from joining for their âunrepentant participation in and advocacy of a sexually immoral lifestyle,â a Christian student ...

and more »

20/20 vision: An institute provides goals for the church and sexuality for the ...
Lawrence Journal World
57 percent of mainline Protestant pastors say they seldom or never speak out about lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues, abortion (74 ...

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Has Been a Complete Failure
SouthFloridaGayNews.com
The essence of DADT is that sexual orientation will not be a bar to service unless the member engages in homosexual conduct, states that he is homosexual or ...

Times of Malta

Book's gay claims aim to discredit Church - bishop
Times of Malta
Religion is about God and the church was started by Jesus. The church, like any human endeavor, is not perfect. After all it is populated my humans, ...

and more »

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Headlines: Separation of Church and State (T23R-2)

Tom@GayTalkRadio.org (Tom) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 02:37:00 +0000

Washington Post

Arlington affordable housing dispute morphs into test of church-state separation
Washington Post
... is suing the church, the county and Virginia in federal court, saying the development violates the constitutional separation of church and state. ...
Church and State Get Too Close for Comfort in Va.NBC Washington

all 2 news articles »

Globe and Mail

Pastoral letter: readers' reaction
Irish Times
The first essential step is total separation of church and State, both in theory and practice. Dave Morgan: A cynic might say it was unwise to put in so ...
Scandal-Hit Catholic Church Still Integral To IrishNPR

all 3,168 news articles »

It's a Gray Area: To protect the state â" and the church
Daily Pilot
Of course there will be some exceptions, but in general governments that maintain the separation of church and state will be far less likely to be involved ...

and more »

Group willing to fight for separation of church and state
Canton Repository
Freedom From Religion is adamant in its belief the authors of the Constitution crafted the First Amendment to ensure a separation between church and state. ...

New Zealand Herald

Texas Textbooks:Separate Church and State?
FOXNews (blog)
What did the founding fathers really mean when they talked about the separation of church and state? That's the question sparking heated debate in Austin ...
Texas education board refuses to require religious-freedom lessonDallas Morning News
An Open Letter to the Texas Board of Education: Stop Rewriting HistoryHuffington Post (blog)
Textbooks a Texas Dentist Could LoveNew York Times (blog)
Pittsburgh Post Gazette -Montgomery County Courier -El Paso Times
all 822 news articles »

Austin American-Statesman

In Texas Curriculum Fight, Identity Politics Leans Right
New York Times
the History News Network asked, referring to the board's recommendation that Jefferson, who coined the expression âseparation of church and state,â be ...
Nutbags take over educationThe Keystone
Curriculum overhaul distorts historyThe Bona Venture
Texas tampers with textbooksAnderson Independent Mail
Washington Post (blog) -Dallas Morning News (blog) -Financial Times
all 184 news articles »

Heber Springs Sun-Times

The Texas curriculum â" politics, race and religion
Desert Dispatch
An interesting point is that Thomas Jefferson â" he coined the term âseparation of church and stateâ back in 1802 in a letter to the Danbury Baptist ...
THE REALIST: Texas should not define educationDaily Aztec
Rewriting history to support our beliefsHeber Springs Sun-Times

all 8 news articles »

MiamiHerald.com

Catholics Split Over Health Care
ABC News (blog)
... if only because it is trying to insert a theological position into our legislation, which is in clear violation of separation of church and state, ...
NO Archbishop: We support opposition to health care billWWL
Catholic nuns oppose bishops, support health care reformAtlanta Journal Constitution (blog)

all 743 news articles »

Public Funds Should Not Be Used To Subsidize Religious Schools, Says AU's Lynn

Americans United Joins Friend-Of-The-Court Brief In Church-State Case At Supreme Court

Watchdog Group Is Seeking Information About Sectarian Prayers Before Meetings Of Government Body

Advisory Council Offers Recommendations Today, But Discriminatory Bush-Era Hiring Rules Remain In Place

Watchdog Group Says Continued Federal Funding For D.C. Religious Schools Undermines Constitution, Hurts Public Education

Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. And Other University Officials Used School Resources To Endorse House Of Delegates Candidate, Watchdog Group Asserts

Board Upholds Religious Liberty By Becoming Fifth Connecticut School District To Stop Using Religious Venue

AUâs Lynn Says Presidentâs Remarks At Prayer Breakfast Give Wrong Impression That Bush Policyâs Constitutional And Civil Rights Flaws Have Been Fixed

AUâs Lynn Calls On Leader Of âThe Familyâ To Repudiate Extreme Anti-Gay Law In Uganda

On One-Year Anniversary Of Obama 'Faith-Based' Plan, President Should Ban Government-Funded Religious Bias And Proselytizing, Says AU

Watchdog Group Hails Decision Curbing Government Intervention In Religion

Watchdog Group Says Judgeâs Commandments Poster Is An Unconstitutional Endorsement Of Religion

Robertson Comment Shows 'Grotesque Insensitivity,' Says AU's Lynn

Watchdog Group Says Proposed Policy Folicy For Dealing With âSupplemental Materialsâ In Science Class Is Flawed And Should Be Rejected

Watchdog Group Says Further Changes Are Necessary To Avoid Religious Coercion At Fort Leonard Wood

Luzerne County Courthouse Display Of Nativity Scene And Menorah Violated Constitution, Civil Liberties Groups Advised

Church-State Watchdog Group Joins Legal Brief In Sex-Abuse Case Before Nevada Supreme Court

Health-Care Reform Package Should Not Reflect Religious Doctrine, Says Church-State Watchdog Group

Church-State Watchdog Group Calls On High Court To Affirm Lower Court Ruling In Calif. Law School Case

Church-State Watchdog Group Lauds Ruling In Milwaukee County Case

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Recent Religious Headlines [T11R-4]

Tom@GayTalkRadio.org (Tom) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:43:00 +0000

Gay visitors and locals are carving out a retreat in Siem Reap, where the concept of homosexuality seemed nonexistent until recently.

Teens walk line between parents' faith, angst in new novels from Austin authors

By Brian Diefenbach Western Herald Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and heterosexual gamers, rejoice! Microsoft now says itâs OK to express sexual orientation in your Xbox Live gamertag! The move has been heralded as âfantasticâ by GayGamer.net, a blog of obvious orientation. I would have gone with âfabulous,â but thatâs just my preference. Welcome to the 21st century, Microsoft. It only [...]

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Gay/LGBT Religious News (T22R-1)

Tom@GayTalkRadio.org (Tom) — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:36:00 +0000

New York Press

'Next Fall': Broadway on a Budget
New York Times
... given its cast of little-known actors and a story, involving gay relationships and religion, that is hard to categorize or market easily. ...
Leap of FaithChelsea Now
TV on BroadwayNew York Press
NEXT FALL Featured in Huffington PostBroadway World

all 10 news articles »

New York Times

By Ancient Ruins, a Gay Haven in Cambodia
New York Times
Brings Same Sex Issues Out Into the Open.â The new open-mindedness is attributed to Theravada Buddhism, the predominant religion in Cambodia. ...

and more »

New York Daily News

'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Civil Disobedience at the White House
The Washington Independent
The Vatican basically supported Hitler and religion is responsible for more corruption and violence in the world. Pope Ratzinger was involved in the Nazi ...
Lt. Dan Choi Arrested at White House During Gay Rights RallyCBS News
VIDEO: Big day for GetEQUAL; San Diegans protest DADT, arrests of activistsSan Diego Gay & Lesbian News

all 100 news articles »

Thoughts From the Interface of Science, Religion, Law and Culture
ScienceBlogs (blog)
I think there is a core of truth to the claim: Of course the gay rights movement (like the feminist movement) includes internal disputes about the wisdom or ...

and more »

Times of Malta

Book's gay claims aim to discredit Church - bishop
Times of Malta
These people are trying very hard to try and convince us that being gay is normal. A person like this is also trying to humiliate religion. ...

and more »

