marriage
New Zealand ‘Pastafarians’ tie knot in first recognized wedding
By Yonat Shimron — April 18, 2016
New Zealand's government earlier this month agreed to register a marriage celebrant after the group was deemed to comply with the country's regulations.
Catholic families need more from Pope Francis (COMMENTARY)
By Michele Weldon — April 11, 2016
Francis’ recent pronouncement does not erase the embedded hurt that has been caused by decades of punitive references to families that do not fit the happy family mold.
From polygamy to incest, confronting the Old Testament’s strange sexual standards
By Jonathan Merritt — April 8, 2016
Some of the Bible's passages are deeply troubling, and despite the wishful thinking of some Christians, are difficult to reason away.
Papal document prescribes pragmatic view of family
By Rosie Scammell — April 8, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Francis' apostolic exhortation maintains church teachings on divorce and sexuality but stresses the need for “a healthy dose of self-criticism.”
Pope to stress broader conception of family
By Rosie Scammell — April 7, 2016
VATICAN CITY (RNS) The Apostolic Exhortation, “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”), will be the culmination of two synods in which family matters were hotly debated by bishops.
Georgia’s religious freedom bill a mixed bag, missed opportunity
By Jonathan Merritt — February 25, 2016
Opponents of the bill argues that these sorts of measures use protection language as a cover for legalizing discrimination of LGBT persons.
Why the Anglican-Episcopal clash may spell a theological revision (COMMENTARY)
By Jacob Lupfer — January 22, 2016
(RNS) The censure of the Episcopal Church raises vital questions about whether divergent teachings on marriage and sexuality constitute minor differences of interpretation or major theological revisions.
Pope opens synod, calls for welcoming church but no gay marriage
By Reuters — October 4, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Francis dedicated one third of his homily to love between man and woman, but also stressed that the church must be more welcoming, charitable, compassionate and merciful to all.
The paradox at the heart of Catholic World Meeting of Families (COMMENTARY)
By Tom Krattenmaker — September 13, 2015
(RNS) Pope Francis, with his faithfulness to official church doctrine and his compassionate, nonjudgmental attitude, embodies the tension of the larger church: the desire to uphold traditional teachings and model Christian love at the same time.
The Ashley Madison hack points a theologian toward grace
By Cathy Lynn Grossman — September 1, 2015
(RNS) The Ashley Madison hack -- the public release of emails of wannabe adulterers -- has now ensnared a theologian with a famous name in some Christian circles.
India’s Muslim women seek marriage, divorce rights
By Reuters — August 22, 2015
Activists say current law in India's Muslim family courts discriminate against women. A study finds Muslim women overwhelmingly oppose polygamy, unilateral divorce and child marriage.
Why routine divorce is now inevitable, even among Christians (COMMENTARY)
By David P. Gushee — August 19, 2015
(RNS) A spouse has become a consumer product, to be bought, abandoned or traded in for a new model at the will of the customer.
Tears of joy, tears of sorrow, and little empathetic listening (COMMENTARY)
By Jacob Lupfer — June 26, 2015
(RNS) I suspect I am not the only one who does not believe that my gay friends are vile sinners or that my traditional religious friends are retrograde bigots.
Bad marriages had women running to and away from Mormon polygamy, historian says
By Peggy Fletcher Stack — June 17, 2015
“Latter-day Saints shockingly were closer to the so-called free lovers of the 19th century than to the evangelical Protestants who were opposing them (Mormons) and opposing divorce.” historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich told a crowd of Mormon scholars recently.
Pope Francis urges couples to ‘work on love’ and take their engagement seriously
By Rosie Scammell — May 27, 2015
VATICAN CITY (RNS) “Betrothal is, in other words, the time in which two people are called to work on love, a shared and profound task,” the pope said.
