In his Christmas address the Pope attacked same-sex marriage. In his remarks, Benedict quoted the chief rabbi of France, Gilles Bernheim, in saying the campaign for granting gays the right to marry and adopt children was an “attack” on the traditional family made up of a father, mother and children. He claims that gay marriage, …
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When the Hindu fundamentalist leader Bal Thackeray died recently, the city of Mumbai practically came to a standstill. So revered was he by followers of his right-wing Shiv Sena party – a notoriously violent bunch feared throughout the state of Maharashtra – that offices, shops and restaurants closed, and cinemas cancelled performances. An over-reaction? Not …
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Letter to The Guardian Letter to the Editor: So, women can’t become bishops because “Jesus chose only male disciples”. Quite right too. He also only chose Jews and not Christians. I am open to offers. Rabbi Guy Hall, London (quoted in The Week) What a muddle these religious ideologues of all religions (in this case …
As the Church of England was voting against female bishops last week, the Anglican Church of Southern Africa was celebrating the consecration of its first woman bishop. The new bishop of Swaziland, Ellinah Wamukoya, 61, said she hoped to represent the “mother attribute of God. A mother is a caring person, but a mother can …
The Church of England was thrown into turmoil recently after the General Synod voted against the appointment of women bishops. The measure was passed by the Synod’s houses of bishops and clergy, but failed to secure the two-thirds majority also required in the house of laity, by just six votes: in total, 324 members of …
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