Homosexualit Dans Le Christianisme

According to historian John Boswell , in the heyday of the Roman Empire , the situation of homosexuals were quite favorable, "their contemporaries did not regard as harmful to their inclinations, bizarre, immoral or dangerous, so they were fully integrated into the life and Roman civilization " . Until the ^fourth century included, the sources point out that most men, including all the Roman emperors, were openly bisexual . Boswell adds that "homosexual marriages (...) were common and perfectly legal in the upper classes . However, it seems that the adoption of Christianity as state religion during the ^fourth century did, homosexual practices, a crime. According to Eric Stemmelen, "the affirmation of a maniacal hatred against homosexuality will at all times, a feature of the political and moral of Christianity" .

Bust of Roman Emperor Constant. Marble, second third of ^fourth century.

Indeed, the 4 December 342 , the Roman emperors Constantine II and ^I. Constant decreed in their edict on adultery, the punishment of every man, declared "infamous", who would marry a woman . This sentence seems to contrast with the fact that ^I. Constant himself was notoriously gay . This edict was followed by the Act of 14 May 390 emperors Theodosius ^I , Valentinian II and Arcadius, who condemned homosexuals liabilities to the death by fire, before the mob gathered. What horrifies in this text, the legislature, is that a man had abandoned the enjoyment of such manly to deliver his body to the female passivity .

Later, in the ^sixth century AD, previously regarded as a crime against the dignity, homosexuality became a crime against the natural order established by God. Indeed, in 538 the Christian emperor Justinian published the first of its cons people persevering in homosexual acts (those who "commit ), that he condemned, along with blasphemers to be arrested and subjected to "the last punishments." To 542 in year 15 of his reign, Justinian ordered to cut the genitals of two bishops, Isaiah, bishop of Rhodes, and Alexander, bishop of Diospolis present in Constantinople and, according to Michael the Syrian , "delivered at the impurity sodomites. " They were then paraded through the city, their amputated limbs borne on spears. Justinian took the opportunity to establish "in the name of God, the law that anyone would be surprised to bed with a male, would cut the private parts." Michael the Syrian said, in his column that "the fear reigned throughout the empire" . The same Christian Emperor repeated his conviction on 15 March 543 , during a major plague epidemic spread to Constantinople . He introduced, on this occasion, illustrating the major themes of the sodomy conviction, themes and arguments that will be taken during the time of the Christian era: Wrath of God manifested by the destruction of Sodom, necessary fear of God and respect its laws, anti-natural character of homosexual acts, foreign "to the animals themselves," Application of penance, punishment and threat of spiritual and temporal . The Visigothorum Lex (law of the Visigoths , 644 AD.) transpose later for Spain , the emasculation of the sodomites, adding incarceration in a cell ^, .

However, it was only towards the XIII ^century, as Boswell points out that the repression of homosexuality is really made to feel as part of the fight against all forms of deviance: heretics, the poor infidels ... The homosexuality, considered in connection with the heresy was combated, including by the Inquisition , under the name of buggery , conversely, some heretics, like the Cathars , were accused of buggery, under the pretext that their preachers of the same sex , traveling in pairs. On the other hand, the writer and journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud says that the greatest number of convictions for sodomy or pederasty were actually cases of pedophilia . The fight against homosexuality in France in the eighteenth ^century became, increasingly, through police repression. Convictions do pyre concernrent few people some of whom were also accused of other crimes. It is, finally, in 1790 , the crime of sodomy was abolished by the French Revolution and the separation of church and state. Homosexuality between consenting adults was no longer suppressed in France, until today.

Homosexuality in Latin Christian sources

Christian Bible, the Fathers, Doctors and theologians of the Latin Church, laws and ecclesiastical discipline Latin Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Pontiffs.

The current debate in the Christian Churches

There existed, according to historian John Boswell , and religious rites accompanying the , transcribed adelphopoiia (adoption as the spiritual brother or sister) in the Latin Church until the ^thirteenth century and later the Eastern Churches yet. Boswell proposes to appoint these links "unions of same-sex" and considers this union similar to marriage, including on a sexual level. These blessings of pairs of men and women were performed following the model of pairs of saints like St. Serge and St. Bacchus , for men. Several authors have criticized this research. They stress the fact that all available documents indicate a spiritual link, not carnal. Historian Brent Shaw has accused Boswell to ignore the recent studies on the rite of adelphopoiia . Similar assertions were made about the contracts and rites affrrement West.

Nevertheless, and despite a long tradition and strong condemnation of predominant homosexuality in Christianity, some churches are now opening up to other doctrinal positions and welcoming homosexuals.

The UFMCC, an ecumenical church and gay friendly

Baptism of a child in an MCC, 24 August 2008.

The Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC, literally "Urban Community Churches, officially, in French," ecumenical Christian Churches ), collected in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC, "International Federation of Christian Churches ecumenical" ), whose members are predominantly gay , originate in the first church founded in Los Angeles in 1968 by Reverend Troy Perry , before the Stonewall riots of 1969 and celebrations and gay pride parades and lesbian . Troy Perry, a former minister of the Church Pentecostal Church of God of Prophecy , aware of his homosexual orientation and suffering from social stigma attached to him, considered that the only solution was to build a Church dedicated to spiritual support and religious formation of gay and lesbian community . It was in his living room that was held the first service of this new Church, 16 October 1968 , a service that brings together eleven men and one woman (original Catholic, Protestant or Jewish, one heterosexual couple). The movement grew to such an extent that on 7 March 1971 , the service of dedication of the new building purchased outright by the Church, gathered 1,012 people . On 28 June 1970 , Troy Perry and his two friends, Morris Kight and Rev. Bob Humphries, founded the Christopher Street West (the street name of New York which took place the famous Stonewall Rebellion), the first parade and celebration of gay and lesbian pride . The MCC accounted, in 2003, over 300 churches worldwide, and more than 40,000 members in 18 countries . They also formed the birthplace of dozens of organizations for gays and lesbians or social justice projects . The MCC asked in 1990 to become a member of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA (National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA) , ecumenical partnership of churches. They also compared the union of several same-sex couples during Gay / lesbian / bisexual Pride of New York in 1994 , march to commemorate the ^25th anniversary of Stonewall . The MCC has, in 2010, four branches in France: Lille, Paris, Montpellier and Toulouse .

Catholic Churches

The Roman Catholic Church

His doctrine

Traditional

The manuals of moral theology traditional Catholic distinguish the sin of sodomy in two ways: sodomy perfect when it comes to sexual relations between persons of same-sex sodomy imperfect, when the intercourse of two persons of opposite sex opposite takes place in a body part other than the female (going indebitus "undue vase"). This sin against nature is presented in the wider context of sins of lust or sin of impurity consumed : the fornication single (sexual relationship between two people of opposite sexes, willing and free of all bond of marriage, religious vows or promise of celibacy), the statutory rape (consensual deflowering of a virgin), the abduction (removal of a non-consent for sexual purposes), the incest (sexual intercourse between persons related by of consanguinity or affinity to some degree prohibited by the Church), the profane (a situation where either of things or sacred places are consecrated persons are abused for sexual purposes), the adultery ( sexual relationship with a single male with a married woman - the first adultery - a single woman with a married man - second adultery - a married man with a wife - adultery third), bestiality (acts of bestiality , relationship sex of a human being and an animal, considered the worst sin of lust), pollution or softness ( masturbation is to say the emission of semen outside the context of a sexual relationship with another person).

