Homosexuality and Christianity
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GLBT->[[LGBT]]
:''For teachings of Christian Churches on homosexuality by denomination, see [[List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality]]''
:''For historical perspectives of homosexuality and Christianity, see [[History of Christianity and homosexuality]]''
<br clear="all">{{GenderChristianity}}
{{RAH}}
'''[[Christian]]''' leaders have written about sex between men since the first decades of Christianity; sex between women has been discussed less prominently<ref>[Spong, J.S. 2005. The Sins of Scripture. Harper Collins ISBN # 02-06-076205-5]</ref>. Throughout a portion of Christian history some [[theologian]]s have viewed homosexual behavior as [[immoral]]. However, in the past century some theologians and Christian religious groups have espoused a wide variety of beliefs and practices towards homosexuality, including the establishment of some 'open and accepting' congregations that actively support and approve of those in same sex relationships.
Historically, most Christian churches have regarded [[sodomy]] as immoral. This position is today held by the [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] Churches, and [[Evangelism|Evangelical]] Protestant churches such as the [[Southern Baptist Convention]]. On May 15, 2008, for example, the Roman Catholic bishops of California issued a statement explaining their opposition to the state supreme court ruling of the same day which effectively legalized same-sex marriage.<ref>[http://www.cacatholic.org/docs/GayMarriageDecisionStatement.pdf Statement by the Catholic bishops of CA]; for views by individual Catholics opposing the ruling on moral as well as legal grounds see, for example, Patrick J. Buchanan, [http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?pageId=65070 “Post-Christian America: Marriage ruling another streetlight on our‘darkening path to perdition,”] ''WorldNetDaily'', May 22, 2008; [http://www.tell-usa.org/articles/calcourt08.htm "Judicial Usurpation, California Style,"] by Robert Struble, ''TeLL'', June 2008.</ref>
Some denominations, however, have taken the position that homosexual behavior is not inherently sinful. These include the [[United Church of Canada]], liberal congregations within the [[United Church of Christ]], the [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America]], the [[Moravian Church]], the [[Anglican Church of Canada]], the [[Methodist Church of Great Britain]], and [[Friends General Conference]]. A new denomination, the [[Metropolitan Community Church]], has also come into existence specifically to serve the Christian [[LGBT]] community.
Other Christian denominations are actively debating the issue and have not reached a consensus either way; some of the most significant of these include the [[Presbyterian Church USA]], the [[United Methodist Church]], and the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church]].
The Episcopal Church of the USA became the first major Christian denomination to ordain an openly gay bishop, [[Gene Robinson]], which is controversial in the world wide [[Anglican Communion]]. {{Fact|date=July 2008}}
== The Bible and homosexuality ==
{{main | The Bible and homosexuality}}
A number of passages from both the [[Old testament|Old]] and [[New Testament]] of the Bible are commonly used in the debate over homosexuality including {{bibleverse||Genesis|19:4-29|HE}}, [[Leviticus 18]] and {{bibleverse-nb||Leviticus|21|HE}}, [[Epistle to the Romans|Romans]] {{bibleverse-nb||Romans|1:18-32|KJV}}, {{bibleverse|1|Timothy|1:10|KJV}}, {{bibleverse|1|Corinthians|6:9-10|KJV}} and {{bibleverse||Jude|1:7|KJV}}. The arguments over these passages have centered on the extent to which these passages are still relevant. In addition, recent scholarship has produced interpretations of Biblical passages which, according to these scholars, reveals that the Bible never advocates a blanket criticism of same-sex relationships. Among the issues are:
* Whether the Bible has any authority in commenting on social behavior
* Whether the Bible is actually an inspired text ([[Biblical literalism]]) or influenced by those who wrote down the words ([[Biblical criticism|Biblical textual criticism ]])
* That the texts in question refer only to sodomy and not homosexual orientation.
* Issues of accuracy, translation and context
* The modern scientific understanding of sexual orientation
* How the verses should be interpreted, understood and applied.
== History of Christianity and homosexuality==
{{main | History of Christianity and homosexuality}}
The [[Early Church|early Christian Church]], the [[Roman Catholic Church]] the [[Eastern Orthodox Church]]es and, later, the [[Protestant]] churches have traditionally been explicitly condemnatory of same-sex sexual relations, namely, "man lying with man as one lies with a woman" and men "burning with lust toward one another." Whereas the Roman Catholic view is founded on a [[natural law]] argument informed by scripture and largely indebted to [[Thomas Aquinas]], the Protestant view is based more directly upon scriptural argument. It is commonly believed that certain scriptural texts within the [[Bible]], as in [[Leviticus]], declare same-sex sexual relations between men as sinful and, in the eyes of God, an "[[abomination (Bible)|abomination]]" ({{bibleverse||Leviticus|11:9-12|HE}}). In the [[Epistle to the Romans]], [[Paul of Tarsus|Saint Paul]] describes “men, leaving the natural use of the woman, [burning] in their lust toward one another” as a consequence or cause of the [[sin]] of [[idolatry]].
Denunciation of homosexuality is also seen in surviving early Christian writings; such as in the writings of St. [[Justin Martyr]], St. [[Clement of Alexandria]], [[Tertullian]], St. [[Cyprian]], [[Eusebius of Caesarea|Eusebius]], St. [[Basil of Caesarea|Basil the Great]], St. [[John Chrysostom]], St. [[Augustine of Hippo]], and in [[canon law|canonical]] sources such as the [[Apostolic Constitution]]s — for example, [[Eusebius of Caesarea]]'s statement which condemns "the union of women with women and men with men.” Many prominent Christian theologians have been critical of homosexuality throughout the religion's history. [[Thomas Aquinas]] denounced [[sodomy]] as second only to [[bestiality]] among the worst of all sexual sins, and [[Hildegard of Bingen]]'s book "Scivias", which was officially approved by [[Pope Eugene III]], condemned sexual relations between women as "perverted forms."
In the 20th and 21st centuries, a few historians and theologians have challenged the Church's traditional understanding, and argue that passages have been mistranslated or that they do not refer to what we understand as “homosexuality.”<ref>See generally http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bibl.htm and subpages therein.</ref>
==Modern theological interpretations==
{{Expert|date=March 2008}}
[[Image:TroyPerry2006-09-17.JPG|thumb|left|Rev. [[Troy Perry]] preaching in 2006 at a [[Metropolitan Community Church]]. The MCC was founded in the gay and lesbian community.]]
Many of the debates among Christians have roots in questions about the sources of authority different Christians believe represent God's purest or most definitive message. More generally: which kinds of arguments should be persuasive to Christians, and which do not possess the weight necessary to determine opinions and policies. Such is also the case with the issues related to the morality and inclusion of [[LGBT]] persons in Christian life.
Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christianities regard [[Sacred Tradition]] and [[Ecumenical council]]s as co-authoritative with scripture, and the ordinary [[Magisterium]] is authoritative in Catholic theology<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15006b.htm</ref>.
[[Methodism]] derives doctrine from the [[Wesleyan Quadrilateral]], which consists of an evaluation of the synthesis of Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience.<ref>http://wesley.nnu.edu/wesleyan_theology/theojrnl/16-20/20-01.htm</ref> There are also differing positions about how great a role is played by continuing revelation (see [[Cessationism]] and [[Secular theology]]).
In conservative strains of Protestant Christianity, Scripture is understood to be the only truly definitive authority (a position called [[Sola scriptura|Sola Scriptura]]). [[Exegesis]], or the reasoned study of the text to discover its own meaning, is the central concern for believers in Sola Scriptura. The classic formulation of Sola Scriptura regards "good and necessary deduction" from Scripture as authoritative; what these deductions might be is a frequent subject of controversy.<ref>http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13635b.htm</ref><ref>http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/history/chicago.stm.txt</ref><ref>http://www.mbrem.com/bible/sufficn.htm</ref>
Liberal Christians tend to regard the Bible as the record of human doings, composed of humans encountering the Divine within their specific historical context. They often interpret passages of the Bible as being less a record of actual events, but rather stories illustrating how to live ethically and authentically in relation to God. Some such Christians might, for instance, see Christ's death and resurrection in terms not of actual physical reanimation, but in terms of the good news of Jesus' teaching: that God's children are no longer slaves to the power of death. A liberal Christian might regard the [[Gospel of Matthew]]'s insistence of Jesus' virgin birth not as an actual fact, but as a jibe by the author at the [[Roman Emperor]], who claimed to be a god and who also claimed to have been born of a virgin.<ref>Warren Carter. ''Matthew and the Margins: a Sociopolitical and Religious Reading.'' Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2000.</ref> Alternately, they might note stories of the [[Virgin Birth of Jesus]] as a much-needed position to be taken with the Gospel's [[Jewish]] audience, lest that audience infer that Jesus' birth was illegitimate, therefore making Jesus ineligible for the title [[Messiah]], a primary claim which Christians had to protect in order to be taken seriously by Jews.
Modern gay Christian activist [[Justin R. Cannon]] promotes what he calls "Inclusive Orthodoxy." He explains on his ministry website: "Inclusive Orthodoxy is the belief that the Church can and must be inclusive of lgbt individuals without sacrificing the Gospel and the Apostolic teachings of the Christian faith."<ref>http://www.truthsetsfree.net/about.htm</ref> Cannon's ministry takes a unique approach quite distinct from modern liberal Christians. His ministry affirms the divine inspiration of the Bible, the authority of Tradition, and claims "...that there is a place within the full life and ministry of the Christian Church for [[lesbian]], [[gay]], [[bisexual]], and [[transgender]] Christians, both those who are called to lifelong celibacy and those who are partnered."<ref>http://www.truthsetsfree.net/index.html</ref>
Some professional [[exegetes]] consider the Bible, to a greater or lesser degree, to be a document of its time (see [[form criticism]]), taking on attitudes which may not be God's. While they may hold the document as sacred, and most certainly as central to Christianity, they are also aware of the historical and cultural context in which it was originally written through archaeological and form critical study. Some scholars feel that in addition to its spiritual components, portions of the text merely reflect the human authors' beliefs and feelings about God at the time of its writing, and their cultural sensibilities. The influence of such persons may reflect a heightened spiritual consciousness, or may simply represent people attempting to explain the world as best they could given the tools of the time. Such scholars purport that passages in scripture related to slavery, war, genocide, female marginalization, and homosexuality may not necessarily be about God's wishes, but rather about the predominant culture's opinions at the time of the passage's writing.
====Choice and free will====
{{seealso|Sexual orientation|Ex-gay|Conversion therapy}}
The Roman Catholic Church and the LDS Church regards homosexual sex itself as sinful, not homosexual attraction, which is considered as a temptation to sin<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19861001_homosexual-persons_en.html] [[God Loveth His Children]]</ref>. <!--Does the ex-gay movement differ from the RC und LDS church, if it has abstinence as a goal? If so, how? If not, why not treat all three together in one sentence?-->The [[ex-gay]] movement, comprised of organizations such as [[Exodus International]] and [[Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays]], believes that "practicing homosexuality" is also a choice and claims there are people who have attained "abstinence from homosexual behaviors."<ref>[http://www.exodus.to/exodus_faqs_success.shtml#homosexual]</ref> The mainstream mental health consensus in the United States is that "most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation."<ref name="answers">
{{cite web
|url = http://www.apa.org/topics/orientation.html
|title = Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality
|accessdate = 2008-05-26
|publisher = American Psychological Association
}}</ref> There is a minority of mental health professionals in the employ of [[Exodus Ministries]] and [[Focus on the Family]] who take an opposite view).{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
Some ex-gay groups say conversion therapy may be helpful. The [[American Psychological Association]] states that [[conversion therapy]] "is based on an understanding of homosexuality that has been rejected by all the major health and mental health professions".<ref name = "gkkvbl">{{cite web | url = http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/justthefacts.html | title = Just the Facts About
Sexual Orientation & Youth: A Primer for Principals, Educators and School Personnel | publisher = American Psychological Association}}</ref> The [[American Psychiatric Association]] states: "The potential risks of '[[Conversion therapy|reparative therapy]]' are great, including depression, anxiety and self-destructive behavior, since therapist alignment with societal prejudices against homosexuality may reinforce self-hatred already experienced by the patient."<ref name = "gkkvbl"/>
== Positions of specific denominations ==
{{main | List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality}}
The many [[List of Christian denominations|Christian denominations]] vary in their position on homosexual relationships, from seeing it as sinful, through being divided on the issue, to seeing it as morally acceptable. Even within a denomination, individuals and groups can hold different views, as in the conflict over the gay bishop, [[Gene Robinson]], in the [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America]].
These disagreements concern, in some cases, the translations of certain terms, or the meaning and context of some passages.
Within the remainder of this article, those who claim early Christianity denounced homosexual relationships are called conservative Christians, and likewise those who claim the opposite are called liberal Christians.