Human Rights Campaign Hosts Faith and Fairness Town Hall in Greensboro, NC
eNews Park Forest
... faithful voice for advocacy on behalf of LGBT inclusion, equality and fundamental fairness for all Americans,â said Harry Knox, director of the Religion ...

and more »

Dallas Voice

Advice to Catholic Church on treatment of gays: Glass houses
Dallas Voice
The Catholic Church. For more news about religion and how if affects the LGBT community, see tomorrow's Spirituality section of the Dallas Voice.

and more »

The Business Insider

Where Are The Gay Attorneys? The 25 Firms With The Most GLBT Lawyers
The Business Insider
Diversity is important to law firms -- they have diversity advisors and affinity groups for every race/religion and sexual orientation. ...

and more »

San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

LGBT legal groups side with UC on non-discrimination policy
San Diego Gay & Lesbian News
_ Those intent on discriminating based on a particular religion could simply exclude others who engage in religious practices core to that religion. ...

and more »

pride source.com

Ann Arbor Film Festival: 'The Gayest Ever'
pride source.com
"This year we feature a lot of LGBT-themed programs and filmmakers. In fact, you could even say it's likely our gayest year ever! ...

and more »

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From both sides (T12R-5)

Tom@GayTalkRadio.org (Tom) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:32:00 +0000

Times Online

Changing Attitude's Theobabble and Episcopal Bishop Glasspool's Election
Virtue Online
The announcement was barely out in cyber space that the Episcopal Church had elected a second homosexual, in this case a lesbian bishop, ...
Anglican Head Mulls Consequences of Lesbian Bishop ApprovalChristian Post
Unintended consequences of a lesbian bishopOneNewsNow
Confirmation of lesbian as Episcopal bishop causes regret in CanterburyCatholic News Agency
Virtue Online -Virtue Online
all 304 news articles »

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Recent Religious Headlines [T11R-4]

Tom@GayTalkRadio.org (Tom) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 13:43:00 +0000

Teens walk line between parents' faith, angst in new novels from Austin authors

IT was 10 p.m. in Siem Reap, and while most tourists were tucked in after a long, hot day exploring the temples of Angkor, things were just getting going at a bar called Linga. Pairs of European men in their 30s and 40s wearing unbuttoned collared shirts and checkered krama scarves sipped fruity cocktails and jostled for space with the young Khmer crowd, who huddled around small tables in ...

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From both sides (T12R-5)

Tom@GayTalkRadio.org (Tom) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:32:00 +0000

Jamaica's Gay Underground Christians
San Francisco Bay Times
Philbert (not his real name), like many of his Christian LGBT buddies, wait anxiously for the call in order to know the time and place of the van pickup, ...

Human Rights Campaign Hosts Faith and Fairness Town Hall in Greensboro, NC
eNews Park Forest
âWe're working to empower people from across a spectrum of religious traditions to find and utilize their faithful voice for advocacy on behalf of LGBT ...

and more »

San Diego Gay & Lesbian News

LGBT legal groups side with UC on non-discrimination policy
San Diego Gay & Lesbian News
The brief in Christian Legal Society Chapter of University of California, Hastings College of Law v. Martinez (Case No. 08-1371) was prepared by Jon W. ...

and more »

New York Times

By Ancient Ruins, a Gay Haven in Cambodia
New York Times
Homosexual acts are not outlawed in Cambodia, as they are in a few Southeast Asian countries, but outward displays of affection and untraditional lifestyles ...

and more »

Times Online

What is 'Gay' Anyway?
MyFox Illinois (blog)
... "religion" of the world today. In the King James Version of Bible, it says in several places that homosexuality is wrong, possibly even unacceptable. ...

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A Texas Prison Guard and a California Teacher

Tom@GayTalkRadio.org (Tom) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:23:00 +0000

With an odd twist of logic we have a couple stories with some interesting commonalities.

First there is the Texas prison guard. A Dallas County Jail guard, to be exact, who’s been on the job for about 17 years. A sheriff's department review recently concluded 59 year-old Stephen Johnson persisted in volunteering his religious opinions and speaking out against homosexuality.