Always from the perspective of the traditional doctrine, Summary of Christian Doctrine or Large Catechism published under the pontificate of Pope Pius X in 1905 , ranks among the sin of sodomy "four sins which are said to cry for vengeance before the face of God ": 1. the murder 2. impure sin against the order of nature, 3. oppression of the poor 4. denial of wages to workers. "They say that these sins cry for vengeance before God's face, because the Holy Spirit says, and because their iniquity is so serious and so obvious that it provokes God to punish the most severe punishment ".

On 16 March 1962 , the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office , now Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , issued a statement titled Crimen sollicitationis , addressed to "all patriarchs, archbishops, bishops and other local ordinaries, including Rite East, "and signed by its Secretary, Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani. This instruction sets out the procedure in cases where clergy are accused of having used the confession to sacramental sexual advances to penitents faithful. She spends a title, the ^5th, "pessimo of criminality," the "most serious crime" is defined as any external obscene, gravely sinful, perpetrated or attempted in any way by a cleric on a person of their own sex (. 71) . This clerk, if he happens to be accused before the local Ordinary (that is to say the superior ecclesiastical authority in charge) should be punished like any other cleric convicted of the crime of solicitation, "the obligation to report imposed by positive law of the Church "only applies if the" crimen pessimum "is" linked to the crime of solicitation , or with animals - bestiality (. 73).

Current

Pope John Paul II at the beginning of his pontificate.

However, the doctrinal expression of the Roman Catholic Church has evolved since the mid-1970s. Thus the Catechism of the Catholic Church Roman , published under the pontificate of Pope John Paul II in 1992 , and reprinted in its final form in 1997 , noted that homosexuals should be "accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. However, homosexual acts are considered "serious depravity," acts "intrinsically disordered", "contrary to natural law." They "close the sexual act to the gift of life," "do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity." It is, however, asked Catholics to avoid "any sign of unjust discrimination" against homosexuals. This formulation suggests that discrimination may just be legitimate. Homosexuals are called to chastity (that is, within the framework of celibacy, continence ), to carry out the will of God, the union of all their problems "to sacrifice Cross "on" Christian Perfection ", by means of self-control, the possible support of a" disinterested friendship, prayer and grace of the sacraments.

"2357: Homosexuality refers to relations between men or women who experience a sexual attraction exclusively or predominantly to people of the same sex. It is very variable forms through the centuries and cultures. Its psychological genesis remains largely unexplained. Based on Sacred Scripture, which presents them as grave depravity (cf. Gn 19, 1-29, Romans 1, 24-27, 1 Cor 6, 10, 1 Tim 1, 10), tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered" (CDF, decl. "Persona Humana" 8). They are contrary to natural law. They close the sexual act to the gift of life. They do not proceed from a genuine affective and sexual complementarity. They can not receive approval in any case.

2358: A significant number of men and women present-seated homosexual tendencies. This inclination, objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Avoid them at any sign of unjust discrimination. These people are called to fulfill God's will in their lives, and if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition.

2359: Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of mastery, teachers of inner freedom, sometimes by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should be closer, gradually and resolutely Christian perfection. "

The distinction drawn now Magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church between homosexual acts and homosexual persons has been exposed for the first time in the declaration of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Persona Humana. On some issues of sexual morality, signed by Cardinal Franjo Seper, dated December 29, 1975:

"According to the objective moral order, homosexual relations are acts devoid of their essential and indispensable rule. They are condemned in Holy Scripture, as a serious depravity and even presented as the sad consequence of rejecting God. The ruling of Scripture does not suggest that all those who suffer from this anomaly are personally responsible, but it declares that homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered and can not under any circumstances receive any approval . "

This position was repeated by Pope John Paul II in documents Homosexualitatis Problema (Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, October ^1, 1986 ) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1992.

Like all other baptized in a church, the Catholic faithful are called to chastity. According to the Catechism , chastity is a moral virtue, but also a grace, a gift from God. It is "the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual." Therefore, any faithful Catholic must live by the chastity in his particular state of life: celibate, celibacy, religious life, marriage. Engaged couples are called to chaste sexual continence. Fornication, "carnal intercourse outside of marriage between a man and a woman free" is considered an offense against chastity. We must therefore conclude that any person not bound by the sacrament of marriage is to live, if he wants to be chaste in sexual continence. This applies, naturally, for homosexual persons can not marry sacramentally, if not with people of the opposite sex.

The interventions of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Pope Benedict XVI during his meeting with President Lula Da Silva at the Palcio dos Bandeirantes, So Paulo, Brazil, May 10, 2007.

In the document Homosexualities Problema or Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons he signed on ¹ October 1986 as prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , the Cardinal Ratzinger , the future Pope Benedict XVI, has a doctrinal focus on the theme of homosexuality. He recalled the moral doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church "based on human reason illumined by faith and guided by consciously intend to do the will of God our Father" . If, after the declaration of December 1975, "the homosexual condition has resulted in excessively benevolent interpretations, some up to call it indifferent or even good , "the letter said that" although is not in itself a sin, the particular inclination of the homosexual person is still a tendency, more or less strong, to conduct intrinsically bad from the moral standpoint. That's why the inclination itself must be considered objectively disordered . "The ministry of bishops will ensure that homosexuals" do . "

The letter denounces the attempts within the Roman Catholic Church to "meet under the aegis of Catholicism homosexual persons who have no intention of abandoning their homosexual behavior "and within civil society, manipulate "the church for support, often well intentioned, its pastors for a change of norms of civil legislation . She condemns the fact that "homosexual persons have been and are still being malicious expressions and violent acts . But the Church "firmly maintains (...) on that position clear, which can not be changed under pressure from civil legislation or the current fashion . She asserts that "the view that homosexuality is equivalent to sexual expression of conjugal love as acceptable or it has a direct impact on the design that the company and the nature of human family, and puts them in serious danger . "Finally, the letter calls for removing" any support to organizations that seek to undermine the doctrine of the Church who are ambivalent to it or neglect it completely . "

On 24 July 1992 , a new document is published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, under the signature of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger same: Some considerations Regarding The Response to Legislative Proposals on the Non-discrimination of homosexual persons, "Considerations response , at the American Roman Catholic bishops. The letter states that "sexual orientation does not constitute a quality comparable to race, ethnicity, etc.. "It is rather" an objective disorder and is a moral issue. " Furthermore, the quality of what sexual orientation is known to all that if the person identifies herself or shows its orientation behavior explicit.