{{CAH}}
===Liberal Christian view===
Liberal Christians believe that Biblical passages have been mistranslated or that these passages do not refer to homosexual relationships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sisterfriends-together.org/the-bible-and-homosexuality/ |title=The Bible and Homosexuality |accessdate=2008-07-04 |work=SisterFriends Together |publisher=Grace Unfolding Ministries }}</ref> Some also believe early Christians accepted homosexual relationships.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}
Liberal Christian scholars, like conservative Christian scholars, accept earlier versions of the Bible in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] or [[Greek language|Greek]]. However within these early Bibles there are many terms that liberals have interpreted differently than previous generations of scholars. They are concerned with copying errors, forgery, and of biases among the translators of later Bibles. They consider some verses such as those supporting [[slavery]]<ref>http://www.religioustolerance.org/sla_bibl.htm</ref> or the inferior treatment of women<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/ofe_bibl.htm ReligiousTolerance.org]. Please note that an editor expresses concern re: a possible lack of academic validity and neutraility in this source. Additionally, the contact link does not work, leaving no recourse to any who disagrees.</ref> not being valid today, and against the will of God present in the context of the Bible, and they cite these issues when arguing for a change in theological views on sodomy to what they claim is an earlier view. They differentiate among various sexual practices, treating rape, [[prostitution]], or temple sex rituals as immoral and those within committed relationships as positive regardless of [[sexual orientation]]. They view certain verses, which they believe refer only to homosexual rape, as not relevant to consensual homosexual relationships.
Some believe that same-sex relationships were practiced by a number of early Christians<ref>[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/1979boswell.html The Church and the Homosexual: An Historical Perspective, 1979 by John Boswell]</ref> as well as Biblical figures such as [[Book of Ruth|Ruth and Naomi]], [[Jonathan and David]], and [[Book of Daniel|Daniel and Ashpenaz]].<ref>[http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_bmar.htm ReligiousTolerance.org]. Please note that an editor expresses concern re: a possible lack of academic validity and neutraility in this source. Additionally, the contact link does not work, leaving no recourse to any who disagrees.</ref> One disputed example is located in Ruth 1:14: "Ruth clave unto her", where the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word translated as ''clave'' is identical to the description of a [[heterosexual]] marriage in Genesis 2:24.
Another example is of David and Jonathan at 1 Samuel 18:21, which the [[King James Version]] translates as "Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law in ''the one of'' the twain", where "twain" means "two", in a reference to a proposed [[marriage]] between [[David (biblical king)|David]] and one of Saul’s two daughters. However the fact that the words "the one of" are shown in italics indicates that they are an interpolation by the translators. Thus a more literal translation would be "Thou shalt this day be my son-in-law, in the twain", which some claim to be a reference to what they believe to have been David’s prior marriage with Saul’s son Jonathan. Many of those who claim the early church did not condemn homosexuality mention the fact that Jonathan was the son of King Saul in [[Israel]] and that after the relationship with David, [[Saul the King|King Saul]] then made David the next King instead of his own son. However, the Biblical text states that this was done by the prophet, Samuel (I Sam 16:13).
[[Image:Jonathan Lovingly Taketh His Leave of David by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld.jpg|thumbnail|"Jonathan Lovingly Taketh His Leave of David" by [[Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld]]]]
The late [[Yale University]] Church historian [[John Boswell]] believed the rite of [[adelphopoiesis]]<ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0679751645</ref> may have been such a documented religiously-sanctioned same-sex union. That rite was entered into by two Christian martyrs, the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] soldiers [[Saints Sergius and Bacchus]]; Boswell believed this, and the saints' [[icon]] at St. Catherine's on [[Mount Sinai]] which includes some imagery suggestive of a wedding, supports his theory.
Lending some credence to the view that the earlier church was more tolerant of homosexuality is the fact that widespread persecutions of homosexuals and other minorities did not begin before the 12th century. Boswell cited various translations and laws of the time period enacted to persecute minorities; in his essay “The Church and the Homosexual”<ref>[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/1979boswell.html "Homosexuality," Plato wrote, "is regarded as shameful by barbarians and by those who live under despotic governments just as philosophy is regarded as shameful by them, because it is apparently not in the interest of such rulers to have great ideas engen<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> he attributed Christianity’s denunciations of [[homosexuality]] after the twelfth century to rising intolerance in [[Europe]] reflected in the laws enacted during the period to restrict [[women's rights|women's’ rights]], and expelling [[Jews]] and [[Muslims]] from Christian lands.
Archbishop [[Ralph of Tours]] had his lover John installed as [[bishop of Orléans]] with agreement of both the King of [[France]] and [[Pope Urban II]].<ref>[http://www.mountainpridemedia.org/dec1999/col_stonewall.htm]{{Dead link|date=March 2008}}</ref>
Writings of later time periods deploring [[homosexuality]] are discounted by many liberal Christians. They ascertain that such opinions were formed upon flawed Biblical translations caused by human error or personal bias of translators. Many claim that wording in verses denouncing homosexuality was created after the twelfth century A.D. and reflect the society at the time, not the word of God.{{Fact|date=April 2008}}
===Conservative Christian view===
[[Image:Sodoma - Merian.jpg|thumb|300px|left|A depiction of the destruction of Sodom.]]
====Traditional marriage movement====
Many Conservative Christians belong to the [[traditional marriage movement]], which believe that only unions between one man and one woman should be legally defined as marriages. They interpret [[The Bible and homosexuality|biblical verses on homosexuality]] to mean that homosexual relationships are against God's will.
Furthermore, they believe that the heterosexual family is divinely inspired,<ref>[http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,00.html The Family: A Proclamation to the World] The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints</ref> commanded of God, and that homosexual relationships undermines heterosexual marriage.<ref name="Statement">[http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=a1312e636369f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD First Presidency Statement on Same-Gender Marriage]</ref> They interpret some Biblical passages such as "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh"({{lds|Gen|gen|2|24}}) and "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord"({{lds|1 Corn|1_cor|11|11}}) as evidence of the God-given nature of the heterosexual family.<ref>[http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f318118dd536c010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=dc6f8d00422fe010VgnVCM100000176f620a____ It Is Not Good for Man or Woman to Be Alone]</ref>
Several conservative gay Christians have formed support groups, some specifically targeted at those who are heterosexually married.<ref>[http://www.gaychristian.net/momgroup.php Gay Christian Mixed Orientation Group]</ref><ref>[http://northstarlds.org/wow/ Women of Worth]</ref> A number of gay Christians have reported satisfaction in their marriages.<ref name=Moore07>{{cite news
|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660207378,00.html
|title=Gay LDS men detail challenges
|publisher=[[Deseret Morning News]]
|last=Moore
|first=Carrie A.
