Resolution 8A:
– legitimises witch-hunts against gay clergy;
– can be used to exclude gay people from Communion;
– demeans the relationships of re-married divorcees, Continue reading Resolution 8A – it’s anti-Gay – @churchofireland @8aNoWay #anglican #lgbt
The final paragraph of Resolution 8A at the General Synod in Dublin this week is the most nasty of all. For it is the one that will legitimise witch-hunts against gay clergy; it is the one that will allow gay people to be excluded from Holy Communion; and it demeans the relationships of remarried divorcees. Continue reading LGBT Churchpeople still not being listened to: #8aNoWay @churchofireland
Once again, Northern Ireland lags behind progress in the rest of the United Kingdom. The health minister at Stormont, Edwin Poots MLA of the DUP has said that he will not be rushed on lifting the ban on gay men giving blood. Last October, he was quizzed by the health committee in the Northern Ireland Assembly and told them, I am not going to be rushed, pushed or harassed on an issue that is about public safety The Minister continued to state his position: We are not west Brits here: we are Northern Ireland, and we are a devolved Administration. … Continue reading Dispicable blood ban must be lifted in Northern Ireland
Same-sex marriage would eliminate entirely in law the basic idea of a mother and a father for every child. It would create a society which deliberately chooses to deprive a child of either a mother or a father.—His Eminence Keith Cardinal O’Brien in The Sunday Telegraph As a gay man, and a Christian, it really disheartens me to read what His Eminence has written it seems that he has not actually put much thought into what he is writing, and is reacting rather angrily to proposals that could see an end to discrimination. As I understand it, none of the … Continue reading The Cardinal should be thinking about Covenants not worrying about civil marriages
I am surprised that it has taken so long for the horrible truth to be exposed to us here in Ireland about the man the evangelicals of the Anglican Church in the Provinces of Armagh and Dublin seem to hold as a supporter. That man is a rather radical cleric in the Province of Canterbury. Thanks to Gerry Lynch, the support given by this cleric to some rather unsavoury views expounded by a well known fundamentalist has been made clear for all to see. It is more than slightly disturbing to read that the radical cleric is a bishop of … Continue reading Does Harold Miller also support marital rape?
Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?John L. Bell & Graham Maule
This verse was sung at our Covenant of Commitment in All Souls’ Church in Belfast by a large congregation back in May last year. I wonder what many people thought it meant. Continue reading “The core issue: will you kiss the leper clean?”
Every year, at about this time, I read the list of people upon whom HM The Queen has been pleased to bestow honours. For many years, I have hoped to see the name of one particular person among them. This morning, that hope of mine has been realised.
Jeffrey Edward Anthony DUDGEON. For services to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community in Northern Ireland. Continue reading “Jeff Dudgeon MBE”
I am so glad that I am lucky enough to still be in touch with my family. I know that I am one of the lucky ones. Others, like Lee, are not so lucky. I hope that all families will remember and love all their children for the people that they are – and not try to make them what they are not. Lee McCracken, a young lad from Belfast that I met during Belfast Pride 2011, has recorded a Christmas message to his family. As Lee says, Its been almost a year since my family decided to cut me … Continue reading A time for families to remember all their loved ones
That’s the question we should all be asking of the man in charge of Education in England (and Cornwall), for according to Julie Henry, Education Correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph, HM Secretary of State for the Education, The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, has issued guidance that all Free Schools and Academies must teach the importance of marriage. Continue reading “Please Sir, how do you define marriage?”
It is coming up to Christmas and so it is the time for many places to have Christmas Fairs. Outside Belfast City Hall, for instance, is a Christmas Continental Market. Last weekend there was a Christmas Craft Fair at All Souls’ Church in Elmwood Avenue. Today was the turn of Belfast’s LGBT Centre.
There were stands from a wide variety of people and organisations including trade unions, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Belfast Pride, Cara-Friend, Belfast Front Runners, as well as many more. Many people from QueerSpace were on hand Continue reading “first Saturday in Advent… Christmas approaches”
Gyronny Herald 