Finally, 3 June 2003 , the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , with the signing of the cardinal, publish a final document, "Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons" "in which she asserts that "the common good requires that laws recognize, promote and protect marriage as the foundation of the family, the primary unit of society. Legal recognition of homosexual unions or same level as marriage would mean not only the approval of deviant behavior, and therefore as a model in today's society, but would also obscure basic values which belong to the common heritage of mankind ". This is opposed to this policy, by moral considerations which are several orders: the order of right reason, the biological and anthropological, social order and the order jur ide.

Statements by Roman Catholic bishops in Europe

In November 2005 , on the radio channel Radio Vatican , to mark the release of the document of the Congregation for Catholic Education refusing the ordination of gay priests considered .

In addition, in the Osservatore Romano , newspaper of the Holy See, ^Monsignor Tony Anatrella , who himself participated in drafting the document on the non-ordination of gay priests, thought homosexuality "as .

Regarding the issue of gay parenting , the Roman Catholic Church recalls, according to ^Monsignor Jean-Louis Brugues, bishop of Angers, mandated to France in 2006 to reflect on the different structures of society that it "can not forget the painful issue of parentage and, consequently, his right to be recognized and raised by parents of different sex . "It seems dangerous that society organizes a denial by suggesting that children may have same-sex parents. The man is from the difference, starting with sexual difference. ^"Bishop Dubost, bishop of Evry-Corbeil-Essonnes, had also said in June 2006 , that "the question is which is essential for the happiness of mankind, and for the children in particular. (...) There will never be right "to" the child, only rights "of" the child. And among those rights, they have a story written in a genealogy, of who is his father and mother, to have access to one as the other ... Now, in favoring the liberty of parents , we obtain a fragility to the child . "

The Roman Catholic Church believes that this problem is serious enough to deny communion to Catholic politicians who support the LGBT marriage. She stated that they exclude themselves from the Church's teaching .

On the other hand, ^BishopAndrew Joseph Leonard , archbishop of Malines-Brussels, Primate of Belgium , declared in April 2007 , he followed the position of physician and psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud on homosexuality: "c is an imperfectly developed stage of human sexuality which contradicts its inner logic. Homosexuals have encountered a blockage in their normal psychological development, which makes them abnormal ' . Young people attracted to homosexuality should be helped to move beyond this stage, they may no longer be able to do now, because heterosexuality, homosexuality and bisexuality would be placed on the same plane . As for gay Christians finally, they are, according to Roman Catholic doctrine, called to live in chastity . To ^Monsignor Leonard, the glorification of homosexuality is a sign of moral decline reflecting a return to ancient Greco-Roman. Christianity which teaches that "the fundamental unit of society is the union of one man and one woman and the ensuing family" would have to exceed this historic moment, according to a dynamic progress . Regarding the sex parenting , the Bishop of Namur said the irresponsibility of people deprived of benchmarks for children in need, he said, a father and a mother . Following this interview, the prelate said the Belgian, in the two releases of 4 and 5 April 2007, he did not think using the word "abnormal" to describe a homosexual. It would, he said, distinguish the behavior and the person. The Mosquito TV broadcast journalist while the soundtrack where you hear the bishop speak of "abnormality. This recording "happily confirms my position," says ^Bishop Leonard . But the Belgian association of gay rights " What These "filed a complaint at the Centre for Equal Opportunities and the fight against racism , and incitement to homophobic violence against gays and lesbians . Finally, on 4 June 2008 , the council chamber of Namur gave a non-suit, saying the bishop had not instigated sex discrimination, even if his comments were actually likely to hurt the gay community . In January 2010 , on the set of the show controversy, the television channel RTL-TVI, ^Bishop Leonard, always with the aim to illustrate the hypothesis that the normal development of sexuality is heterosexual, compared the homosexuality to anorexia : "Anorexia is a development which is outside the logic of appetite, but I would never say that anorexics are abnormal ' .

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone , Secretary of State of Pope Benedict XVI.

Finally, near the Roman Curia , Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone , Secretary of State of Pope Benedict XVI said on 12 April 2010 , at a press conference in Santiago , Chile, that: "Many psychologists and psychiatrists demonstrated that there was no connection between celibacy and pedophilia and many others, I was told recently that there was a relationship between homosexuality and pedophilia. (...) This disease affects all classes of people, and priests to a lesser extent if you look at the percentages . Two days later, on 14 April 2010 , the director of the press room of the Vatican, Vatican Radio and Vatican Television Center , Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi , assured that Cardinal Bertone is "obviously referring to the problem of abuse committed within the clergy and not to those committed in the whole population. (...) The church authorities do not consider their competence to make medical or psychological claims, which are education specialists and ongoing research on the subject . Father Lombardi said the Vatican that a statistical study, published in March 2010 on "abuse of minors by priests that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has been confronted in recent years," distinguishes between "case of pedophilia in the strict sense "(10% of cases) and" if need be defined rather as part of the ephebophilia . In these cases represent 90% of the total, 60% refers to individuals of the same sex and 30% in reports of heterosexual nature. Finally, again in April 2010, Richard Fitzgibbons, an expert psychiatrist specializes in the treatment of priests who committed abuse against children, said the Secretary of State had reason to link pedophilia and homosexuality . "The statements of Cardinal Bertone rely entirely on the report John Jay and clinical experience . In fact, all the priests that I treated who were involved in sexual relationships with minors, were also actors in the past, homosexual adults. " Since 1988 , Fitzgibbons, was director of the Comprehensive Counseling Center in West Conshohocken in Pennsylvania (USA) and was, in April 2010, consultant to the Congregation for the Clergy. In a document he sent to Roman Catholic bishops in 2002 , he explained that the priests, having such problems, were able to experience "a profound emotional pain" in their childhood, a problematic relationship with their father, the rejection of their peers, lack of male confidence and low self-esteem . They then head, according to Fitzgibbons, their grief and bitterness against the Church, its teachings on sexual morality and the Magisterium and refuse to consider sin in their lives. Fitzgibbons, asked about the new data have emerged since the publication of this document, highlighted the problem of narcissism : "This epidemic in the West weak personalities predispose individuals to excessive anger, self-adoration, to rebellion against God and the Church, especially regarding sexual morality " .

The question of the ordination of gay Catholic priests

When a man wants to become a priest of the Roman Catholic Church, if he accepts fully the state of celibacy, and is called by his bishop, nothing, on the doctrinal level, is no impediment to ordination unless it is recognized that a homosexual orientation. Indeed, the 4 November 2005 , was published a document from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, signed by its prefect, Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski , entitled Instruction of the Congregation for Catholic Education on the criteria of discernment Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders. This statement recommends to deny ordination not only to seminarians (students for the priesthood) with homosexual practices, but also to those who have "deeply rooted homosexual tendencies" or who simply support "gay culture". The statement calls, therefore, a period of two years of driving "without fault". This probationary period is required by the need to experience the reality and permanence of the commitment to celibacy, to be taken forever. It is generally applicable to all seminarians. It is recalled here, in the case of persons who have had homosexual practices but without any deep homosexual tendencies, and it also relates to the seminarians who have previously experienced a period of cohabitation. For men with exclusively homosexual orientation to sexuality, however, the document recommends not allow them to enter the priesthood.