|date=March 30, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|date=March 11, 2002
|title=No Easy Victory
|publisher=Christianity Today
|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/march11/2.50.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url = http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0704/05/acd.01.html
|title = Sex and Salvation
|author = [[Anderson Cooper|Cooper, Anderson]]
|date = [[2007-04-05]]
|publisher = [[Anderson Cooper 360°]]
}}</ref>
Others have joined [[ex-gay]] groups, which either try to change or reduce homosexual attractions, and some which try to increase heterosexual desires. One study showed 34.3% of them self-reported much change in sexual orientation.<ref>{{cite journal
|last=Nicolosi
|first=Joseph
|title=Retrospective self-reports of changes in homosexual orientation: A consumer survey of conversion therapy clients
|coauthors=Byrd, A. Dean; Potts, Richard W.
|url=http://doi.apa.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=showUIDAbstract&uid=2000-00515-002
|publisher=Psychological Reports
|date=2000 Jun
|volume=86
|pages=1071–1088}}</ref> [[Exodus International]] is the largest ostensibly ex-gay group. A major ally of Exodus International is [[Focus on the Family]], who works with Exodus International in their [[Love Won Out]] ministry.
====Modifying rhetoric====
Some conservative churches are making statements that are not anti-gay. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states "men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies ... must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."<ref>[http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a6.htm#2357 Catechism of the Catholic Church, para. 2357 Catholic Church]</ref> [[Dallin H. Oaks]], an [[LDS]] [[Apostle (Latter Day Saints)|Apostle]], stated "Our doctrines obviously condemn those who engage in so-called “gay bashing”—physical or verbal attacks on persons thought to be involved in homosexual or lesbian behavior."<ref name="oaks95"> [http://lds.org/portal/site/LDSOrg/menuitem.b12f9d18fae655bb69095bd3e44916a0/?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=43786e9ce9b1c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1''1995 Dallin H. Oaks Statement''], Official Site of the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. Retrieved on [[September 27]] [[2007]].</ref> The LDS leadership later released an official statement saying "We of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reach out with understanding and respect for individuals who are attracted to those of the same gender."<ref>{{Citation
| last1=Hinckley
| first1=Gordon B.
| author1-link=Gordon B. Hinckley
| last2=Monson
| first2=Thomas S.
| author2-link=Thomas S. Monson
| last3=Faust
| first3=James E.
| author3-link=James E. Faust
| title=First Presidency Statement on Same-Gender Marriage
| publisher=LDS Church
| place=Salt Lake City, Utah
| date=[[October 20]] [[2004]]
| year=2004
| url=http://www.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=a1312e636369f010VgnVCM100000176f620aRCRD
}}</ref> As an alternative to a school-sponsored Day of Silence supporting homosexuality, conservative Christians organized a Golden Rule Initiative, where they passed out cards saying "As a follower of Christ, I believe that all people are created in the image of God and therefore deserve love and respect."<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080428/christian-golden-rule-bridges-divisions-in-day-of-silence.htm
|publisher=Christian Post
|title=Christian Golden Rule Bridges Divisions in 'Day of Silence'
|first=Aaron
|last=Leichman
|date=April 28 2008}}</ref>
Some churches publish specific instructions to clergy on how to minister to gay and lesbian people. These publications include ''[[Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination]]'', produced by the [[Roman Catholic Church]], and ''[[God Loveth His Children]]'', produced by [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. In 1994, a church in the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]] held a conference entitled “The Path to Freedom: Exploring healing for the Homosexual.”<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://oneby1.org/aboutus.html
|title = OneByOne: About Us
|accessdate = 2007-10-29
|year = 2006
|publisher = Self-published
}}</ref>
====Rejection by early Christians====
Conservative Christians argue that there were denunciations of [[sodomy]] in the writings of the era, such as St. [[Justin Martyr]], [[Clement of Alexandria]], [[Tertullian]], St. [[Cyprian]], [[Eusebius of Caesarea|Eusebius]], [[St. Basil the Great]], St. [[John Chrysostom]], [[Augustine of Hippo|St. Augustine]], and in doctrinal sources such as the [[Apostolic Constitutions]]. In response to the claim that such passages have been mistranslated due to certain obscure words whose meanings are unclear, conservatives point out that many passages use commonplace words whose meanings are well-known, such as the passage from the writings of [[Eusebius of Caesarea]] which condemns "the union of women with women and men with men", or St. [[Cyprian]]'s denunciation of "men with frenzied lusts rushing upon men".
They are critical of the views that early Christians and [[Bible|Biblical]] figures had same-sex relationships. Conservatives claim that neither the Bible nor ancient Jewish law records such unions and that the term "son-in-law" at the heart of the [[Jonathan and David]] dispute could be used symbolically rather than literally.
Many who share the view that early Christians deplored homosexuality cite a translation of [[Aristides (Apologist)|St. Aristides]] blaming the [[Greco-Roman]] heritage for what he believed to be corrupting early Christianity as illustrated in one of his quotes:
*''"Some polluted themselves by lying with males. The Greeks, O King, follow debased practices in intercourse with males. Yet they in turn impute their monstrous impurity to the Christians." [[Aristides (Apologist)|St. Aristides]] ("Apology" c. 125 A.D.)''
In response to claims that even the medieval Church tolerated homosexuality, conservatives Christians cite documents such as the "[[Summa Theologiae]]", the chief summary of doctrine in that era, which states the official position on sodomy in passages denouncing "copulation with an undue sex, male with male, or female with female" (ST: II:II: Q154: Art.11). Likewise, some Christians of the time period, such as [[Thomas Aquinas]], denounced sodomy as second only to [[bestiality]] as the worst of all sexual [[sin]]s writing, "After this bestiality comes the sin of sodomy, because use of the right sex is not observed." [[Hildegard of Bingen|St. Hildegard's]] book "[[Scivias]]", which was officially approved by [[Pope Eugene III]], related visions from God which contain quotes stating: "a woman who takes up devilish ways and plays a male role in coupling with another woman is most vile in My sight", and "a man who sins with another man as with a woman, sins bitterly against God and against the union with which God united male and female", and similar quotes in which same-sex relations are condemned as "perverted forms". Conservatives point out that such passages use commonplace terms which are neither obscure nor in dispute.
In response to those such as [[John Boswell]], who claimed that the medieval Church did not condemn or prosecute people for sodomy until the 12th century, conservatives would point out that there are many doctrinal sources prior to that which do condemn sodomy, even though does not specifically prescirbe punishment for it. and Boswell's citation of harsher penalties from the 12th century onward reflects a general trend with regard to all ecclesiastic punishments, which gradually increased in severity over time for all offenses (though this does not explain how homosexuality was less harshly punished than e.g. hunting in the ''same'' time period).