He was fired for conduct unbecoming an officer and for lying to internal affairs

According to official records Johnson has stated:

· all gays should be annihilated
· denied saying he supported slavery while noting that "slavery is a fact in the Bible."
· "I believe that all dinosaurs were born of Satanic angel who has sex with woman and the animal kingdom that created ungodly reptilian creatures none of these were on the Ark,"
· didn't believe in homosexuality and "that they should be put to death," But his beliefs don't lead him to treat gays differently

Johnson was suspended for three days and given 90 days of probation in 2000 for using a derogatory word about minorities while talking to several inmates he was searching.

Like most County Jails the Dallas County Jail falls under the authority of the County Sheriff’s office. In Dallas County, Texas the Sheriff is a Lesbian. She has been working hard to teach tolerance.

Link: http://cbs11tv.com/local/Dallas.Jail.Guard.2.1564992.html

The second story takes place in California. Fresno, California, at the Fresno City College.

A teacher at Fresno City College, Bradley Lopez, teaches an Introductory Health Science course at Fresno City College.

Two students recently complained to school officials. No action was taken. The students have contacted the ACLU.

The students claim Lopez is giving lectures teaching that being gay is a “biological misapplication of human sexuality” and said that the “recommended treatment” is “psychological counseling” or “hormone supplements.” He presented gay men and lesbians as a threat to society, used Bible passages as “empirical” evidence that life begins at conception, and asserted that abortion is “the leading cause of death in this country.”

Lopez, however, adamantly denied he made such statements, repeatedly answering, “No, I did not” to reporter's questions.

The teacher claims his use of the Bible or religious views were intended to stir critical thinking.

Obviously, they don’t have a lesbian in the administration department at Fresno City College.

The last time I looked the APA classifies and documents all mental illnesses in the USA, not Mr. Lopez. The APA removed homosexuality from the list (DSM) in 1973. Homosexuality is not a mental illness in the USA and has not been for the last 37 years. Worldwide, many prominent Professional Medical Organizations agree with the APA.

Mr. Lopez reminds me of Sgt. Schultz from the tv series Hogan’s Hero’s; “I know nothing, I see nothing”.

Link: http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=5323&MediaType=1&Category=26

Video link: http://www.ksee24.com/news/local/88293592.html

http://www.gaytalkradio.org/ a 24/7 LGBTQIA Independent Internet Radio Station. Visit, Listen, Support and become involved.

Headlines: Separation of Church and State (T23R-2)

Tom@GayTalkRadio.org (Tom) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:37:00 +0000

Washington Post

Editorial: Flap over troops obscured real issue
Minneapolis Star Tribune
Separation of Church & State! I'll eagerly look forward to Katherine Kersten railing against his use of public money for religious ends, ala TIZA. ...

and more »

Economist

Nutbags take over education
The Keystone
No American ideal was left untouched, including Thomas Jefferson's great contribution of the idea of âseparation of church and state,â which conservatives ...
Curriculum overhaul distorts historyThe Bona Venture
Texas and its history mess--deja vu all over againWashington Post (blog)
Classroom conflict as Texas rewrites textbooksFinancial Times
NewsBlaze -Rowlett Lakeshore Times -Dallas Morning News (blog)
all 169 news articles »

St. Joseph Answers Speaker Pelosi's Prayer
Canada Free Press
Demonstrating that the âseparation of Church and Stateâ is not absolute when it comes to progressive ideas, ...

and more »

News & Notes
Albany Times Union
The curriculum downplays questions the separation of church and state and says that the US government was infiltrated by communists during the Cold War. ...

and more »

New Zealand Herald

Texas Textbooks:Separate Church and State?
FOXNews (blog)
What did the founding fathers really mean when they talked about the separation of church and state? That's the question sparking heated debate in Austin ...
Texas education board refuses to require religious-freedom lessonDallas Morning News
Textbooks a Texas Dentist Could LoveNew York Times (blog)
Texas ed board debates race in history classesMontgomery County Courier
Ethiopian Review -Austin American-Statesman -Texas Tribune (blog)
all 822 news articles »