Movements homosexuals original Roman Catholic

The movement "Courage"

" Courage "is an apostolic work of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims to support people" attracted to same-sex " . This is the only organization of its type recognized by the Holy Roman Catholic.

The movement began in the United States at the request of Cardinal Terence Cooke, Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York in the late 1970s and rapidly became established in the Anglophone countries. The goal is to help people with homosexual tendencies to live the universal call to holiness to follow Christ, in accordance with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and especially by the practice of chastity. The development of spiritual life, attendance at the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation, the life of prayer, mutual encouragement with a space for dialogue and the birth of chaste friendships are the main means proposed by "Courage" for those who wish to live in fidelity to Christ . French branch of " Courage , "called" Catho-Homo-Courage " , was born in September 2010.

The movement "David and Jonathan"

On 15 December 1971 , a roundtable meets Street Water Tower in Paris, France , on "Christianity and homophily. It was organized by a former member of homophilic " Arcadia , of Mr. Gerald, "said Mallow. The fifteen participants decided to meet in January 1972. This new meeting was the starting point of the association "Christianity and homophily" much of which consisted of members of Catholic homophilic. The association will be legally incorporated in November 1983 . But various groups met, therefore, in Paris and the French regions . Their goal is to get recognition and full inclusion in the Church . At the congress of "Arcadia" in 1979 , this goal was, moreover, defended by a motion of homophilic Catholics . This association was defending himself from being a Gay Church, a homosexual, published a mimeographed periodical entitled David and Jonathan . The first of these reports stated: "We reject any a priori formal sin regarding homophily ... Impulses beyond our control and they come from God, our Creator " . The movement of gay Catholics is reinforced by the book of religious Catholic priest Jesuit John MacNeill and U.S. , The Church & the Homosexual , published in 1976. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith asked, two years later, Father Arruppe, then Superior General of the Society of Jesus, to remove the imprimatur given to the first edition (in order to prevent further reprinting) of John MacNeill prohibit making lecture tours on the issue of homosexuality, or tours designed to publicize his book . Mac Neill, in some people, homosexuality is not dominant they are responsible; homosexual exists thanks to the divine will and must therefore participate in the construction of society and can also teach the value of interpersonal relationships outside of procreation, two homosexuals are perfectly capable of living a real love in a stable relationship, a situation that brings them closer to God and the constitution of the faith communities of gay men who seek to establish a dialogue with the Church must be recognized as God's work . The problem faced by MacNeill is that these assumptions directly opposed to the traditional doctrine of moral theologians that hinged on three points: homosexuality is a sin, homosexuals have no place in the human community; practices homosexuals are "humanly destructive" . Some of the arguments made by MacNeill is also reflected in the manifesto of the Association of American Catholics "Dignity" ("Dignity, 1969)). It is this association that refers the French group "Christianity and homophily," now better known under the name of its periodic David and Jonathan .

It should be noted that other Protestant Christian churches have raised an equivalent association: "Integrity" ("Integrity", 1974), for Anglicans , "Lutherans Concerned" ("Lutherans involved," 1974), for Lutherans "Affirmation" ("Affirmation", 1975), for United Methodists (United Methodist), the "Brethren / Mennonite Council for Lesbian / Gay Concerns" ("Council of Brethren / Mennonite business for gays and lesbians," 1976) for Mennonites , etc. .

The "Communion Bethany"

The Communion Bethany "France is a" communion of alliance contemplative, serving people and transgender homosensibles in connection with the monasteries " . It is located in the radiation of Mary Magdalene , the repentant sinner from the Gospels. After the Roman Catholic Church, the Communion "wants to be open to people of all Christian denominations." The commitment to her breast in the form of a vow of charity that has three dimensions: prayer and intercession, hospitality and listening, dialogue and reflection. The goal is to move gradually from mono-cultural church with a multi-cultural church that would also "built by those who believed themselves excluded.

The Communion Bethany "and" David and Jonathan "belong also to the" Crossroads Christian inclusive (ICC), "network of communities and Christian groups, characterized by a positive reception of homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender . The main activity of this network is to organize an annual retreat for 7 years. In 2007 , ITC has adopted a charter, "we are inclusive," "we are Christians," "we are a crossroads" . The network wants to be carrying a specific word and a positive attitude vis--vis those " lesbians , gay , bisexual and transgender ( LGBT ). In addition to "David and Jonathan and the" Communion Bethany "ITC gathers the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC Ecumenical Christian Church in French) Montpellier , the association "Meet Christian" Lille , open to LGBT people and their relatives, the "green house" in Paris ^(18th arrondissement) Protestant Parish inclusive of popular Evangelical Mission (near the Reformed Church of France and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of France ) and self-help center and solidarity , the group 'LGBT Christians 31 "of Toulouse , and the group "C + H (Chretien (ne) s and homosexual (the) s)" and Geneva (Switzerland) .

The "Community of Christ Liberator

The "Community of Christ liberator - a group of Christians, gays and lesbians" is a non-profit association (ASBL) Belgian who "wants community of gay people and lesbians who, in communion with Christ and adherence to the Gospels, want to walk together (...), achieving a positive awareness of self in peace of heart and joy of the body . Association argues that homosexuality is neither free choice nor a disease. Community of Christ Liberator was covered in 1994 as a non-profit organization, having worked as a de facto association for twenty years and published a "Letter" Quarterly .

The Old Catholic Church

The Old Catholic Church or International Catholic Union of Utrecht includes the heirs of the Jansenist Church of Utrecht, and since 1870, the heirs of Catholics who reject the dogma of papal infallibility and the doctrine of universal jurisdiction the bishop of Rome. The Church defends liberal positions and accept the blessings of homosexual couples. In 1996 the Dutch Old Catholic Church said a blessing relationships between same sex was possible, but not yet granted the right to marry . Indeed, marriage is, according to the Old Catholics, a sacrament . But by 2002, a report of this same church was advised to initiate discussions about marriage .