In response to those who say that the Bible and early/medieval saints condemned sodomy only due to a misconception that homosexual relationships could not be stable and committed, conservatives point out that revealed sources such as St. Hildegard's visions quote [[God]] as condemning sodomy both in same-sex relationships and also when sodomy is practiced by a husband and wife, explaining that this is not the form of sex which He had ordained - meaning that the issue here is not "commitment", but rather God's purpose for sex.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0809131307. This however does not apply to baptists or other groups based from the Reformation, as they do, for the most part, not deal with saints.
In response to liberals who allege that an anti-sodomy viewpoint was based on flawed translations made in the 12th century, conservatives point out that the standard Biblical translation which was used throughout that period - both before, during, and after the 12th century - was the ancient Vulgate version by St. Jerome, written in the 5th century, meaning that the translation in question was of very ancient origin. That does not necessarily mean that they are correct, however, for just because something was written closer to the time period than modern times does not mean that there were no mistakes. They also point out that views denouncing sodomy go back to the early Church, as noted farther above. [http://www.catholic.com/library/Early_Teachings_on_Homosexuality.asp Early Teachings on Homosexuality]
Conservative Christian scholars believe that the original texts must be translated by abiding by the standard definitions of ancient words as defined both by previous generations of scholars and by the people who lived close to the time periods in which the original languages were in active use, such as the early Church Fathers and ancient Christian writers (see examples of their interpretations above).
== Conflicts ==
{{Inappropriate tone|section|date=April 2008}}
{{POV|date=May 2008}}
There are people who believe gay sex is acceptable and there are people who are opposed to gay sex. Both sides have people who identify themselves as Christian, gay or both. There are people who see their beliefs about gay sex as an essential part of their identity, whether religious or sexual.<ref>{{cite journal
|last= Haldeman
|first= Douglas C.
|year= 2002
|month= June
|title= Gay Rights, Patient Rights: The Implications of Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy
|journal= Professional Psychology: Research and Practice
|volume= 33
|issue= 3
|pages= 260–264
|doi= 10.1037//0735-7028.33.3.260
}}</ref><ref>Johnson, T.R. (1995). [http://abs.sagepub.com/cgi/content/citation/39/2/186 ''The significance of religion for aging well'']. American Behavioral Scientist, 39, 186-208.</ref><ref>Koenig, H.G. (1993). ''Religion and aging''. Reviews in Clinical Gerontology, 3, 195-203.</ref> This sometimes leads to conflict as people from both sides voice their beliefs, live in accordance with their beliefs, and/or try to impose their beliefs on other people.<ref name=BannedBoston>{{cite news
|url=http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/012/191kgwgh.asp
|title=Banned in Boston:The coming conflict between same-sex marriage and religious liberty
|first=Maggie
|last=Gallagher
|date=05/15/2006
|volume=011
|issue=33}}</ref> In the case of gay Christians who do not believe gay sex is acceptable, that conflict between their sexual identity and their religious identity is frequently dealt with either by remaining celibate or by heterosexually marrying.<ref name=Moore07>{{cite news
|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660207378,00.html
|title=Gay LDS men detail challenges
|publisher=[[Deseret Morning News]]
|last=Moore
|first=Carrie A.
|date=March 30, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|date=March 11, 2002
|title=No Easy Victory
|publisher=Christianity Today
|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/march11/2.50.html}}</ref>
Christians and Christian groups that disagree with homosexual activity have drawn protests by gay rights groups such as [[ACT UP]], [[OutRage!#Church of England|OutRage!]] and the [[Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence]] because of practices they consider oppressive towards [[LGBT]] people. Other groups, such as the [[Gay Christian Network]] work to promote dialog between gays who approve of gay sex and gays who don't.<ref>[http://www.gaychristian.net/greatdebate.php Gay Christian Network:Great Debate]</ref> State and federal laws in various countries often prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression as well as religion. Local and national LGBT rights organizations, religious organizations, or local law enforcement, occasionally bring actions against people, often religious conservatives or promoters of gay rights, whom they believe are violating these anti-discrimination laws. Examples of such conflicts include:
=== Application of freedom of speech and anti-harassment laws ===
*In Canada, [[Chris Kempling]], a public school teacher and counselor, was cited for professional misconduct and suspended for a month by the BC College of Teachers after he spoke publicly in favor of Christian-based [[conversion therapy]] on his own time and referred to homosexuality as a "perversion" associated with "promiscuity" and "immorality".<ref name=supreme>"Supreme Court rejects teacher's appeal over homosexuality issue", Calgary Herald, 29 January 2006, B5 </ref> He was additionally suspended for three months for speaking against the [[Civil Marriage Act]]{{Fact|date=May 2008}} and for representing the [[Christian Heritage Party]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.html?id=431535&p=2
|title=Conduct unbecoming a free society
|date=April 09, 2008
|last=Kempling
|first=Chris
|publisher=National Post}}</ref>
*In Sweden, [[Åke Green]] was sentenced to one month of jail for a sermon which preached against homosexual behavior, but ending by saying "We cannot condemn these people." He was later acquitted by the [[Supreme Court of Sweden]] <ref>[http://www.domstol.se/Domstolar/hogstadomstolen/Avgoranden/2005/Dom_pa_engelska_B_1050-05.pdf The Supreme Court of Sweden Judgment, issued in Stockholm on 29 November 2005]</ref>. Leif Liljeström, administrator for [[Bibeltemplet]], was convicted for violating a hate speech law and a website content law after posting material on his Christian website judged to be offensive toward gay people. An appeals court overturned the original conviction, but convicted him instead of being a hate-speech accomplice for allowing others to post offensive material on his website <ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71410.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2006]</ref>. Also in this case, the Supreme Court later, in November 2008, acquitted the accused. <ref>{{cite news |author=[[Ruth Gledhill]] |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article2825811.ece |title=Christian web editor in gay row wins appeal |date=November 7, 2007 |work=[[The Times]]}}</ref>
*In England, [[Harry Hammond]] was fined £300 in 2001 for violating the [[harassment, alarm or distress]] section of the [[Public Order Act 1986]] by staging a street demonstration with signs reading "Stop Immorality", "Stop Homosexuality", and "Stop Lesbianism".<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/michael_gove/article805241.ece
|publisher=The Times
|title=I'd like to say this, but it might land me in prison
|date=December 24, 2002
|first=Michael
|last=Gove}}</ref> In another event involving the same law, [[Stephen Green (Christian Voice)|Stephen Green]] was handing out leaflets containing Biblical quotes about homosexuality at a public event. After public complaints, the police asked him to leave. Green, whose organization has a reputation for being "particularly militant", but who does not himself have a record of violence, peacefully refused the police request, and was arrested.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=403815&in_page_id=1770
|title=Christian faces court over 'offensive' gay festival leaflets
|first=Steve
|last=Doughty
|date=6th September 2006
|publisher=Daily Mail}}</ref> Bishops from the [[Church of England]] and the [[Roman Catholic Church]] expressed concerns over hate-crime legislation that at the time were being considered in England. The bishops believed these laws could infringe on Christian freedom of speech and commented that if the laws were to go into effect "People holding firm opinions on sexuality will generally be reluctant to risk the emotional and financial costs of being challenged by a neighbour or colleague and being investigated by the police."<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=496871&in_page_id=1770
|title=Gay hate law 'threat to Christian free speech'
|date=28th November 2007
|first=Steve
|last=Doughty
|publisher=Daily Mail}}</ref> The act as passed by Parliament grants wide exceptions, by which [[Stonewall (UK)|Stonewall]], the principle gay rights group supporting the new law, fears that homophobic extremists might be able to avoid prosecution merely through claiming a religious defense. <ref>[http://www.stonewall.org.uk/campaigns/1961.asp Stonewall - Welcome to Stonewall<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
*In Ireland, [[Iris Robinson]], the wife of the First Minister, was investigated for hate speech "for quoting from the Bible." She had also suggested that homosexuals could seek counseling so they could find happiness in heterosexual marriages.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/Police-to-investigate-Robinson-remarks.4164142.jp
|title=Police to investigate Robinson remarks
|publisher=News Letter
|date=June 27, 2008}}</ref>
=== Conflicts with exgays ===
[[Image:Love Won Out Protestors.jpg|thumb|right|100|Protests against ex-gay ideology.]]
