NORTH CAROLINA: Christian Clergy File Challenge To Same-Sex Marriage Ban

Via press release from the Campaign For Southern Equality:

This morning a federal challenge to Amendment One was filed in the Western District of North Carolina on behalf of the United Church of Christ (UCC) as a national denomination, clergy from across faith traditions and same-sex couples. The case challenges the constitutionality of marriage laws in North Carolina - including Amendment One - that ban marriage between same-sex couples and make it illegal for clergy to perform wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples within their congregations. Clergy plaintiffs seek the religious freedom to perform these ceremonies and same-sex couples seek the freedom to marry. The plaintiffs are represented by the law firms of Tin Fulton Walker & Owen and Arnold & Porter LLP.

On April 28th at 10:30 a.m., a press conference announcing the case, General Synod of the United Church of Christ vs. Cooper, will take place at Holy Covenant United Church of Christ (3501 West WT Harris Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28269). Attorneys from the legal team and plaintiffs will provide statements and will be available to answer questions about their involvement with the litigation. Plaintiffs who will be present include: Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, general minister and president of the UCC, clergy from Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church and First Congregational United Church of Christ in Asheville, and same-sex couples who seek to marry.

Read more about the suit here.

MINNESOTA: Pro-Gay Church Vandalized For Second Time This Month

Raw Story reports:

Members of the Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Maple Grove arrived for Sunday services to find their church had been vandalized with graffiti that read, “Gay Pride? NO! Shameful Sodomites!” The church was also egged and handcuffs were locked on the front door. “We are investigating this crime as a bias motivated crime. A hate crime is not necessarily a word we use in law enforcement, but we are investigating this as a bias motivated crime,” Maple Grove Police Captain Keith Terlinden told CBS Minnesota. The church was previously vandalized in early June, when someone wrote “church of Sodom and Gomorrah” on the building.

CBS's Super Bowl Commercials Policy: Anti-Abortion - Yes, Pro-Gay - No

Last week we learned that CBS will be running an anti-abortion ad from Focus On The Family during the Super Bowl, despite having rejected an ad several years ago from the pro-gay United Church of Christ, telling them that the network doesn't won't accept an ad that "touches on and/or takes a position on one side of a current controversial issue of public importance." Abortion isn't controversial? A complaint campaign against CBS has been launched on Facebook. Here's the rejected UCC ad.