Sworn brotherhood

2015-12-07T11:15:06Z

TerryW: Created page with ""Sworn brotherhood" was the English term for the practice of "Adelphopoiesis", or church blessings of same-sex unions, which was described by the gay Catholic historian John B..."

"Sworn brotherhood" was the English term for the practice of "Adelphopoiesis", or church blessings of same-sex unions, which was described by the gay Catholic historian John Boswell for the Eastern Christian church. A similar practice existed in the Western church, but is much less familiar. The English gay Catholic historian Alan Bray described this history in his book "The Friend".

Unlike John Boswell, who has been criticized by some for drawing an allegedly too close analogy with heterosexual marriage, Bray is careful to make clear that he does not see these unions as an early form of gay marriage. However, among the evidence he provides, are many examples of male couples buried together in shared church graves, in much the same way that tombstones of married couples are seen in countless English churches.

These unions were also much more significant than mere buddy relationships of modern times, carrying both religious and legal significance. Like the rites described by Boswell for the Eastern church, these unions were conducted in church. In law, they conferred a legal bond of kinship between the two families.

''For an extended review of "The Friend", see James Davidson at the London Review of Books,"Mr and Mr and Mrs and Mrs" ([http://www.example.com link title]), and the discussion that follows.''

Quest

2015-12-07T10:39:18Z

TerryW:

:''This article is about the Roman Catholic group. For the workshop-based project for gay men, see [[The Quest]].''

[[File:Questlogo.png|thumb|Quest logo]]'''Quest''' is an organisation for gay, lesbian and bisexual Roman Catholics, founded in 1974.<ref>http://questgaycatholic.org.uk/</ref>

Membership is open to all who share Quest’s aims, regardless of sexual orientation or religious affiliation. Transgendered persons should feel themselves especially welcome. Quest was established and is led by lay Catholics; however, clergy and religious are welcome to join and support the organisation.<ref>http://www.lgbtconsortium.org.uk/directory/quest [[LGBT Consortium directory]]</ref>.

The national body hosts an annual conference, publishes a magazine "Quest Bulletin"[http://questgaycatholic.org.uk/publications/bulletin/] 3 times a year, and runs the website. Regional groups in London, East and West Midlands Yorkshire and Glasgow host a range of local events.

In October 2015, four members represented Quest at the founding conference in Rome of the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics [http://rainbowcatholics.org/], which was held to co-incide with the opening of the Catholic Bishops' Synod Assembly on Marriage and Family. At the conclusion of the GNRC conference,Ruby Almeida, the chair of Quest, was elected to the new body's steering committee of 10.

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==References==
<references>

[[Category:Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Consortium members]]

LGBT History Project - User contributions [en]

Sworn brotherhood

Quest