The latest clash of religious liberty versus gay rights at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Friction over LGBTQ issues in traditional faiths around the world, from the global Anglican Communion to the vast Muslim world.
Final congressional passage of a bill to protect same-sex marriage rights.
No doubt, there’s a common theme to some of this past week’s top headlines.
At The Associated Press, Jessica Gresko and Mark Sherman report:
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority sounded sympathetic Monday to a Christian graphic artist who objects to designing wedding websites for gay couples, the latest collision of religion and gay rights to land at the high court.
The designer and her supporters say that ruling against her would force artists — from painters and photographers to writers and musicians — to do work that is against their beliefs. Her opponents, meanwhile, say that if she wins, a range of businesses will be able to discriminate, refusing to serve Black, Jewish or Muslim customers, interracial or interfaith couples or immigrants.
Meanwhile, AP’s global religion team partners with its Lilly Endowment grant partners — Religion News Service and The Conversation — to examine LGBTQ belief and belonging around the world.
Among the specific stories:
• Friction over LGBTQ issues worsens in global Anglican church (by AP’s Chinedu Asadu and David Crary and RNS’ Catherine Pepinster)
• Across vast Muslim world, LGBTQ people remain marginalized (by AP’s Edna Tarigan, Mariam Fam and David Crary)
• LGBTQ students wrestle with tensions at Christian colleges (by AP’s Giovanna Dell’Orto and RNS’ Yonat Shimron)
• Why they stay: LGBTQ people of faith find ways to belong where doctrine rejects them (by RNS’ Kathryn Post)
Finally, the Respect for Marriage Act is headed to President Joe Biden for his signature, as the New York Times’ Annie Karni explains:
The House on Thursday gave final approval to legislation to mandate federal recognition for same-sex marriages, with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers voting in favor of the measure in the waning days of the Democratic-led Congress.
With a vote of 258-169, with one member voting “present,” the landmark legislation cleared Congress, sending it to President Biden to be signed into law and capping an improbable path for a measure that only months ago appeared to have little chance at enactment.
Delve deeper into related issues with these stories:
• A Virginia restaurant refused to serve a conservative Christian group. Is that legal? (by Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
• Idaho Christian law students, adviser, claim victory in settlement with university (by Mark A. Kellner, Washington Times)
• Another clash between First Amendment and gay rights arrives at a changed Supreme Court (by Adam Liptak, New York Times)
• The Supreme Court is hearing a case on LGBTQ rights and religious liberty (again). Here’s what you need to know (by Kelsey Dallas, Deseret News)
• Both sides see high stakes in gay rights Supreme Court case (by Jessica Gresko, AP)
Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads
1. Scrutiny of Ukraine church draws praise, fear of overreach: “After its searches of holy sites belonging to Ukraine’s historic Orthodox church, the nation’s security agency posted photos of evidence it recovered — including rubles, Russian passports and leaflets with messages from the Moscow patriarch,” The Associated Press reports from Kyiv.
“Supporters and detractors of the church debate whether such items are innocuous — or increase suspicions the church is a nest of pro-Russian propaganda and intelligence-gathering,” notes the story by Peter Smith and Vasilisa Stepanenko.
Related news:
• Zelensky proposes barring the historic Orthodox church of Ukraine because of its links to Russia (by Marc Santora, New York Times)
• Ukraine clamps down on Orthodox Church with centuries of shared history with Russia (by Yaroslav Trofimov, Wall Street Journal)
• With searches, Ukraine focuses suspicions on Orthodox clergy (by Hanna Arhirova and Peter Smith, AP)
2. In the age of megachurches, communion has become a big business: “These days, prepackaged ‘rip and sip’ plastic cups of juice and wafers are a common sight at large churches,” notes this story by Salon’s Ashlie D. Stevens.
For many churches, the “rip and sip” communion cups may be the new normal, Stevens writes, citing earlier reporting by The Christian Chronicle’s Cheryl Mann Bacon.
CONTINUE READING: “Religion Vs. Gay Rights: Friction Over LGBTQ Issues Escalates Around The World“ by Bobby Ross, Jr., at Religion Unplugged.