The German parliament approved the legalisation of same-sex marriage on Friday in an historic, contested move. Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel voted against the bill, saying she personally felt marriage should be between a man and a woman.
Conservative politician Norman Tebbit says he thinks gay sex is a sin because the Bible says so. Lord Tebbit, a former Chairman of the Party, said that it was 'doubtful' one could be a Christian and believe homosexual sex not to be a sin.
Despite still largely opposing same-sex marriage, white evangelicals show the most dramatic rise in support compared to a decade ago when just 14 per cent were in favour compared to 35 per cent now.
An extensive survey has found that in no major religious group in America do adherents believe businesses should refuse services to LGBT customers because of their religion. The study also pointed to a dramatic shift in support for same-sex marriage amongst religious groups in the past 13 years.
David Bennett, a celibate gay Christian, writes: 'If the whole church was living in the costly sacrifice of normal Christian discipleship, homosexuality and celibacy would not be an issue in the slightest.'
Conservative Anglicans have announced a controversial 'missionary bishop' after the Scottish Episcopal Church became the first major UK church to legalise gay marriage.
The Church of England will also be asked to denounce gay conversion, consider special services for transgender people and re-examine its teaching that marriage is between one man and one women in a raft of measures to be debated at its upcoming parliament in July.