Arkansas’ social conservatives suffered a bit of blow this week.

The Family Council Action Committee confirmed that it fell about 4,000 signatures short of the 61,794 needed to put a gay adoption ban on this November’s ballot.

Though they missed their deadline, they’ve been given a 30 day extension to meet their mark: Over the next month, the group’s strategy is to redeem the signatures disqualified because of the notaries and gather an additional 10,000 signatures, [Family Council Executive Director Jerry] Cox said. The group will turn again to large churches to gather many of the remaining signatures, he said.

One reason the group has had difficulty gathering the signatures is because the measure … Continued…

Anglican leaders are currently in England hammering out their differences. And those differences are immense.

While some Western representatives support gay inclusion, others aren’t feeling so welcoming. This, of course, puts spiritual leader Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, in an awkward position. Thus, hoping to keep the international communion from crumbling, Williams yesterday came out against homo sex: The Archbishop of Canterbury has continued his quest for Anglican unity with a strong statement against living in sin and gay sex.

Dr Williams said: “I do not believe that sex outside marriage is as God purposes it.”

And he said he remained “committed” to the Church’s official stance against gay sex, which aims to preserve … Continued…

“We reject homosexual practice as contrary to biblical teaching and can accept no place for it within ECS. We strongly oppose developments within the Anglican Church in USA and Canada in consecrating a practicing homosexual as bishop and in approving a rite for the blessing of same-sex relationships.” - Episcopal Church of Sudan Archbishop Dr. Daniel Deng Bul at the Anglican Communion’s Lambeth Conference in England. [VirtueOnline]

Evangelical leader James Dobson once vowed never to vote for John McCain, a candidate many social conservatives see as too liberal. Now, with no other option, Dobson said he would consider backing the Arizona Senator: “I never thought I would hear myself saying this… While I am not endorsing Senator John McCain, the possibility is there that I might… Barack Obama contradicts and threatens everything I believe about the institution of the family and what is best for the nation. His radical positions on life, marriage and national security force me to reevaluate the candidacy of our only other choice, John McCain.” [NY Times]

National Day of Encouragement doesn’t go down until September 12, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the 2nd annual event.

What, you ask, is the National Day of Encouragement? Good question!

Officially acknowledged by President Bush last year, the “holiday” hopes to counter negativity with some good old coddling. We need such a day because, according to the Day’s website, “negative images and stories brought to us by the media can lead to sadness and discouragement.”

An explanatory video shares some of these “very negative images” — mostly of September 11 — and concludes, “There is something you can do.”
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The Democratic Party prides itself on its inclusion. Their past electoral missions, however, suggest otherwise.

In the months leading up to the 2006 election, the Democratic National Committee’s Faith In Action initiative, led by the DNC’s troublesome Chief of Staff, Leah Daughtry, funded and endorsed an anti-gay agenda.
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The fallout over James Dobson’s Radio Hall of Fame honor continues.

Truth Wins Out, which initiated the protest over Dobson’s nomination, released a statement yesterday “vowing” to protest the The Museum of Broadcast Communications’ Hall of Fame dinner: TWO vowed to protest the annual awards dinner, the second Saturday in November, to inform the world of Dobson’s shameful and bigoted record.

“It is an affront for the Radio Hall of Fame to honor James Dobson, a right wing demagogue, who built his radio empire on the backs of gay and lesbian people,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “We vow to stand up and protest this outrageous insult and let … Continued…

“The principal of a Catholic school in Westchester County is embroiled in an embarrassing sex scandal this morning. Police say a 41-year-old Gabriel DeJesus — the principal of Sacred Heart School for the Arts in Mount Vernon — was caught having sex with to men in the backyard of a vacant house in Greenburgh. Police arrested all three men.” [WABC-TV]

“A gay man who suffered “grotesquely discriminatory conduct” from the Presbyterian Church in Wales has been awarded £37,000. Stephen Price, 25, of Clydach near Abergavenny, was bullied out of his job at Coleg Trefeca in Brecon by his manager Mair Jones, aged 40.” [BBC]

James Nsaba Buturo simply can’t help himself! The Ugandan “Ethics” Minister, who has long pledged to fight the homosexual scourge besieging his homeland, recently insisted that anti-gay activists shouldn’t fear violent repercussions because God’s on their side: Dr Buturo told Africa’s Sunday Monitor that there is no need to beef up security for anti-gay activists in Uganda because God is protecting them.

“It’s true gays are rough people but men of God should not fear their intimidation. Ugandans should strengthen their mobilisation against the gay movement because the government is also committed to support them,” he said. Buturo also spoke about how the gays have infiltrated local schools and are “luring” students to … Continued…

The Church of Latter-Day Saints does not approve of masculine objectification. Not in their name, at least, which explains why the Mormon church’s leaders excommunicated Chad Hardy, the man behind the skintastic calender Men On A Mission.
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Pope Benedict XVI told reporters that he will work for “healing and reconciliation with the victims” of sexual abuse during his trip to Australia this week. While many victims appreciate his conciliatory remarks, they’re still clamoring for more. Said one activist, “He made some general remarks about regret to reporters and that’s not good enough. We want action, not words.” The Pope previously addressed the abuse during his trip to the States, but stopped short of an official apology. [POQ]

Gay activists were rightly that Barack Obama’s pledge to expand faith-based funding would benefit homophobic initiatives. The campaign tells Pam Spaulding, however, that Senator Obama would not tolerate such activity: “A source with Senator Obama’s campaign has now confirmed to Pam’s House Blend that under no circumstances will funds from the program will be granted to FBOs for proselytizing or reparative therapy. Under the Obama plan, MCC congregations, LGBT-welcoming Methodist and Unitarian congregations, and other affirming churches will have access to funds to do much-needed work in communities large and small of great importance — HIV/AIDS education, for instance, relief efforts, etc.” [PHB]

The Pope’s headed into hostile territory.

His holiness, Benedict XVI will soon board a flight to Sydney, where he can expect more than a few gay gray clouds. As we informed you earlier this week, pious gays are planning to protest the Catholic leader whose anti-gay attitudes help maintain the Church’s archaic homophobic “traditions.” That movement will culminate with a “Second Coming Out” when homos of all denominations declare themselves part of the more general “church.”

Sure, the demonstrations may be a bit embarrassing for Benedict, but they’re hardly the worst of Benedict’s problems…
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Lillian Ladele definitely has reason to be smug.

The British registrar, who filed a lawsuit for the religious right to refuse gay unions, won her case. Citing religious discrimination, a tribunal has ordered the Islington Council to fork over yet-to-be determined payout.

The settlement, which will be hashed out in September, definitely sets a precedent:

The ruling that employees should not be required to act against their consciences has implications for the 18,000 same-sex ceremonies conducted nationwide each year and could encourage other registrars with strong religious beliefs to take a similar stance. Gay activist group Stonewall doesn’t approve of the ruling, of course, remarking, “Doubtless there were those 40 years ago … Continued…