Crosspoint Church accused Maine of discriminating against religious schools whose policies violate the state’s Human Rights Act. The state says giving them taxpayer dollars would allow discrimination against students.
Religion and Values
Maine church leaders call for gun violence prevention, weekend of prayer
The Maine Council of Churches and Episcopal Diocese of Maine are encouraging all faith traditions to join in Gun Safety Awareness Sabbath.
Bishop Deeley to retire from Catholic Diocese of Portland
Bishop Robert Deeley, who has led the diocese in Maine for the past decade, will be succeeded by the Rev. James T. Ruggieri.
Almost 80 years after the Holocaust, 245,000 Jewish survivors are still alive
Twenty percent of survivors are older than 90.
Africa’s Catholic hierarchy refuses same-sex blessings, says such unions are contrary to God’s will
Their statement is the closest thing to a continent-wide dissent from the declaration Pope Francis approved Dec. 18 allowing priests to offer such blessings.
Pope’s policy on same-sex blessings met with welcome in Maine, but there are questions
Some Catholics say it’s further evidence that Pope Francis is moving to curb discrimination in the church; others say the announcement heralds no real change at all.
Pope’s approval of gay blessings could have impact in places where rights are restricted
From Uganda to the United States, laws that discriminate against LGBTQ+ people or even criminalize homosexuality have increased in recent years, leaving communities feeling under attack.
Pope approves blessings for same-sex couples
Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.
Cardinal convicted of embezzlement in Vatican financial trial, gets more than 5 years
Cardinal Angelo Becciu is the first cardinal ever prosecuted by the Vatican criminal court.
One fourth of United Methodist churches have left in schism over LGBTQ ban. What happens now?
The vast major are conservative-leaning churches responding to what they see as the United Methodists’ failure to enforce bans on same-sex marriage and the ordaining of openly LGBTQ persons.