U.S. Bishops’ New Agenda Betrays Catholic Church

A statue of a woman with her hands on her face.

As the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) concluded its annual meeting last week, it revealed itself as grossly out of touch with both grassroots Catholicism and Pope Francis. Though some objected, the strong majority of U.S. bishops set forth an agenda that has little to do with the Gospel of Jesus. Further, the new…

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Why I Hold My Partner’s Hand

Two people holding hands on a bridge.

Put simply, I love and am in love. When one’s heart is full. When one’s day is preoccupied with another. When I am in touch with the truth that I can’t live without him; and, I go through my day missing him, I can’t help but hold my partner’s hand. It is an empowering truth…

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Where My Loyalty Lies

A wooden shelf with books and pencils on it.

I hate to drive. But I spent about four days this past weekend in my car, on the road for Reconciling Ministries Network. I did something I hate because I love my church–the one where God’s people taught me the language of faith, and the power of the Gospel to set people free. It was…

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Catholic Synod Report Misses Opportunity To Affirm LGBTQ People

A group of priests wearing pink hats.

Now that the Synod on the Family is concluded, much is already being written about an event The New York Times called the “most momentous, and contentious, meeting of bishops” since Vatican II. Below, Bondings 2.0 provides some early commentaries and reactions related to LGBT topics. For a good general overview of what the Synod’s final document contains, see Joshua McElwee’s article…

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What Should White LGBTQ Organizations Do Post-Marriage Equality?

A large rainbow flag is being held by a group of people.

Are we each other’s brother’s keeper? With this June’s historic Supreme Court ruling, Obergefell v. Hodge, that legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, many white LGBTQ organizations nationwide have been questioning what to do next. Last month the Harvard Alumni Association and the Harvard Gender & Sexuality Caucus picked up the gauntlet to answer that…

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Married at Last!

Two men are exchanging rings at a wedding.

Wade Jones and I were married here in Atlanta by the Rev. Dr. Erin Swenson during a private ceremony last week on my 65th birthday, a few days shy of our 15th anniversary, a week before his 55th birthday, and one day after the 10th anniversary of my ordination in the Metropolitan Community Churches. Wade and I met between my 50th and his…

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How The Religious Right Is Getting It Wrong

A statue of a woman holding an eagle.

For the past week, my newsfeed on Facebook has been filled with posts and comments about the arrest of Kim Davis, the court clerk from Kentucky who was imprisoned on Thursday for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in her county, despite the Supreme Court’s ruling for equality and direct orders from a judge to resume…

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Giving Glory To God And Not Kim Davis

A person holding up a sign that says love.

Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis is in jail. She refused to issue marriage licenses, even after members of her staff offered to do it (she forced them not to), even after the Supreme Court informed her that no exception from the law would be made for her. Stating that she was acting “under God’s authority,” she defied court orders and…

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Christian Australia Is Ready For Marriage Equality

A woman holding a sign.

In Australia, clergy are “coming out” for marriage equality in ever increasing numbers. This is because of their experience of working with people at the most personal of levels. Through such interaction they have seen that profound love and deep commitment is at the very essence of the human person. They also understand from science that an…

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