The Catholic Church Eucharistic

Around 1944 , a bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church, John Augustine Kazantks, protested against the removal of several priests from other dioceses than his own, under the pretext that they were "sodomites" . Thereafter he said, during a regional synod, without having broken his vows of celibacy, he enjoyed "a sexual and emotional . ^Mgr Kazantks arrived in the United States in 1946 and moved to Atlanta (Georgia), where he met George Hyde, a former Roman Catholic seminarian, both are professors of Public Schools . At that time, the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, a confrontation took place half a dozen men and women and their priest. The latter refused, in fact, communion, to those who did not recognize in faith that their gay lifestyle were an "abomination" to God . Therefore, ^Bishop and George Hyde Kazantks thought fit, in July 1946 , to found a new ecclesial entity, and The Catholic Apostolic Church in America ("The Catholic and Apostolic Church in America"), the first parish would be known the Blessed Sacrament (Holy Sacrament ") . In order not to compete with other Roman Catholic parishes bearing the same name, the parish was finally called Holy Eucharistic Parish ("Parish of the Holy Eucharist") . Over time, the use gave the name of Eucharistic Catholic Church (Eucharistic Catholic Church) . George Hyde was ordained priest on ¹ July 1946 under the authority of ^Bishop Kazantks who eventually returned and died in Greece in 1957 . Shortly before his departure, he put in contact with George Hyde ^Monsignor John Cyril Sherwood Clement (1895 - 1969), Archbishop of the Orthodox Catholic Church of America ("Orthodox Catholic Church of America") was consecrated bishop that same church on 7 May 1957 . George Hyde to be the successor of ^Bishop Kazantks, however, continued his work in the Eucharistic Catholic Church, a work which declined thereafter. But in 1969 , Robert Mary Clement wished to establish a special ministry to serve the gay community. So in May, with the support of ^Bishop Hyde, he revived the action of the Eucharistic Catholic Church in conjunction with the American Orthodox Church of the United States (Western Orthodox) ("American Orthodox Church of USA (Orthodox West) ") and later with the American Catholic Church (" American Catholic Church "). In 1970 , the Church of the Beloved Disciple ("Church of the beloved disciple") opened its doors in the New York neighborhood of Greenwich Village and soon developed a congregation extended . In 1986 the bishops of the Eucharistic Catholic Church, Clement John Cyril Sherwood NNSS and John Darcy Noble, life partners since 1959 , left for California , prompting the end of the activity of the Church of the Beloved Disciple and handed the Eucharistic Catholic Church in sleep . On 28 March 2004 , Archbishop Primate Clement gave permission to ^Bishop Darrel D. Hockley, Bishop of Regina (the provincial capital of Saskatchewan, Canada), wake the activities of the Eucharistic Catholic Church in Canada, which was done in July 2004 in Vancouver . His successor is ^Bishop Roger Larade, a former Jesuit priest, Roman Catholic, founder of the Order of Franciscans Of The Annunciation of the Infinite Love of God ("Order of Franciscans of the Annunciation of the Infinite Love of God") and ordered on 10 December 2005 in Washington DC United States . According to him, "the Eucharistic Catholic Church, whose origins . Larade ^Bishop and her husband Marc, after twelve years together, were married in the summer of 2003 through the legal recognition by the Canadian province the Ontario , marriages of same sex .

Orthodox Churches

Cyril ^I., Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia and Benedict XVI, Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Orthodox Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II said at the meeting of the Council of Europe in October 2007 that "the Russian Orthodox Church feels love and compassion for the sinner but not for his sins. Such is the moral teaching of the Bible. The sin is adultery, infidelity, sex and all irresponsible acts that alter the consciousness of man. (...) If some engage in propaganda in favor of homosexuality, it is the duty of the Church to say what is good because homosexuality is a disease that changes the personality of man. This is not one of those diseases which we can speak with detachment as kleptomania, for example. (...) These beliefs should not lead to any discrimination " . His successor, Patriarch Cyril ^I. , during a trip to Ukraine in July 2010 , expressed the shared vision of Pope Benedict XVI on many current issues, especially moral issues and church. Regarding homosexuality, he noted that "the Word of God is distorted to match the standard liberal secularist. It is written very clearly that it is a sin .

On 17 March 2008 , the 13 standing committee members of the Orthodox Church of Greece declared that the bill of civil matrimony, proposed by the Greek government, would be a "catastrophic bomb" lodged in the very foundations of society Greek, undermining marriage and family life . The Synod affirmed, from the Church of Greece, "The Church accepts and blesses the established wedding traditions as Orthodox, and considers any other type of relationship as similar to prostitution."

In his paper on "Marriage, family, sexuality and the sanctity of life , the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in the United States declared in July 1992 that "homosexuality should be seen as the result of the rebellion of humanity against God, and therefore against his own nature and his own well-being. It should not be considered as a way of living and acting for men and women made in the image and likeness of God. Men and women with homosexual feelings and emotions must be treated with understanding, acceptance, love, justice and mercy due to all human beings. (...) The people .

For the Coptic Orthodox Church , according to the Bible, tradition and the Coptic creed, homosexuality is a sin and God condemns them . Father Mikhail (USA) argues that sexual orientation has a predisposition dating from early childhood, is acquired and is a choice . "A homosexual person is deluding himself if he thinks he can practice that lifestyle and go to heaven. Homosexuality is a sin and homosexual person who wants to heal should recognize it as such and repent " .

Anglican Communion

In 1978 , the conference in Lambeth , which brings together all the bishops of the Anglican Communion every ten years, encouraged the study of the homosexual question: "While we reaffirm heterosexuality as the biblical norm, we recognize the need a thorough and dispassionate on the issue of homosexuality that takes seriously into account both the Bible and the data from the scientific and medical research. The Church recognizes the need for pastoral care to those who are homosexual and encourages dialogue with them " xuelle_87-0 "class =" reference "> . But, twenty years later, the same conference, in August 1998 , issued the refusal to "recognize" homosexuality : " . "Anglican bishops adopted this motion by 526 votes against 70 abstentions and 46 . Since the debate has stalled, pitting one hand, conservatives in the North and most countries South and on the other hand, the Liberals in the North .

Gene Robinson, Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, the Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist, San Francisco (California), 2005.

Canadian Anglican bishops blessed, however, in 2003 , unions of same sex . In November of that year, Gene Robinson , a candidate clearly stating his homosexuality, was even elected Episcopal bishop in the U.S. state of New Hampshire . The head of the Anglican Church and Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams , head of the unity of Anglican Communion condemned the election, expressing "profound regret" . The American Anglican Council did the same, whereas the election as "a heresy, blasphemy and a sin." "Today is a terrible day in the history of our church. The heresy was brought in the sacred, "said a statement of the Council . Twenty-four bishops and dignitaries from 500 U.S. dioceses met at Dallas , the capital of the U.S. state of Texas , on 9 October 2003 , to defend "the preservation of biblical orthodoxy" . In addition, an extraordinary summit of Anglican primates was held in London in mid-October 2003. After two days of talks, leaders of Anglican churches deeply regretted the decision of the Episcopal Church to elect a homosexual bishop. "If his consecration takes place, they were warned, we must conclude that the future of the Communion will be in danger" . The head of the Anglican community of Nigeria (18 million followers) severely castigated the decision of the American branch. Speaking on behalf of the "Primates of the South" (50 million of 70 million Anglicans), Peter Akinola castigated this consecration "violated the clear and consistent teachings of the Bible." More radical still, the Anglican Church of Kenya announced its decision to cut ties with the Episcopal Church. "As a church we are not going to support homosexuality in the church," commented Bishop Thomas Kogo of Kenya. From the 28 April 2005 , the Anglican Bishops of Canada decreed a two-year moratorium on the blessing of unions of same sex . Finally, ^BishopDesmond Tutu Mpilo , Anglican Archbishop of South Africa , distinguished himself from his African counterparts, saying: "Since we believe that love for the whole being and not merely the sexual dimension, and that he opens the gift of self and compassion, why would we believe that quality should be reserved for heterosexual couples? " .

