Despite deep spiritual feelings among many gay men and lesbians, most religions have not been particularly welcoming to the community. Many Christian churches believe homosexuality is a sin, fueling much homophobia around the world.The latest controversy started last summer in the United States, where the first-ever out gay Episcopal bishop was recently consecrated in New Hampshire. The event sparked threats of schism between conservative and liberal factions in the American Episcopal church and the worldwide Anglican Communion to which it belongs.
In October, a conservative Episcopal faction repudiated the denomination and asked the worldwide Anglican leadership to intervene. In an emergency meeting in London of the world's Anglican primates (leaders), the group warned the Episcopal Church but didn't take action (leaving room for a schism at a later time).
The one denomination formed to combat spiritual homophobia, the 30-year-old United Federation of Metropolitan Community Churches, saw controvery in July as the world's largest GLBT church severed ties with the UFMCC.
The Roman Catholic Church is clashing with gays on many fronts. Most recently, the pope gave his strictest sermon ever against same-sex marriage. The Vatican also published a glossary defining homosexuality as having no "social value."
A sexual abuse scandal has rocked many Catholic parishes in recent months, and some church officials said the crisis may stem from ordaining gays as priests, which met with angry U.S. response. The Vatican is in fact considering proposed guidelines for dealing with gay candidates for the priesthood.
In Conservative Judaism, the second largest U.S. group of Jews, religious leaders are being asked to review the movement's positions on gay-related issues.
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