In an unprecedented move that has divided some within the church, the Archdiocese this month invited gay Catholics to a 2½-hour meeting at which they discussed how the institution should change with the times. Read more

Focusing on homosexuality, she says she cannot go to the World Meeting of Families when the Pope visits Ireland in August, as it does not include LGBTI people.

In her view, the Church's "evil" teaching on homosexuality gave rise to homophobia, ruining people's lives and causing them "to live in dark shadows."

"[The] World Meeting of Families, here was he [the Pope] saying it was for all God's family no matter what you believe, no matter what your set of circumstances, whether you're LGBTI, whether you're divorced and remarried ... you're welcome.

"And if you're like us, a family with two heterosexual children and one homosexual son who's married to his husband, you're in, you're members of God's family, come along."

However, the Meeting of World Families has moved from being a potentially inclusive event to an exclusive one, where her family no longer felt welcome, she says.

"Suddenly we were in the hands of a Church that is exclusive, that holds on to that book of laws and hits you over the head with it, uses it to exclude some and only include the chosen and I lost faith in it then ..."

McAleese says she was "heartbroken for the children that I have, that can't go now, who feel they are not wanted because we feel not wanted ... I think that's a pity because it could have been and still could be so great if they had got their message right."

Speaking of women and the church, McAleese commented the current Pope is no different from any of his predecessors when it comes to gender equality within the church.

"He's a disappointment ... he's made a few more appointments, but ... you know they increased visibility, not voice."

When it comes to the "issue of women in the Church," this is where "the curial, magisterial Church is so far behind the curve it is embarrassing" and arguments against the ordination of women as priests were "ultimately untenable," McAleese says.

Source

• Belfast Telegraph
• Irish Examiner
• Independent
• Image: joe.ie

Tonga's homosexual and transgender community will be calling on government leaders to revise legislation in order to protect LGBTI people.

Tonga's Leiti Association has planned a national consultation with government leaders in December to petition for changes to the Criminal Offences Act.

The Act criminalises cross-dressing and sodomy, and can be punished with up to ten years in prison.

"This is going to be the first time that we actually invite people to come and sit around the table and talk with us and work together with us on such issues," said Henry Aho, the association's project officer.

During its periodic review by the Human Rights Council in 2013, Tonga requested that recommendations to decriminalise homosexuality be deferred for further consultation in the country.

Kefu said references in the Criminal Offences Act to consenting acts like sodomy would be looked at if the government decriminalised homosexuality.

But he believes decriminalisation will be strongly opposed by the public.

"So that matter is entirely in the hands of the political masters to consider the issue and make the ultimate decision and obviously they'll definitely refer it to the public."

"But knowing Tongan culture and the strength of Christian principles, there will be strong opposition to it. But it's a matter entirely for government to decide," he said."

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• radionz.co.nz
• Image: radionz.co.nz

Last month the Herald Scotland published a piece showcasing what it called a "radical new school curriculum which will put LGBTI issues at the centre of education."

The curriculum is being developed and campaigned for by a pro-homosexual organization called Time for Inclusive Education (TIE).

According to the Herald the curriculum "would be the first in Europe to put LGBTI - lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex - children on an equal footing with heterosexual pupils."

TIE is aggressively campaigning to make the curriculum mandatory. Read more