Taking note of these conflicts, the Lambeth Conference of 2008 declared: ". 111. The subject of homosexual relations is so sensitive because it conflicts with the long tradition of Christian moral teaching. For some, this change of opinion .

The following year, in July 2009 , the Episcopal Church (American Episcopal Church, 2 million strong loyal Americans) formally authorized the ordination of homosexual pastors . On 17 July 2009 , at the triennial gathering of the Anglican Church in Anaheim , in California , was also given the green light for the blessing of homosexual unions in the U.S. states that recognize them legally. Finally, the clergy was asked to develop rites and prayers suitable for these blessings. Nevertheless, the resolution did not put into question the definition of marriage Episcopalian. Rather, it was an authorization for the clergy to support gay unions legal in 2009 in six U.S. states. Recently, 15 May 2010 , canoness homosexual Mary Glasspool, elected in December 2010 assistant bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles , was ordained bishop ^{Protestant churches}

North America

The United States of America

The United States , various Protestant congregations bless same-sex unions with ceremonies in all respects similar to marriage Protestant. The Unitarian Universalist Church, Church of the current Unitarian , blesses same-sex couples since the 1970s ^, . The General Synod of the United Church of Christ (UCC, United Church of Christ, USA) officially admitted the ordination of openly gay in 1980 . In 1991 , the same synod declared that "sout

On 21 August 2009 , the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), consisting of some 10,000 congregations totaling 4.6 million members, voted 559 votes against 451 after an impassioned debate, a text that allows pastors "living in a homosexual relationship lasting and monogamous' exercise within the Church. This church accepts homosexual pastors already provided they live in celibacy. However, the motion passed did not mention the possibility of gay marriage . In early May 2008 , the United Methodist Church (UMC, United Methodist Church), the second largest Protestant church in the United States, with 8 million members, had approved an agreement with the ELCA to achieve full communion between the two American churches at its quadrennial meeting in Fort Worth ( Texas ). However, the General Conference of the Church had refused to change the rules of the Church on homosexuality, including a ban on openly gay ordain priests. Having adopted a resolution language now embodied in the Book of Discipline - compiling the doctrine of the United Methodist Church - that homosexual practices are "incompatible with Christian teaching", the delegates agreed, nevertheless, a resolution stating that United Methodist Church opposes "any form of violence or discrimination based on sex, gender identity, sexual practices or sexual orientation .

Also in the U.S., the 7 July 2010 , the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) (Presbyterian Church USA, 2 million faithful) approved a measure allowing homosexuals to be ordained, a measure that shall, however, be accepted by the 173 presbyteries of the Church . In addition, the meeting debated the possibility of expanding the definition of marriage to same-sex relationships and ultimately voted in favor of retaining the current definition of marriage between a man and a woman has in its constitution.

Canada

Statement of inclusiveness of the United Church Saint John. October 2002.

The United Church of Canada , born in 1925 from the union of Churches Methodist , Presbyterian and Congregational Canadian , considered in the sixties of the ^twentieth century that homosexuality was a sin . In 1984 , ^the 34th General Council (the highest decision making body in the United Church of Canada meets every three years), following the report Faith and Sexuality 1981 , declared, first, that all humans, homosexual or heterosexual, are created in God's image, and secondly, that the church members are aware of the discrimination homosexuals suffer and struggle against this fact, and finally, they think everyone (gay or heterosexual) sexuality in the light of the Gospel . In 1988 , the General Council stated that "any person of any sexual orientation whatsoever, confessing his faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to it, was welcomed as a full member of the United Church of Canada or invited to become "and that" all members of the United Church of Canada may submit applications for the process leading to the pastorate ordered " . Between 1992 and 2003 , the General Councils have developed this action by working to ensure that homosexuals, bisexuals and transgender people are welcomed in parishes with pastoral or liturgical devices (including the liturgies of the alliance) and that their civil rights are recognized, including the possibility of marriage (the General Council comes out clearly in his favor in 2003 ). Besides the United Church of marriages celebrated since the law permits . St. John United Church of Montreal is an example of this politque inclusion against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. In October 2002 she wrote a "statement of inclusiveness ^, . However, each of the 2,500 parishes in the United Church is free to accept or reject the celebration of gay marriage .

Europe

The Northern States

In Europe , it is, the Netherlands , the (ELK, Evangelical Lutheran Church) who first, in 1972 declared that sexual orientation should not come into play in the selection of ministers Church . At the same time, the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk (NHK, Dutch Reformed Church) began to discuss the acceptance of gays and lesbians and their relationships . These discussions led him, at the Synod of Delft in 1979 , inviting and, in 1980 , to permit the full participation of gays and lesbians ^, . In 1986 , the Remonstrantse Broederschap (remonstante Brotherhood), the oldest churches Dutch heiress current Arminian , was the first European church to accept the blessing of unmarried couples: "Two people promising before the congregation or its representatives to share their lives in love and faithfulness can receive the blessing of the covenant into which they enter during a church service. " . It was not a successful gay lobbying group, but the adoption of the principle that gays and lesbians should be treated equally . Subsequently, in 1995, still in the Netherlands , the synod of the Evangelisch-Lutherse Kerk decreed that there was no theological reason to object to the blessings of unmarried couples . The same year the Synod of the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk issued a statement that church members have equal rights regardless of sexual orientation or lifestyle and that, therefore, everyone can participate in the Supper , referring to each parish the responsibility of the host ^, .

In early 1997 , the synod of the Protestant Church in northern Germany (SEK) decided to bless homosexual unions .

Coat of arms Svenska kyrkan, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden.

It was also the case in the same year, Den Danske Folkekirke Folkekirkens or simply, the Evangelical Lutheran Danish National . But in November 2005 , a dozen Danish Christian communities published a pamphlet in which they analyzed the words of the Bible on homosexuality by 17 points: homosexuality is a sin if the Bible command to love our neighbor, it not justify sex with someone of the same sex marriage can not unite a man and a woman without judging anyone, it is dangerous to say that time has passed since the writing of the Bible, the text should not be taken literally . However, Folkekirkens distanced himself with the text. Furthermore, the newsletter of August 2010 the Folkekirkens announced that the majority of bishops were in favor of the religious and civil marriages are now separate. Indeed, being Folkekirkens state church, religious marriages are recognized by the latter. According to Bishop Drejergaard of Odense , should "separate the sacred from the secular" side of marriage, including homosexual marriage, would be better met by a ceremony at City Hall, for all couples. This debate was triggered by some homosexuals claiming religious marriage instead of present blessing of couples of the same sex. Finally, a commission was created to study the issue, under the authority of the Minister of Religious Affairs .