* Christian groups such as [[Focus on the Family]] and the [[ex-gay]] organization [[Evergreen International]] have protested the policies of the APA, stating that their views on issues such as the immutability of homosexuality have caused real harm to real people and patients.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5554/is_200608/ai_n21879692
|title=APA Convention Targeted for Protest; APA Focused More on Political Correctness Than Helping Patients, Group Says
|publisher=U.S. Newswire
|date=August, 2006}}</ref> [[A. Dean Byrd]] commented "There exists a climate of prejudice in APA against clients -- often people of traditional values -- who wish to decrease their homosexual attractions and develop their heterosexual potential."<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20060812/ai_n16652956?tag=rel.res4
|title=Homosexual change is focus of protest
|publisher=Deseret News
|date=August 12, 2006}}</ref>
*Gay psychiatrist David Scasta organized a panel to discuss religion which would have included openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson and conservative Christians who call homosexuality a sin at an American Psychiatric Association convention. The event was canceled after criticism by gay activists.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90365869
|title=Homosexuality Panel Squelched by Gay Activists
|first=William
|last=Plowman
|date=May 12, 2008
|publisher=NPR}}</ref>
*Several gay rights groups have protested [[Love Won Out]] conferences, an organization that teaches gay sex is immoral but that Christians should show love to the gay community. Love Won Out also provides resources to assist gays who want to change their sexual orientation. In 2007, [[Clear Channel Outdoor]] chose to stop accepting their advertisements. Clear Channel's move was questioned not only by the religious community, but by an Arizona [[gay rights]] group.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewCulture.asp?Page=/Culture/archive/200702/CUL20070213a.html
|title=Ad Company Rejects Billboard Questioning Homosexuality
|last=Hoegh
|first=Payton
|date=February 13, 2007
|publisher=CNSNews}}</ref> Controversy erupted in the gay community when gay mayor [[Ron Oden]] told Love Won Out that "We are so proud to have you here in the Palm Springs area." In an opinion piece published in the [[Palm Springs Desert Sun]], Oden wrote that he did not agree with Love Won Out's views, saying the idea that gays and lesbians can change their orientation was a "discredited claim," but said he felt that it was "common or Christian courtesy" to welcome the conference.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.tucsonobserver.com/archives/pdf/2006/09/Sep%2027.pdf
|title=Mayor Defends 'Christian' Welcome To 'Ex-gays'
|publisher=Tucson Observer
|date=September 27, 2006}}</ref>
*In Arlington, a judge protected the right of the Christian ex-gay group [[PFOX]] to pass out fliers in schools after the group sued the Arlington Public Schools for passing fliers of pro-gay groups, but refusing to pass out fliers of ex-gay groups.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.nbc4.com/news/10296097/detail.html
|title=Flier About 'Ex-Gays' Ignites Firestorm At School
|date=November 11, 2006
|publisher=NBC}}</ref>
=== Conflicts with Christian organizations ===
*[[Soulforce]] has protested [[Brigham Young University]], a private university owned by the [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] which has an honor code that does not allow students to have any form of pre-marital sex, including homosexual sex, and which prohibits "any implicit advocacy of homosexual behavior."<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660205345,00.html
|title=Y. urged to clarify its policy on gays
|date=March 22, 2007
|last=Walch
|first=Tad}}</ref> After several protests, a Soulforce-organized panel discussion and a separate campaign led by a group of students, the university clarified its honor code to state that a student's sexual orientation alone could not be considered an honor code offense. "We knew this group Soulforce was coming to protest at school," Robby Pierce, a member of that group, said. "We felt they didn't represent the voice of actual students who deal with homosexuality on campus."<ref name=Clarification>[http://www.deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660212820,00.html BYU clarifies Honor Code about gay orientation], Tad Walch, [[Deseret News]], [[April 18]], [[2007]].</ref>
*An Ocean Grove church group is suing New Jersey, saying that the state is pressuring it to allow a civil union ceremony for a lesbian couple at its oceanfront pavilion, thereby violating the group’s First Amendment rights.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/nyregion/14civil.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
|date=August 14, 2007
|title=Church Group Complains of Civil Union Pressure
|first=Jill
|last=Capuzzo
|publisher= New York Times}}</ref> The pavilion lost its exemption from property taxes, as its exempt status was dependent on being open to all members of the public, and a state official ruled that the church's prohibition of civil union ceremonies constituted a violation of this requirement. <ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/nyregion/18grove.html
|title=Group Loses Tax Break Over Gay Union Issue
|first=Jill
|last=Capuzzo
|publisher= New York Times}}</ref> Opposition to same-sex marriage have put the tax-exempt status of other churches at risk.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700226242,00.html
|title= LDS Church expresses disappointment in California gay marriage decision
|date=May 15, 2008
|first=Carrie
|last=Moore
|publisher=[[Deseret News]]}}
</ref><ref name=BannedBoston />
=== Conflicts over non-compliance with anti-discrimination laws ===
*A Georgia Tech gay rights manual referred to the Mormon church as "anti-gay" while offering praise for the Episcopal Church. After 2 students sued the school for discrimination against students with conservative religious views, a judge ordered that the material be removed.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.wrcbtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8258001
|title=Judge rules Georgia Tech gay rights manual biased
|publisher=Associated Press
|date=May 1, 2008}}</ref>
*The Boston Archdiocese's Catholic Charities adoption services chose to shut down in 2006 rather than comply with state laws prohibiting discrimination against gay and lesbian families who wished to adopt children. The charity, which had a state contract for placing special needs children, had previously placed 13 adoptees in gay and lesbian households over the last 20 years. However, the Archdiocese decided it could no longer reconcile the law with a 2003 statement issued by the Vatican that instructed Catholic agencies to not place adoptive children in gay households. The state's four Catholic bishops said the law forced the church to do something it considered immoral. Governor [[Mitt Romney]] commented "It's a mistake for our laws to put the rights of adults over the needs of children... I find the current state of the law deeply disturbing and a threat to religious freedom."<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/03/10/catholic_charities_to_halt_adoptions_over_issue_involving_gays/
|title=Catholic Charities to halt adoptions over issue involving gays
|date=March 10, 2006
|last=LeBlanc
|first=Steve
