PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Roman Catholic diocese in western Pennsylvania has ordered a priest to stop distributing an anti-gay sex pamphlet that it says “borders on the pornographic.” Rev. John Nesbella, who works at the Prince of Peace parish in Northern Cambria in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese, said last week he has stopped distributing “Medical Consequences of What Homosexuals Do.” But Nesbella says the seven-page document supports the church’s stance against same-sex marriage by detailing claims about the negative medical consequences of gay sex acts. The pamphlet is authored by Paul Cameron, a sociologist who chairs the Family Research Institute in Colorado Springs, Colo. It graphically describes various gay sex acts, and refers to Cameron’s own research, newspaper articles, medical journals and government statistics. Cameron concludes that, “Homosexuals are sexually troubled people engaging in dangerous activities.” Sister Mary Parks, a spokesperson for the diocese that covers west-central Pennsylvania, said, “The Bishop [Joseph Adamec] was concerned that the explicit nature of the material might lead us to become part of the problem rather than part of the solution.”

Ohio preachers plead no contest to burning gay Pride flag
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Two street preachers have pleaded no contest to charges of burning a gay Pride flag at a parade more than two years ago. Charles Spingola and Thomas Meyer were convicted in Franklin County Environmental Court and were fined $100 apiece for the misdemeanor charge of burning without a permit. The plea deal reached last week allows both to keep from admitting guilt without challenging the facts of the case. Both men said they are happy the case is resolved, but not with the resolution. “A lot of police and politicians’ hearts fail them, and they buckle to the homosexual lobby,” Spingola said after the plea. “That’s why this has dragged on for so long.” Meyer said, “Everyone is allowed to burn an American flag, but not a homosexual one.” The men burned a rainbow flag downtown at the gay Pride parade in September 2001. An officer warned one of them that they need a permit before lighting a match.

Christian group tours U.S. to denounce Disney’s ‘Gay Days’
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Virginia-based Christian lobbying group presented a video titled “Gay Days at Disney Gone Wild,” criticizing Walt Disney World for the annual Gay Days, at a gathering it sponsored at the Nashville Convention Center, the Tennessean reported. The Christian Action Network showed the video and alleged that men pulled their pants down and performed other lewd acts in public at Gay Days, the newspaper reported. Disney World in Orlando, Fla., is one site of events for Gay Days each June, but does not sponsor any of the events. The Christian Action Network is on a 12-state tour to denounce Gay Days, the Tennessean reported. “Families need to be warned of the debauchery — even illegal behavior — taking place inside Disney amusement parks during Gay Days,” Martin Mawyer, group president, told the newspaper. “We want to force organizers to take the Walt Disney name from the event. They would never have KKK days at Disney World.”

Colorado Episcopal leader regrets voting for gay bishop
DENVER (AP) — The retiring Episcopal bishop of Colorado said he regrets supporting the election of the nation’s first openly gay bishop because the church was not ready for it. Bishop Jerry Winterrowd, who will retire Dec. 31, said he voted to confirm Rev. Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire because he had been convinced each diocese had the right to elect its own leader. “Subsequently, I would say that I am on very thin ice there,” Winterrowd said Dec. 11. Winterrowd said he supports same-sex blessings. But he said some people have come to perceive the election of Robinson, who is in a committed relationship with another man, as tacit approval of same sex-blessings. “Personally, I favor [Robinson’s ordination]. But this diocese, and the whole American church, was not ready for that, and a lot of damage has been done.”

Ore. Baptist minister: School exhibit promotes ‘homosexual agenda’
BEAVERTON, Ore. — Led by a Baptist minister, a group of parents will fight plans by the Beaverton School District to include images of gay parents in a family diversity photo exhibit, the Oregonian reported. Steve McCracken, senior pastor at Tigard First Baptist Church, has three children in Beaverton schools, and asked the district to cancel the display planned for February, according to the newspaper. But Superintendent Jerry Colonna said the district will continue with the exhibit, which includes 20 photos, some of which include families with gay or lesbian members, the Oregonian reported. The photos also include single-parent families, mixed-race families and children being raised by their grandparents, according to the newspaper. McCracken began a movement against the display, and about 20 parents joined him at last week’s school board meeting to demand that the exhibit be nixed. “I’m here to voice my outrage and sadness at this ridiculous idea of forcing this agenda on our children,” Kari Tertadian said. “I believe homosexuality is morally wrong.”

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