The Swedish side, over 800 pastors officiating for a majority of them in the conservative diocese Gothenburg , signed in November 2005 , a petition against the creation of a religious blessing of homosexual partnerships. Despite this, kyrkan Svenska (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sweden 73% of Swedes in 2008), approved in October 2009 , at its synod, the marriage of homosexuals in the church, allowed by Swedish law since ¹ May 2009. This measure, effective ¹ November 2009 , and the application of a liturgy for same-sex marriages, were adopted by a majority of nearly 70% by some 250 members of the Synod .

Coat of arms of the Church of Scotland, and The Kirk, the Presbyterian Church of Scotland.

In Scotland , the UK , the (Presbyterian Church of Scotland), also known as contemplated the issue of homosexuality in the context of the decriminalization of homosexual acts, then rejected by the Church . Between 1967 , when one wishes a pastoral to the redemption of those who engaged in "sin of sodomy" and 1994 , many reports were produced on the issue of homosexuality . Finally, on 23 May 2009 , the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland confirmed by 326 votes against 267, Scott Rennie, homosexual pastor, could exercise his ministry at Queen's Cross Church of Aberdeen , despite the fact that thousands followers had signed a petition to oppose this nomination. Nevertheless, the General Assembly also decided that it would no longer be allowed to ordain gay pastors, by 2011, target year of the period required for the preparation of a report by a new committee appointed for this purpose . On the other hand, the United Free Church of Scotland (United Free Church of Scotland) still retains the letter of the biblical condemnations of sodomy, but recommends a specific pastoral care that will promote the homosexual "change" or to celibacy .

In Britain, the same United Kingdom, the (United Reformed Church, uniting the current British English Presbyterian and Congregationalists) underwent an intense debate around the issue of homosexuality. Two reports ( 1984 and 1991 ) recognized the existence of homosexual orientation and called to put the sentences in their biblical context . The reports of the current evangelical ( 1992 ) and members of the Reformed Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement (LGCM, gay and lesbian Christian Movement)) were officially published to stimulate reflection . In 1994 , the first homosexual candidates were recommended for their study of theology. However, this opening, confirmed in 1997 , was suspended in 1999. Indeed, the General Assembly of the Church said it "welcomes people of homosexual orientation in the life of the Church and society, but does not believe that there is sufficient clarity in thought The church, now at the point of asserting the acceptability of homosexual practices " . Finally, the new report of 2000 was not definitely something approved. A 7-year moratorium was agreed .

Switzerland

In the Helvetic Confederation , the debate focused on the issue of blessing same-sex couples . The Protestant Church of Geneva wished that civil society should give "a legal framework for such unions, but decided against it . Similar debates took place in almost all churches cantonal 1995 to 2000. Unity Synod Bern-Jura rejected the possibility of blessing gay couples in 1997 but accepted the following year that was, indeed, the majority of cantonal churches Alemannic . The blessing ceremony is clearly distinct from that of marriage and takes place only with the consent of the local community . This is liturgically accompany a "particular situation in life" . On the other hand, within the association "VoGay, based in Lausanne , a "Christian Group" was established in September 2010 and addressed to all Christians, directly or indirectly affected by homosexuality. This group is the regular meeting of believers from all Christian denominations to share moments of discussion about homosexuality and / or spirituality .

France

The Center of Christ the Liberator

In France , the pastor Baptist Belgian origin Douc Joseph (1945-1990), who celebrated the first blessings of gay unions in 1974 . These blessings commitments only on moral and spiritual and incurs no rights or duties . Former Roman Catholic convert at baptism in 1967 , the pastor gently exercised his pastoral ministry from 1970 to 1974 in Lens and Bethune . From 1974 to 1976 he studied at the Free University of Amsterdam (Protestant) pastoral and psychological problems of sexual minorities, particularly homosexuals and transsexuals, a scholarship that gave him the World Council of Churches based in Geneva (Switzerland). In 1975 , he did an internship in a psychiatric hospital in Amsterdam and obtained at the end of his studies, the degree of clinical pastoral training in Holland . Pastor Douc created the 10 October 1976 , the "liberator of Christ Center in Paris . There was an association with a Christian evangelical who was born thanks to an allowance granted by a Dutch foundation which was attended by Protestant, Roman Catholic priests and Norman Pittenger, Anglican professor of theology at King's College, Cambridge ( UK) . The purpose of this group was twofold: to help sexual minorities (homosexuals, transsexuals, sado-masochistic, pedophile) and foster a deeper understanding of their situation by society and Christian denominations . Many groups were founded in the "Centre of Christ Liberator alongside homosexuals transvestites, transsexuals, pedophiles . Pastor Douc was rejected by the Protestant Federation of France , which withdrew its support from the World Council of Churches and placed the movement on the margins of the Church, in a situation protestors , leaving him the freedom to pursue a policy of sealing friendships blessing to God's will to live together for two homophilic . The reference book of the Centre was the collective work God loves them as they are, Pastoral Care homophilic published in 1968 in the Netherlands .

The Lutheran and Reformed Churches

Huguenot Cross.

For the Protestant Federation of France , homosexuality is a misdirection of emotions , but not a "underdevelopment" of it. The first reflection of the Protestant Federation on the subject dates from 1975 . Since its position has steadily widened. We also note a difference between Protestants and Lutherans on the one hand, and evangelical other: 8% of the first view homosexuality as a disease, 63% of the latter consider it a sin . An opinion poll commissioned by the Protestant Federation of France, conducted by the CSA institute from March 24 to August 21, 1995, showed that Protestants polled consider homosexuality, among others, as a "personal matter are numerous . At the National Synod of the Reformed Church of France in Soissons, from 24 to 27 May 2001 on the "Sacraments" , the French Protestants have affirmed strong convictions "that should be confronted in the coming months, reflection on welcoming homosexuals. Among the vows adopted are two requests: "the question of ministry of homosexual persons in the Church" and "requests for blessing same-sex couples" ^, . At the end of the Synod, the Lutheran-Reformed Permanent Council (bringing together the ECAAL , the EELF , the ERAL , and ERF ) commissioned a working group composed of four pastors (Gerard Krieger, Bernard Sturny, Mayanga Pangu, Michel Cordier), a theologian (Jean-Daniel Causse), psychiatrist (Raymond Heintz), doctor (Nadine Davous) to write the paper Church and homosexuality finalized in July 2002 by Pastors Michael and Gerard Cordier Krieger, and widely distributed . Finally, in February 2004 , the CPLR (Permanent Council Lutheran-Reformed current Protestant Communion Lutheran-Reformed ), published a brief text and clear on three points: yes to welcoming homosexuals into the church, not to the appeal by a local church pastor of a gay man, not a religion of blessing of a homosexual couple . However, the Black Book, gray, white religious homophobia, published in May 2010 with "The Green House", popular evangelical mission and movement "David and Jonathan," the opinion of CPLR leaves a mixed impression. This text is not supported by all churches of the FPS, but only by its component pluralistic Lutheran-Reformed, the topic is for discussion with communities and federations to evangelical positions more entrenched. Moreover, it clearly appears as a compromise which leaves each (e) on its hunger: the most conservative, shocked the initial focus on the unconditional acceptance of homosexuals, the most liberal, struck by the warmth of the positions on the reception of liturgical and same-sex couples access to the Ministry of same-sex .