|publisher=[[Boston Globe]]}}</ref> Eight members of the Charities' 42-member board resigned in protest over the bishops' decision. Recent laws in England have also outlawed the practices of nine Catholic adoption agencies,<ref name="McClintock" /> causing three of the nine agencies to close with the others facing potential legal battles.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/articles/a0000264.shtml
|title=Gay rights law forces diocese to end adoption work
|first=Simon
|last=Caldwell
|date=25 April 2008
|publisher=The Catholic Herald}}</ref> Catholic Children's Rescue Service shut down due to the new laws in June 2008, with the leaders complaining of discrimination against Roman Catholics.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2080669/Catholic-adoption-service-stops-over-gay-rights.html
|title = Catholic adoption service stops over gay rights
|date=June 5 ,2008
|publisher=Telegraph
|first=Martin
|last=Beckford}}</ref>
*In April 2008, Christian Horizons, a Canadian Christian ministry which operates more than 180 government-subsidized care homes for the [[developmentally disabled]], was fined CDN$23,000 by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario after former employee Connie Heintz complained of discrimination after she entered a lesbian relationship.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080429/32167_Christian_Ministry_Fined_$23,000_in_Gay_Discrimination_Case_.htm
|publisher=Christian Post
|title=Christian Ministry Fined $23,000 in Gay Discrimination Case
|first=Joshua
|last=Goldberg
|dat=Apr. 29 2008}}</ref> Christian Horizons, which receives almost all of its funding from the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services, said that she was in violation of a contract which all employees sign to refrain from [[adultery]], [[fornication]], homosexual relationships, or using pornography. The tribunal declared the contract violated employees' rights, and the group was ordered to abolish the contract and implement a non-discrimination policy.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.therecord.com/News/CanadaWorld/article/341201
|date=April 24, 2008
|first=Greg
|last=Mercer
|publisher=The Record
|title=Christian Horizons rebuked: Employer ordered to compensate fired gay worker, abolish code of conduct
}}</ref>
*John Reaney won a case of discrimination after being denied a position in the Church of England after he was told "a person in a committed sexual relationship outside of marriage, whether they were heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual or transgender, would be turned down for the post." He said such a requirement was biased against him because of his sexual orientation. Ben Summerskill summarized that "The tribunal has rightly made clear that the Church of England cannot discriminate against gay people with impunity. No-one, not even a bishop, is exempt from the law."<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/6904057.stm
|title=Bishop loses gay employment case
|date=18 July 2007
|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>
*Andrew McClintock resigned from his post as a magistrate on the South Yorkshire Family Panel after a law was passed in [[Great Britain]] allowing gay couples to adopt children. He filed a legal complaint alleging that he was being discriminated against because his religious beliefs disapproved of gay couples adopting. "I felt pushed into a corner," McClintock said. "I wanted to be sure that I was not risking sending children into same-sex households. As that could not be guaranteed, I felt that I must resign rather than act against my conscience, but I was disappointed that no effort was made to accommodate my Christian beliefs."<ref name="McClintock">{{cite news
|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1535170/Christian-magistrate-sues-Government-over-placing-children-with-gay-couples.html#continue
|title=Christian magistrate sues Government over placing children with gay couples
|date=25/11/2006
|first=Jonathan
|last=Wynne-Jones
|publisher=Telegraph}}</ref> Government counsel Adrian Lynch argued that it would be incompatible with the Judicial Oath to allow McClintock to "cherry pick" the laws he wished to apply and those he did not. The Employment Tribunal and an Employment Appeal Tribunal rejected McClintock's complaint and ruled that he "was duty-bound and obliged by the terms of the Judicial Oath that he had taken to adjudicate on any case which came before him and to decide it in accordance with his Oath and on its merits."<ref name="Ruling">[http://www.employmentappeals.gov.uk/Public/Upload/07_0223ResfhRCCEA.doc Appeal No. UKEAT/0223/07/CEA] Employment Appeals Tribunal</ref> McClintock has filed a further appeal with the Court of Appeal.
*Elaine Huguenin was ordered to pay $6,637 in legal fees for refusing to take pictures of a lesbian couple's commitment ceremony while offering her photography services to the public, thus violating the New Mexico Human Rights Act, which specifies that it is unlawful to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in such circumstances. Huguenin felt her religious beliefs prevented her from showing a ceremony that she disagreed with in a positive light.<ref name=Elane>[http://www.boxturtlebulletin.com/btb/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/elane.pdf Decision and Final Order of the Human Rights Commission of the State of New Mexico]</ref> While Huguenin cited her religious beliefs, rather than her desire to discriminate, as the prime motivation for her refusal to provide the services she had advertised, the New Mexico Human Rights Commission cited repeated judgements by the U.S. Supreme Court that "the right to free exercise [of religion] does not relieve an individual of the obligation to comply with a 'vallid and neutral law of general applicability on the ground that the law proscribes (or prescribes) conduct that his religion prescribes (or proscribes).'"<ref name=Elane />
* The proposed U.S. federal [[Employment Nondiscrimination Act]] and other state and local anti-discrimination laws. Judith Moldover, a writer for Law.com, explained that "The conflict between sexual orientation discrimination and the duty to accommodate religious bias against homosexuals typically arises in three types of situations: refusal to service homosexual clients, refusal to participate in diversity programs and training, and supervisory conduct." One case is ''Altman v. Minn. Dept. of Corrections'', where the right of employees to quietly and peacefully protest diversity training by reading the Bible was upheld.<ref> {{cite news
|url=http://www.law.com/jsp/ihc/PubArticleIHC.jsp?id=1193735028038
|title=Employer's Dilemma: When Religious Expression and Gay Rights Cross
|first=Judith
|last=Moldover
|publisher=New York Law Journal
|date=October 31, 2007}}</ref>. ''In Peterson v. Hewlett-Packard Co.'', a federal appeals court upheld an employer's right to fire an evangelical Christian employee who posted a sign which prominently displayed Bible texts condemning gays and lesbians to death.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1374/is_1_68/ai_n24944645
|title=Collision of religious and gay rights in the workplace
|publisher=Humanist
|date=Jan-Feb, 2008
|first=Bob
|last=Ritter}}</ref> A further federal appeals case, ''Bodett v. CoxCom'', found that an employer had the right to fire a supervisor who made disparaging remarks about a lesbian employee's sexual orientation.
