Catholic bishops, a state convention of Baptists and the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) recently took steps to affirm that homosexual behavior and Christianity are incompatible.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops told its members that scriptural teaching is clear regarding the issue of homosexuality. C.J. Doyle, executive director of the Catholic Action League, said it left no doubt where the church stands.
"Homosexual behavior is objectively sinful," he said. "Homosexual orientation is disordered, and same-sex marriage and civil unions are morally impermissible."
The bishops also declared that gay adoption is wrong, although children living in same-sex households may be baptized if there is an intention to bring them up Catholic.
Norman Jameson, president of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, said the organization will expel any church that affirms homosexuality.
"A church will be considered not to be in friendly cooperation if it acts to affirm, approve, endorse, promote, support or bless homosexual behavior," he told Family News in Focus.
In North Carolina, the PCUSA put a minister on trial for conducting a gay wedding. The charges were dismissed on a technicality.
But Joe Dallas of Genesis Counseling said it's part of a growing tendency for churches to push back against the pressure applied by homosexual activists.
"These are encouraging development," he said. "They do show that Christian leadership, both Protestant and Catholic, is taking biblical standards seriously and literally."