The Protestant churches

The French Protestant churches, meanwhile, rallied to oppose PACS . The French Evangelical Alliance, member of the European Evangelical Alliance and Evangelical universal adopted on 12 October 2002 , through its National Council, a document entitled Faith, Hope and Homosexuality, in which the Homophobia, hate and rejection of homosexuals are condemned, but refuses homosexual practices and full membership in the Church of unrepentant homosexuals and those endorsing such practices. Homosexual persons are called to live together in celibacy and chastity. On the other hand, the Evangelical Alliance disapproves "access to the pastoral ministry of homosexual persons who report or who practice homosexuality" and "the blessing of homosexual unions." These positions are inherent in the fact that "monogamous heterosexual marriage is the only form of union that God has planned for sex" doctrine based on Scripture . The Evangelical Federation of France (FSF) had defended the same analysis in its position paper dated April ipedia.org2001 "alt =" 2001 "> 2001 . The refusal of gay marriage is also found in the wishes of the Congress of the Federation of Evangelical Baptist Churches of France (FEEBF) meeting in Seloncourt, from 20 to 22 May 2004 , and in the response of independent Evangelical Reformed Churches (Erei) already referred to the text of the Permanent Council on Lutheran-Reformed Church and homosexuals. These churches approve "the refusal to proceed with the blessing of homosexual couples," but rejects "unconditional acceptance of homosexuals within the Church as members, "homosexual persons" must change their lives and to desist from practices that the Bible condemns. "

Italy

The Chiesa Evangelica Valdese (Waldensian Evangelical Church), since 1980 , received in its center "Agape" group meetings "faith and homosexuality." In 1984 , was released a report entitled Sex in the Bible and the present time, refuting the traditional prejudices against homosexuality and stating that one can not "seek to suppress or deny homosexual own homosexuality without violating the dignity of his person " . In 1994 , a group of pastors signed a declaration supporting, unlike the Roman Catholic Church, the recommendation of the European Parliament on the recognition of the rights of homosexual citizens in a stable coexistence . In 2000 , the Church welcomed the organization of the World Gay Pride in Rome . Recently, in late August 2010 , the synod common Protestant Waldensian and Methodist Italian meeting in Torre Pellice Waldensian valleys in Italy, decided to allow blessings of gay couples in church, under certain conditions. Rev. Janice Perrin of the Commission on Faith and Homosexuality "indicated during the press conference, the Rev. Janice Perrin from the Commission on Faith and Homosexuality" at the press conference: "We are attentive to the pastoral care of homosexual couples as also on the liturgical aspects. By blessing .

Africa

Several Protestant churches in Africa, especially Nigeria and Rwanda have, for the most part, marked their distance from the U.S. Episcopal Church after the ordination of Robinson in 2003 . According to Alex Siewe of the weekly Jeune Afrique, "the Church has unreservedly condemned homosexuality wartime colonial regimes or Marxist one-party submitted later this practice as an aberration peculiar to the bourgeoisie, a consequence of decadent capitalism, and today it is paradoxically in the name of a return to traditional African values that the subject is vehemently opposed as a Western disease " . This situation is paradoxical, since research has found that homosexuality existed in pre-colonial Africa . She was often the privilege of the elite and powerful . In most communities, there were close relations, including in physical appearance, same-sex, even if the social constraints required it to take a partner (even without marrying him) and put in world of children . However, changes are underway. The pandemic of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has prompted new thinking about sex . Many Christian churches have realized that gay people were part of the population and it was absurd to deny that . Increasingly, the idea emerged that social relations in Africa have not been portrayed properly and that churches were often the cause of the concealment of certain aspects . Practicing Christians are members of associations of gays and lesbians who are quietly or even secretly founded and now live in the open. These associations (Rainbow Project in Namibia , GALZ to Zimbabwe , National Coalition for Equality of gays and lesbians in South Africa , LEGATRA Associations of homosexuals and transsexuals in Zambia ) are opposed to public condemnation of homosexuality such as those uttered by the presidents of Zimbabwe, Kenya , Namibia, and Zambia . These Christian churches are inviting their members to support these associations . Moreover, Zimbabwe has formed a Christian group in the GALZ, led by a pastor Baptist . In a country like Nigeria , where homosexuality is prohibited and where, in the northern states applying Islamic law , relations between persons of the same sex are punishable by stoning to death, Rowland Jide Macaulay, a gay pastor the Universal Fellowship of the Metropolitan Community Churches, launched in September 2006 in Lagos , the Nigerian capital, the House of Rainbow, the only true church to accept whatever their sexual orientation : "I know what this' is being gay in the conservative Nigerian society, forced to live in a closet and even scared to talk about your sexual orientation to the church. (...) The church is supposed to be the real place where we appear to each other and to God. "

Quaker Meetings

The Religious Society of Friends (Religious Society of Friends or Quakers ) published, through its Social Responsibility Council in 1963 , a book entitled Toward a Quaker View of Sex ("Towards a vision of Quaker sexuality) which outlined very liberal views and did much to change attitudes towards homosexuals ^, . In 1973 , the debate continued to be fueled by the publication of David Bladmires, Homosexuality from the Inside. The experiences of living a gay Quaker ("Homosexuality, as we live. The experience of gay life of a Quaker). The author was destroying stereotypes such as that of the homophilic initiator that converts to homophily and asserted that homosexuals can live a loving relationship, he must assert his sexual identity and be accepted by all . In 1987 , the Meeting for Suffering (MFS Executive Committee of Britain Yearly Meeting (Annual Meeting of Great Britain)), recognized that there were no fundamental reasons that are not celebrated unions of people Same-sex . This decision was formally registered in Quaker Faith and Practice ("Faith and Practice", Book of Discipline Quaker) in 1994 . In 2003 , the Monthly Meeting (MM Monthly Meeting) of the area of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire (England) asked the Meeting for Suffering if the civil partnership legislation could include a religious . In 2006 , the Assembly of Pontrefact (England) wrote to the Meeting for Suffering so that progress be made on the celebration and recognition of same-sex unions as part of a Meeting for worship (MFW, Quaker worship) . In 2006 , the Quaker Life , Central Department of Britain Yearly Meeting, set in motion the process that led in June 2008 to hold the conference Woodbroke on the recognition of homosexual partnerships . The conference, prepared by a Quaker Life Working Group under the auspices of Britain Yearly Meeting (BYM) , showed, however, a number of tensions.

Other movements

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says it officially welcomes its members gay and lesbians under certain conditions. It teaches that homosexual feelings may be innate, and that although they are sometimes unwanted, they can and must be controlled. Members gay and lesbians should be totally abstinent .

References