NEW YORK — More than 800 religious leaders have signed a declaration declaring sexuality is “central to our humanity and … integral to our spirituality,” and urging other faiths recognize same-sex unions and gay and lesbian ministers.
“In a culture that often seeks to exploit or repress our sexuality, it is critical for people of faith to offer an alternative vision that places sexuality in the context of the divine holiness and moral integrity,” said John H. Thomas, president of the United Church of Christ, one of the declaration’s endorsers.
The Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing also advocates lifelong, age-appropriate sex education and “a faith-based commitment to sexual and reproductive rights, including access to voluntary contraception, abortion and HIV/STD (sexually transmitted disease) prevention and treatment.”
The document — sponsored by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, a national nonprofit group — was released at a news conference in New York Jan. 18. Its 20 creators, drawn from a wide range of faiths, include Rabbi Balfour Brickner of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York City, Beverly W. Harrison of Union Theological Seminary in New York, and Carlton Veazey of the Religion Coalition for Reproductive Choice.
Endorsers also represent a variety of faith communities.
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