===Denomination specific conflicts===
The Episcopal Church of the USA became the first major Christian denomination to ordain an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, which is controversial in the world wide Anglican Communion. This has caused a [[schism]] or split in the Anglican Church. Archbishops of the Anglican Communion, representing a majority of the 77 million members, convened in Jerusalem in 2008 in a break from the historical British church hierarchy.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/world/30anglican.html by DINA KRAFT and LAURIE GOODSTEIN, Published June 30, 2008]</ref> The Anglican Communion, which represents the conservative Anglican churches in the United States, Canada and abroad, strongly opposes the liberal teachings of the Episcopal Church of the USA as heretical and a “false gospel” that allows a malleable interpretation of Scripture regarding the Biblical view of homosexual behavior and practices. <ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/world/30anglican.html by DINA KRAFT and LAURIE GOODSTEIN, Published June 30, 2008]; [http://gayswithoutborders.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/rwanda-archbishop-emmanuel-kolini-addresses-a-crusade-to-fight-against-homosexuality/]</ref> The Anglican theologian Dr. J. I. Packer has called on the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, to resign because of his failure to uphold the Church’s teaching on human sexuality. <ref>[http://www.anglican-mainstream.net, Published June 30, 2008]</ref>
== See also ==
{{portal|Christianity}}
* [[List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality]]
* [[Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches]]
* [[Religion and homosexuality]]
* [[History of Christianity and homosexuality]]
* [[Evangelical and Ecumenical Women's Caucus]]
* [[Ex-gay movement]]
* [[Homosexuality in the Roman Catholic priesthood]]
* [[Queer theology]]
* [[The Bible and homosexuality]]
* [[Letha Dawson Scanzoni]], co-author of ''Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?'' (1978) and ''What God Has Joined Together: A Christian Case for Gay Marriage'' (2005)
* [[Virginia Ramey Mollenkott]], co-author of ''Is the Homosexual My Neighbor?'' (1978)
==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}
== References ==
* [[Stephen Bates|Bates, Stephen]] (2004). ''A Church at War: Anglicans and Homosexuality''. [http://www.ibtauris.com I.B. Tauris]. ISBN 1-85043-480-8.
* [[John Boswell|Boswell, John]] (1980). ''Christianity, social tolerance, and homosexuality: Gay people in Western Europe from the beginning of the Christian era to the fourteenth century''. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-06710-6
* [[Louis Crompton|Crompton, Louis]], et al.; ''Homosexuality and Civilization'' Massachusetts: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2003. ISBN 0-674-01197-X
* [[Robert A.J. Gagnon|Gagnon, Robert A.J.]] (2002). ''The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics''. Abingdon Press. ISBN 0-687-02279-7
* [[John Harvey|Harvey, John F.]], O.S.F.S. (1996). ''The Truth about Homosexuality: The Cry of the Faithful, introduction by Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R.''. [http://www.ignatius.com Ignatius Press]. ISBN 0-89870-583-5.
* [[Daniel A. Helminiak|Helminiak, Daniel A.]] (2000). "Frequently Asked Questions About Being Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender and Catholic" Dignity USA. <<http://www.dignityusa.org/faq.html>>
* [[Hildegard of Bingen]], "Scivias," Columba Hart and Jane Bishop, translators; New York: Paulist Press, 1990
* [[Warren Johansson|Johansson, Warren]] "Whosoever Shall Say To His Brother, Racha." ''Studies in Homosexuality, Vol XII: Homosexuality and Religion and Philosophy.'' Ed. Wayne Dynes & Stephen Donaldson. New York & London: Garland, 1992. pp. 212-214
* [[William Saletan|Saletan, William]] ([[29 November]] [[2005]]). [http://www.slate.com/id/2131019/nav/tap1/ "Gland Inquisitor"]. ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''.
* [http://www.catholic.com/library/Early_Teachings_on_Homosexuality.asp Early Teachings on Homosexuality]
* [http://www.newadvent.org/summa/ Summa Theologiae - online version]
* [[Hildegard of Bingen]], "Scivias," Columba Hart and Jane Bishop, translators; New York: Paulist Press, 1990
* [http://en.bibleinfo.com/topics/topic.html?id=131 Homosexuality in the Bible]
* [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/pwh/1979boswell.html The Church & the Homosexual]
* [[John Boswell]], ''Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality,'' Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1980
* [http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/scotts/ftp/wpaf2mc/serge.html Christian Passage On St. Serge & St. Bacchus]
* [http://www.uno.edu/~asoble/pages/augbos.htm Debate: St. Augustine's Sexuality]
* Gagnon, Robert A.J. (2002). ''The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and Hermeneutics''. Abingdon Press. ISBN 0-687-02279-7
* [http://www.RobGagnon.net RobGagnon.net] Author & seminary professor's site with many resources
*Johansson, Warren 'Whosoever Shall Say To His Brother, Racha.' '''Studies in Homosexuality, Vol XII: Homosexuality and Religion and Philosophy.''' Ed. Wayne Dynes & Stephen Donaldson. New York & London: Garland, 1992. pp. 212-214
*Smith, Morton "Clement of Alexandria and Secret Mark: The Score at the End of the First Decade." ''Studies in Homosexuality, Vol XII: Homosexuality and Religion and Philosophy.'' Ed. Wayne Dynes & Stephen Donaldson. New York & London: Garland, 1992. pp.295-307
*Mader, Donald "The ''Entimos Pais'' of Matthew 8:5-13 and Luke 7:1-10" ''Studies in Homosexuality, Vol XII: Homosexuality and Religion and Philosophy.'' Ed. Wayne Dynes & Stephen Donaldson. New York & London: Garland, 1992. pp. 223-235.
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