Unitarian Universalism

Judaism

Islam

Buddhism

Hinduism

Christianity

Religions on Homosexuality
Faith	Stance	Ordain	Unions
"Unitarian Universalists have long called for the full inclusion of bisexual, gay, and lesbian people in church and society." Source: www.uua.org	Yes	Yes
	Reform The movement has been "in the vanguard of the support for the full recognition of equality for lesbians and gays in society." Source: www.uahc.org	Yes	Yes
	Reconstruction Encourage participation and membership of homosexuals. Source: Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Wyncote, Pa	Yes	Yes
	Conservative Split. Parts favor greater inclusion, but many rabbinical decisions have rejected that. "While affirming our tradition's prescription for heterosexuality, [we] support full civil equality for gays and lesbians in our national life, and . reiterate that, as are all Jews, gay men and lesbians are welcome as members in our congregations." Source: United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism rabbinical decisions	No	No
Orthodox Homosexual acts are sinful; gays and lesbians expected to be celibate. Source: Rabbinical decisions	No	No
Homosexual behavior is a sin, while homosexual inclination is considered private. Homosexuals have been put to death in Iran, which follows a strict interpretation of Islamic law. A small Muslim gay rights movement is taking hold in the United States and Britain. Source: Dr. Maher Hathout, director of the Islamic Center of Southern California, and www.religioustolerance.org	No formal clergy	No
Reform Split. One of the Buddha's five precepts of right conduct is, "I undertake to observe the precept to abstain from sexual misconduct." None of the three schools of Buddhism comes down on homosexuality--the Buddha himself didn't--but some sects interpret it as a violation of the precept on sexual conduct. Source: Thanissaro Bhikkhu, abbot of Metta Forest Monaster, Valley Center, California; www.religioustolerance.org	No formal clergy	No position
Homosexual practices are seen as deviant. But, unofficially, homosexual acts are prevalent in predominantly Hindu India because the sexes are separated before marriage. However, this is not thought to make one "homosexual" as a matter of identity, since in many Asian cultures physical closeness to members of one's own sex is natural. Source: Maria Hibbets, professor of religion, California State University at Long Beach	Not an issue. Priests usually inherit their position	No
	Roman Catholicism "Homosexual persons are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-mastery that teach them inner freedom, at times by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and should gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection." Source: The Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church, news reports	Officially not an issue, because all priests must be celibate. But recent studies suggest as many as 30 percent of priests are gay	No
	Orthodox Encouraged to strive for celibacy. Forgiveness and counseling offered during private confession Source: : Frederica Mathewes-Green	Officially not an issue, because all unmarried priests are expected to be celibate. (Heterosexual marriage is permitted before ordination.)	No, though there are non-sexual loving stable bonds, both same-gender and mixed-gender, between spiritual director and a devout person, clergy or lay; or between an abbot/abbess and a monk/nun; or between/among those in a pair or group of saints. This relationship isn't initiated by any particular ceremony, however.
	Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints "If they [gays] do not act upon these inclinations, then they can go forward as do all other members of the Church. If they violate the law of chastity and the moral standards of the Church, then they are subject to the discipline of the Church, just as others are. We want to help these people, to strengthen them, to assist them with their problems and to help them with their difficulties. But we cannot stand idle if they indulge in immoral activity, if they try to uphold and defend and live in a so-called same-sex marriage situation." Source: www.lds.org	No	No
	Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches "The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches is a Christian Church founded in and reaching beyond the Gay and Lesbian communities. We embody and proclaim Christian salvation and liberation, Christian inclusivity and community, and Christian social action and justice. We serve among those seeking and celebrating the integration of their spirituality and sexuality." Source: www.ufmc.com	Yes	Yes
	United Church of Christ "We.bear witness to the conviction that it is possible to be deeply faithful to the Bible, profoundly respectful of the historic faith of the church and of its sacraments, and at the same time support the full inclusion and participation of all God's children in the membership and ministry of the church." Source: www.ucc.org	Yes	In general, yes. Congregations are autonomous and can decide to bless same-sex couples. The denomination body urges congregations to do so.
	Episcopal Church Split. Dioceses of the Anglican Communion continue to address the implications of a resolution, passed at the 1998 Lambeth Conference of the world's Anglican bishops, that declared homosexual activity "contrary to Scripture" and advised against the ordination of openly gay and lesbian clergy or the blessing of same-sex relationships. Source: www.dfms.org	At discretion of individual bishops.	At discretion of individual bishops. "Each diocese, under the spiritual direction of its bishop, shall determine the resolution of issues related to same-sex relationships, including the blessing of such relationships, and the ordination of homosexual Christians. A resolution authorizing the creation of a blessing liturgy was narrowly defeated by the church in 1997.
	Presbyterian Church (USA) Split. "Persons who manifest homosexual behavior must be treated with the profound respect and pastoral tenderness due all people of God." Source: www.pcusa.org	Under heated discussion. "Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness."	No
	United Methodist Church Split. "Although we do not condone the practice of homosexuality and consider this practice incompatible with Christian teaching, we affirm that God's grace is available to all. We commit ourselves to be in ministry for and with all persons." Source: www.umc.org	Under heated discussion.	No. Defrocked Jimmy Creech for highly publicized lesbian union blessing, but recently declined to prosecute 68 California pastors for doing so.
	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Split. "We all live with the pain of a church that experiences sharp disagreements on some issues. Yet we walk beside you, and we value your gifts and commitment to the Church." Source: www.elca.org	No, but has been discussed at denomination level.	No
	American Baptist Churches "We affirm that the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." Source: www.abc.org	No	No
	Church of God in Christ Not discussed, but considered contrary to Biblical teaching. Source: Lewis Baldwin, professor of religious studies, Vanderbilt University	No	No
	Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Rarely discussed, but considered sinful. "The Scriptures soberly warn those redeemed by Christ's blood against all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, sexual activity outside of marriage, and homosexual behavior." Source: www.lcms.org	No	No
	Southern Baptist Convention "The forgiveness of and freedom from sin offered by Jesus Christ includes forgiveness of and freedom from homosexuality; and . we publicly denounce and deplore all violent attacks upon homosexuals, and that we express our abhorrence of the teaching that God hates any person on account of an immoral lifestyle..." Source: www.sbc.org	No	No
	National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Inc. Not discussed, but considered contrary to Biblical teaching. Source: Lewis Baldwin, professor of religious studies, Vanderbilt University	No	No
African Methodist Episcopal Church Not discussed, but considered contrary to Biblical teaching. Source: Lewis Baldwin, professor of religious studies, Vanderbilt University	No	No